The no-gi season is in full swing now, and the IBJJF is getting ready for one of their biggest events of the calendar; IBJJF No-Gi Pans. Every year this tournament brings out some of the best in the world for this prestigious championship. With registration complete, we can now start to really pour through divisions and see who we can expect to be in contention when action starts September 29th-October 1st. Here are some of the best black belts that are currently entered by weight class, and some of the most notable colored belts that will be there.

It should be kept in mind that these grapplers can still change divisions, so where they are entered now may not be where they end up.

Roosterweight

• #6 Roiter Lima
• #8 Estevan Martinez
• Chris Tran

There are three notable names coming in, including last year's World finalist Roiter Lima. 2021 World champ Estevan Martinez has gained a following with a scramble-heavy style that makes him hard to pin down. Chris Tran is the only returning black belt medalist from last year's event in the bracket. If Roiter and Estevan meet in the finals, it will be a top-ten matchup.

Light-Featherweight

• Carlos Alberto Oliveira da Silva
• #15 Valor Boyer
• #3 Edwin Ocasio
• Emelio Alejandro Hernandez Rodriguez

Carlos is the returning champion here, where he beat Hiago George in the finals before placing 2nd at Worlds. #15 Valor won the brown belt division here in 2022 and continues to impress. This will be his first attempt at a major no-gi championship. #3 & IBJJF World medalist Edwin 'Junny' Ocasio is one of the names to watch, but he can have variance in his performance that makes his placement hard to predict.

Featherweight

• #5 Gianni Grippo
• Marco Mendes
• #13 Jose Flores
• David Weintraub

Gianni Grippo is entered and is the most notable name in the division. He won Worlds last year after placing 3rd at Pans, so this tournament has given him issues recently. Marco Mendes and Jose Flores are in his debut year of black belt and continue to place highly at tough tournaments.

Lightweight

• Daniel Sathler
• Rodrigo Francioni
• #14 Carlos Henrique
• #15 Max Hanson

The two most notable names here are Carlos Henrique and Max Hanson. Carlos is fresh off of a WNO win over Ben Eddy where he called out Dante Leon. For him to keep that momentum, he must do well here. Max Hanson is a tough out for everyone, though, having just run his way through the Enigma 170lb bracket with all submissions.

Middleweight

• Mathias Luna
• Eduardo Avelar
• #10 Oliver Taza
• Johnny Tama
• Dante Muschamp
• Kieran Kichuk
• Matheus Galvao
• Francisco Cuneo
• #4 Jeferson Guaresi

Teammates Jeferson Guaresi and Francisco Cuneo closed out the bracket last year and stand poised to do so once again. However, a deep bracket stands in the way. Oliver Taza is one of the busiest black belts in 2023 and after European Trials silver he is entered. Matheus Galvao is a former medalist at this tournament, Kieran Kichuk is a standout Canadian leg locker, and Johnny Tama is a former black belt no-gi world champion. Deep division.

Medium-Heavyweight

• David Garmo
• Austin Oranday
• Chris Wojcik
• Clay Mayfield
• #15 Jacob Couch
• Shane Fishman
• Bruno Matias
• #5 Francisco Lo
• #9 Felipe Cesar Silva
• Gabriel Rocha

This is another deep bracket here at Pans, with a lot of guys who have had great no-gi success. FCS won silver at no-gi Pans & Worlds and Francisco Lo won bronze at no-gi Pans & Worlds and is coming off a WNO win over William Tackett. Jacob Couch won double gold at brown belt here one year ago and should have good success again. Chris Wojcik is fresh off an ADCC European Trials bronze and one of the guys here preparing for North American Trials.

Heavyweight

• Sean Yadimarco
• #12 Adam Wardzinski
• #11 Elder Cruz
• #15 Hunter Colvin
• #7 Pedro Rocha
• Jose Jurema
• Calon Sabino

There are some serious heavy hitters at heavyweight, including four guys ranked in the top-10. Adam Wardzinski and Elder Cruz are both ADCC Worlds veterans. Pedro Rocha is coming off of a gold medal at Jiu-Jitsu Con where he beat Lucas Barbosa and punched himself into the top-10. He's the reigning No-Gi Pans champ.

Super-Heavyweight

• Eliot Kelly
• Luccas Lira
• Fellipe Trovo
• #1 at 155 Dante Leon
• Javier Zaruski
• Cassio Fellipe Costa
• Devhonte Johnson

Dante Leon at super-heavyweight?!? It's possible he's just camping here until he can switch divisions before the deadline but Dante is our number one ranked 155lb grappler and is competing up above 200lbs here. In his way are IBJJF No-Gi World champions Devhonte Johnson and Fellipe Trovo.

Ultra-Heavyweight

• Joao Gabriel Rocha
• Guillherme Augusto
• #10 Roosevelt Souza
• Breylor Grout
• Igor Schneider
• Pedro Alex

#10 Roosevelt Souza is entered and the gigantic Fight Sports representative is the likely favorite for gold. Still, with Guillherme Augusto, Pedro Alex, and long-time standout JG Rocha entered, there's plenty of interesting matchups in the unlimited class.

Roosterweight

• Faye Cherrier

Light-Featherweight

• Jessica Crane

Featherweight

• Adele Fornarino
• Amanda Bruse

Lightweight

• Nathalie Ribeiro
• Morgan Black

Middleweight

• Thamiris Monteiro
• Julia Maele
• Deise Leonanjo
• Gabriele Schuck

Medium-Heavyweight

• Elizabeth Mitrovic
• Maggie Grindatti

Heavyweight

• Luciana Mota

• Maria Ruffatto

Super-Heavyweight

• Kauane Ramos

Colored Belts To Watch

• Mourece Ramirez
• Alejandro Wagner
• Dory Aoun
• Luke Griffith
• Davis Asare
• Michael Pixley
• Alex Osorio
• Helena Crevar