Here Are 17 Colored Belts To Watch At No-Gi Pans
Here Are 17 Colored Belts To Watch At No-Gi Pans
Here are seventeen colored belts that you should keep an eye on during the 2024 IBJJF No-Gi Pan Championship on Nov 1-3rd!
The 2024 IBJJF No-Gi Pan Championship is going down on November 1-3rd and will bring some of the most exciting grapplers across the world to Forth Worth, Texas as they scrap it out for No-Gi Pans gold!
It is easy to skip ahead to the black belt divisions when checking the registered athletes for an event like this, but I wanted to take a step back and look at some of the top colored belt athletes that you should be keeping an eye on at No-Gi Pans.
Disclaimer: this list only applies if you like watching athletes who display sick jiu-jitsu and put on exciting matches, if that is not your thing then you probably won't like this list.
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17. Jordan Butler | Purple Belt | Heavyweight
Jordan Butler is a two-time IBJJF Pan No-Gi Champion and represents Pedigo Submission Fighting in the heavyweight division.
16. Luke Ruffo | Purple Belt | Heavyweight
Luke Ruffo is also a Pedigo Submission Fighting representative who will be competing in the heavyweight division. Luke is coming off a gold medal performance at the IBJJF No-Gi Euros in Italy.
15. Anthony O'Dell | Purple Belt | Light-Featherweight
Anthony O'dell is one of the younger competitors on the list, but still brings a ton of competition experience and success to the division. O'Dell is a 2022 IBJJF No-Gi Pans and World Champ, and more recently took home gold at the ADCC Youth Championship. He represents Vagner Rocha Martial Arts.
14. Troy Mercer | Brown Belt | Super-Heavyweight
Troy Mercer took home silver in the absolute division at the 2022 IBJJF No-Gi Worlds as a purple belt, plus a bronze in his division. Mercer brings some of the best wrestling to his division this year so expect him to win on the feet. He represents Pedigo Submission Fighting and Apex Grappling in Rockwall, Texas.
13. Emma Bruntil | Blue Belt | Middleweight
Emma Bruntil is a bit of a new face on the scene. This will be her first time competing at an IBJJF major (as far as I am aware), after making the transition from a very successful wrestling career. She is a two-time NCAA Champion, two-time US Open Champion, and 2023 Senior World Team member. Historically we have always seen wrestlers dominate the blue belt divisions at No-Gi Pans and Worlds, so expect Bruntil to make some waves this year.
12. Corey Dorsey II | Brown Belt | Middleweight
Corey Dorsey represents Team Lloyd Irvin, and is a frequent competitor on the IBJJF scene. His brother Elijah Dorsey has found success in no-gi, winning ADCC trials and placing fourth at the ADCC World Championship. Corey Dorsey could very easily have a breakout performance of his own this weekend.
11. Dylan Melton | Brown Belt | Heavyweight
Dylan Melton AKA 'Wheels' is a Gracie Barra representative who has stayed busy in the colored belt ranks, competing frequently under IBJJF and ADCC rules, and finding success in both.
10. Jacob Bornemann | Purple Belt | Medium-Heavyweight
Jacob Bornemann AKA 'Little Jacob' is easily one of the most athletic and dynamic grapplers that we will see in the purple belt divisions this year. The Pedigo Submission Fighting representative only knows how to go forward and has a rather notable win over Nick Ronan under ADCC rules.
9. Ashlee & Mia Funegra | Brown Belt | Light-Featherweight
This spot is a two for one special with Ashlee and Mia Funegra. The AOJ prodigies will be competing in the same division this event and will likely take home gold and silver as they continue their dominance in the colored belt divisions.
8. Brandon Reed | Purple Belt | Ultra-Heavyweight
Brandon Reed is a wrestler turned grappling standout who has found success early in his career. Reed is a big fella who can move like a lightweight, so expect him to bring very explosive passing and takedowns to his matches this weekend.
7. Natã Tenca | Brown Belt | Super-Heavyweight
Natã Tenca represents ATOS Jiu-Jitsu and is very active on the IBJJF circuit. Tenca has plenty of success in the gi, but his wins are not limited to only the kimono. Tenca took home gold in the absolute division of the 2023 IBJJF No-Gi World Championship.
6. Chazz Canas | Brown Belt | Middleweight
Chazz Canas represents ATOS Jiu-Jitsu and Essential Jiu-Jitsu where he trains under JT Torres. Chazz took home gold at last year's No-Gi Pans in the purple belt lightweight division, and just recently won the 2024 IBJJF No-Gi Euros at Middleweight. He is carrying some serious momentum into this weekend.
5. Gustavo Ogawa | Brown Belt | Featherweight
Gustavo Ogawa represents Art of Jiu-Jitsu and is an athlete we see compete frequently in the gi. Ogawa took home gold at this years IBJJF World Championship and I am sure would like to do the same in no-gi.
4. Nora Schultz | Brown Belt | Medium-Heavyweight
Nora Schultz will be returning to this years No-Gi Pans as the 2023 IBJJF No-Gi Pans brown belt absolute and division champion. Making her one of the favorites in not just her division, but also the open class at this weekend's event.
3. Kleber Barboza | Brown Belt | Light-Featherweight
Kleber Barboza represents Dream Art and has found a lot of success on the IBJJF circuit so far in his career. Kleber has a nonstop style, where he constantly pushes the pace and pulls out flashy submissions from nowhere. I am less familiar with his no-gi game, but I am sure it will not disappoint.
2. Michael Pixley | Purple Belt | Super-Heavyweight
Michael Pixley certainly needs no introduction at this point. Pixley is without a doubt the most notorious colored belt who will be taking the mats at No-Gi Pans after his performance at ADCC. Pixley's jiu-jitsu is as blue collar as it gets. Expect the PSF purple belt to have some of the best takedowns of the event and be constantly attacking submissions.
1. Achilles Rocha | Brown Belt | Heavyweight
Achilles Rocha is another grappler who does not need an introduction at this point. Although he is still young, Achilles has a ton of grappling experience and his list of must watch matches grows longer every time he steps on the mat. He currently holds the fastest submission in WNO history with a fifteen second armbar at WNO 24. If you love watching exciting jiu-jitsu then you will want to tune in to Achilles Rocha.
There you have it, seventeen exciting colored belts that you should be watching at the 2024 IBJJF No-Gi Pan Championship on November 1-3rd in Fort Worth, Texas.
Of course this is not the definitive list of every exciting colored belt grappler that will be taking the mats this weekend. It is easy to miss some people when scanning the registration, but I will be in Fort Worth with a camera trying to capture only the sickest of footage during the event. So if you think you should have made this list, say what's up to me and I will come film your match and you can prove me a silly goose. And if you can't make it, make sure you are tuned in to FloGrappling.com so you don't miss a second of the action!
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