The IBJJF New York BJJ Pro goes down this weekend. Here's your quick guide to who's there, what to expect, which divisions to watch, and why it's different from other IBJJF tournaments. 

Watch the BJJF New York BJJ Pro Championship LIVE on FloGrappling, beginning at 9 AM ET on Saturday, November 19.


Grippo (top) in action at the 2015 NY BJJ Pro. Phoro: D-Kline Design

1: The black belt featherweight division is fire

Gianni Grippo, Bruno Frazatto, Joao Miyao, and more… I'm not sure much more needs to be said than that! Of course they'll always go HAM when they face each other, but expect fireworks with four Gs on the line. 

2: The big boys have come out to play

The black belt ultra heavyweight division, traditionally a quiet one, has attracted five notable names: Joao Gabriel Rocha, Mahamed Aly, Abraham Marte, Aaron Johnson, and Carlos Farias. That means we're going to see some huge clashes (quite literally). Aly will be looking to redeem himself following a frankly horrific show at No-Gi Worlds--a performance he openly admitted as disappointing. 

Otavio Sousa's final at last year's NY BJJ Pro

3: Otavio looking for two in a row

Returning champion Otavio Sousa finds a competitive middleweight division and no easy matches with Marcos Tinoco, Felipe Silva, and more waiting for him. A Gracie Barra black belt with a killer omoplata game is always one to bet on, but it definitely changes the odds with these guys in his way. 

4: Brown belt featherweight; just like black belts, only brown

In another explosive division, there may only be six guys signed up, but there are three tough competitors you need to know about: Adam Benayoun of Alliance Marcelo Garcia, Malachi Edmond of TLI, and Silvio Duran of Vitor Shaolin BJJ. Benayoun is one of Grippo's main training partners at Marcelo's gym, Malachi is one Lloyd Irvin's toughest brown belts and a world bronze medalist, and Silvio Duran is a secret weapon out of Shaolin's. Don't sleep on any of them. 

5: Will Dante Leon steamroll his way to gold?

GF Team's most active brown belt, Dante Leon, returns to NYC. He cleaned up here in October at No-Gi Pans (winning double gold) and also took gold at No-Gi Worlds. Back in the gi, will he steamroll his division as expected? There are only five guys in the unexpectedly quiet brown belt middleweight division. We hope he didn't scare them off. 

6: Absolute divisions but not as you know them

There is no black belt adult male absolute at the IBJJF New York BJJ Pro. The black belt ladies get an absolute division though, and that means we should hopefully see Dominyka Obelenyte (who doesn't currently have anyone in her division) get at least a match or two, providing the other black belt women sign up for the openweight. 

The adult blue, purple, and brown belts get the option of one of two absolute divisions: light, from rooster to lightweight, and heavy, from middle to ultra-heavyweight. Brown belt absolute winners get $800, purples get $600 and blue belts get $400.

How to Watch the IBJJF New York BJJ Pro

WHEN: Saturday, November 19, live stream starts 9 AM Eastern Time. 
On TV: Now available on Roku and Apple TV 4 -- download the FloSports app today.
STREAMING: Available only on FloGrappling for $20 monthly or $150 yearly. A yearly FloPRO subscription provides access to ALL FloSports sites. SIGN UP HERE

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