Fellipe Andrew has been at the top of the gi competition world for a while. He has been ranked no.1 in the IBJJF rankings for four consecutive seasons. But despite achieving all of the major titles throughout his black belt career, he still lacked a true IBJJF Worlds title.

By the official record books, Andrew is the 2021 IBJJF open class champion. But that result doesn’t tell the full story.

Felipe Pena was supposed to face Nicholas Meregali in the open class final that year. But the match didn’t happen, as Meregali received a disciplinary disqualification. Pena was awarded the default champion, but was later stripped of it for USADA violations. 

As a result, the absolute world title was awarded to Andrew, who originally achieved third place that year.

"After training, I received some messages congratulating me for the title, and I thought they were kidding until Siriema (an IBJJF representative) called and told me,” Andrew said in an exclusive interview with FloGrappling. “I accepted it. At the moment, it wasn't the way I wanted, but it just happened."

Andrew doubled down at the most recent World Championships at the beginning of June. This year, he celebrated his first heavyweight world title, beating Pedro Machado in the final.

"Leaving the Pyramid on Sunday with a sense of accomplishment was what I was most looking forward to,” he said, adding that the 2021 open class title he was awarded felt validated after earning the heavyweight title in 2023.

The IBJJF's no.1 gi athlete is now officially a two-time World Champion, finishing the 2022-23 IBJJF season with 1773.5 ranking points.

"I am still the same Fellipe as I was,” he said. “I've just been managing a lot of stuff in my mind respecting the process, but I never doubted that this day would come."

Yesterday, Fellipe Andrew was named as the second of four competitors scheduled to compete in the IBJJF Absolute Grand Prix during Jiu-Jitsu Con in Las Vegas at the beginning of September.

Also named to the event: two-time IBJJF heavyweight champion Kaynan Duarte. Watch the IBJJF Absolute GP live on FloGrappling on September 1.