One of the IBJJF's biggest tournaments of the year, the Masters World Championships, is coming up August 31st-September 2nd in Las Vegas, NV, with all of the action streaming live on FloGrappling. Every year, hundreds of grapplers aged 30+ descend upon Vegas to test their skills and prove their mettle against competition at their level. Masters divisions are designated by age, with athletes being separated every five years - 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, and 55+.

While the most recognizable athletes will always be at the adult World Championships in the Pyramid, Masters Worlds still does draw some of the best, many who will also be coaching at the event. Here are over two dozen black belts to keep an eye on when Masters Worlds kicks off, including 7 of the top current entries.

Top Stars In Action

• JT Torres, Masters 1 Middleweight

JT Torres, head of Essential, is probably the biggest name currently in the tournament. The two-time ADCC Champion and two-time IBJJF Pan Champion is entered at middleweight, where he is expected to show off his highly technical top game against the field. This is JT's first Masters Worlds.

• Manuel Ribamar, Masters 1 Medium-Heavyweight

Manuel Ribamar is a very active black belt, competing in most IBJJF majors - including a run to the quarterfinals at this year's Worlds before falling in a close, controversial match to Isaque Bahiense. Ribamar closed out the Pan championships in 2022 for gold, and continues to be a force at the adult levels, and is expected to be one of the standouts of a deep medium-heavyweight class.

• Melissa Cueto, Masters 1 Heavyweight

Melissa Cueto is the lone reigning black belt world champion to be competing at this year's Master Worlds, and the Alliance heavyweight looks to build on her already impressive credentials with another potential double gold performance in Vegas.

• Marcos Tinoco, Masters 1 Medium-Heavyweight

Marcos Tinoco, known for his technical lasso guard, is a multiple-time world medalist who has now transitioned to teaching while competing less regularly. He is entering the medium-heavyweight division here where the former Marcelo Garcia rep is set to have a few fun matchups waiting for him.

• Hiago George, Masters 1 Light-Featherweight

Hiago is one of the best light-featherweights of his generation and now enters Masters Worlds for his first IBJJF action of the year. The Cicero Costha black belt has been very successful in the organization, winning two Pan championships, a no-gi world championship, multiple European golds, and a 2019 world bronze.

• Maria Malyjasiak, Masters 1 Medium-Heavyweight

Maria has established herself as one of the best female black belts on Earth, and is fresh off of a silver medal performance at this year's World Championships. Now, she turns her attention to Masters Worlds in Vegas. The Polish black belt and Abmar Barbosa JJ representative is one of the names to watch for black belt double gold.

• Mayara Custodio, Masters 1 Super-Heavyweight

After medaling at this year's IBJJF Pan and World championships, placing second behind perennial force Gabi Pessanha, Mayara now returns to Masters Worlds after previously winning double gold at the 2020 event. The CheckMat black belt is one of the favorites to double gold, along with Malyjasiak and Cueto.

Beyond these athletes, here are some of the other notable names entered in the tournament who are expected to bring high-level action to their matches.

More Names To Watch

• Yuta Shimada, Masters 1, Featherweight, 2-time Pan medalist
• Tiago Barros, Masters 1, Featherweight, Pan & Masters World champion
• Kevin Mahecha, Masters 1, Lightweight
• Jaime Canuto, Masters 1, Middleweight, 3-time World medalist
• Diego Bispo, Masters 1, Medium-Heavyweight, 2-time Masters World champion
• Gabriel Procopio, Masters 1, Medium-Heavyweight
• Clay Mayfield, Masters 1, Medium-Heavyweight
• Tanner Rice, Masters 1, Heavyweight, 2-time Pan medalist
• Nathan Mendelsohn, Masters 1, Heavyweight, Pan medalist & American Nationals champion
• Diego Ramalho, Masters 1, Heavyweight, no-gi Worlds medalist
• Arnaldo Maidana, Masters 1, Super-Heavyweight, no-gi Worlds medalist & 2-time Pans medalist
• Max Gimenis, Masters 1, Ultra-Heavyweight, Pans Champion & Worlds medalist
• Bruno Bastos, Masters 3, Ultra-Heavyweight, Pans & Worlds medalist
• Elizabeth Mitrovic, Masters 1, Medium-Heavyweight
• Bridget McEliece, Masters 1, Medium-Heavyweight
• Jessica Flowers, Masters 1, Super-Heavyweight, Pans champion & Worlds medalist