The No-Gi Pan Ams are right around the corner, with matches for black belts kicking off this Saturday, airing exclusively on FloGrappling. With dozens of World ranked grapplers in the field, it will make for some deep brackets - deep enough that we won't need to wait until the final day to see big, impactful matches that grappling fans can enjoy.

Here are nine of our favorite matches that we are slated to see day one of black belt - not including the absolute which hasn't been set yet.

John Stapleton vs Jalen Fonacier

• In our newest 125lb rankings, John Stapleton debuted at the #4 spot based on his 2023 results - including a gold medal at Pans. Now, he aims to run it back but will have the super tough rookie black belt Jalen Fonacier in the very first round. Jalen won this tournament last year as a purple belt - now after winning No-Gi Worlds at purple and gi Worlds at brown belt rooster he is in to make a big splash.

Isaac Cordova vs Kalel Nascimento

• Isaac Cordova has been emerging as one of 10th Planet's hottest black belt prospects and now the wrestling-based grappler will get his chance to earn a world ranking with a tough bracket here. First up for him? #13 Nascimento, a very tough Cicero Costha competitor with plenty of experience.

Max Hanson vs Miguel Costa

• Max Hanson is fresh off of his debut ADCC, but the Adamas/PSF representative has yet to have much black belt IBJJF success. He can change that this weekend but to do so the Canadian submission artist will need to go first through Miguel Costa, brother of Carlos Henrique and strong wrestler with a lot of experience in the rules.

Matheus Chedid vs Kade Anastasios

• Kade Anastasios is one of FightSport's most interesting young athletes and he could make a deep run here - similar to his run at East Coast Trials last year when he tapped out Jon Blank. He will break in his tournament with Matheus Chedid in a bout that could have fireworks both ways.

Sebastian Rodriguez vs Harrison Woods

• Harrison Woods has been gaining traction in the grappling circuit as a very durable, tough guy with an aggressive mindset. If that's what he wants, he will get it in spades against Unity's Sebastian Rodriguez, a former IBJJF World No-Gi Champion.

Sophia Cassella vs Ana Carolina

• Sophia Cassella returns down to light-feather in a deep bracket that could have a lot of different possible finals matchups. She's one of the best no-gi specific athletes in the weight and if she wants to win, she will need to get through AOJ's Ana Carolina - who is also a very talented gi player.

Talita Alencar vs Thaynara Victoria

• Now a fighter in the UFC, Talita Alencar has entered and earned the #1 seed here at No-Gi Pans

Nadia Frankland vs Mo Black

• This is one of the most anticipated matchups of Saturday - Last year's brown belt No-Gi World double gold Nadia Frankland is up at black belt and her very first match will come against ADCC Trials Champion Mo Black. Both are very technical and could win this division - they just happen to meet first.

Liz Mitrovic vs Maria Ruffatto

• If the last matchup isn't the most anticipated happening on Saturday, this one is. Mitrovic has had a lights out run lately, winning No-Gi Worlds last year and ADCC Trials to go to Worlds this year. She is set to meet fellow Trials champion Maria Ruffatto, who has a physicality that is hard to match. Whoever wins this one will make a big early statement.