The second edition of the annual IBJJF The Crown is coming up this weekend, Sunday November 17th, and the brackets are finally out for this invite-only tournament. The best of the best are entered into these six divisions with big cash prizes and glory on the line.

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With divisions this stacked, every match is full of dynamite and could end with an explosive submission or a grueling match between elite black belts. Still, we found one match in every division that brings the most interest and intrigue.

• Diego Pato vs Osvaldo Queixinho

At featherweight, the bracket is very deep with a lot of people having a chance to win but for my money this is the most interesting matchup. Diego moves up here to featherweight, but moving up is never an issue for him, and he will take on the returning Moizinho as one of the first matches of the event. Moizinho has still been active as a Masters competitor and coach but hasn't been as active as an adult - but he still has a great style, tons of experience, and a loop choke that can put out anyone.

Pato on the other hand has some of the best leg locks and lapel guards in modern jiu-jitsu - and that's really the most intriguing aspect here. How does someone with some of that old school style deal with all these new wave approaches that Pato has embraced? We've seen some are able to totally shut it down, while others become a victim of the newest trends. How will it go here?

• Cassia Moura vs Thaynara Victoria

The two youngest people in the tournament are meeting first up! Cassia has burst onto the scene as the woman who went from blue to black belt in only one year, a record under IBJJF requirements. She followed that up by winning Jiu-Jitsu Con in her black belt debut - and is already ranked in the world. She's made The Crown her first major event against the elite and now this unstoppable featherweight gets her chance.

First up, though, she has another rookie black belt and WNO veteran in Thaynara Victoria. Thaynara is a DreamArt prospect who has been very impressive in her young career, including a medal at the recent IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championships. Now, she puts the kimono back on the face off with Cassia round one. Whoever wins will be making a big statement about the trajectory of their career.

• Tainan Dalpra vs Gabriel Galvão

Is Dalpra on upset watch? He's still one of the best in the world, a 2-time World Champion at black belt and a returning Crown champion. He's got a world-class game in every facet of jiu-jitsu, from guard to passing to control to submission. Still, though, after a sterling beginning to his black belt run he has had losses at the last two Worlds and needs to rebuild some of that aura he had a few years ago, where he looked like the top pound-for-pound talent in the sport. To do that, a win at The Crown is a must.

At the very beginning of this run, though, he will face off with the hungriest, youngest person in the division. Gabriel Galvão was double gold at Worlds at brown belt and in his black belt debut defeated World silver medalist Francisco Lo - who beat Tainan by DQ at Worlds. Now, if he can knock off the top dog in the bracket early he can change his entire career trajectory and announce himself as elite very early on.

• Patrick Gaudio vs Rider Zuchi

These are two big, powerful black belts who will meet in the middle of the mat to settle things. Patrick Gaudio finally returned to the gi this year and won Brasileiros in impressive fashion and Rider had probably his best year ever by medaling at Worlds. Both guys have strong takedowns, tons of pressure, and a lot of horsepower to throw into any position. When they meet in the first round, expect something dramatic to happen.

• Melissa Stricker vs Isabely Lemos

World champ Melissa Stricker is one of the most aggressive and powerful women black belts in the game and she brings ti every time she steps on the mat. Now, she gets a chance to welcome a young, new black belt who has a very similar style in Isa Lemos. Isabely was the brown belt double gold at Worlds and had a very impressive campaign, using her size and speed to dominate on the mats. What does this current v next gen matchup look like? Let's see.

• Gutemberg Pereira vs Felipe Costa

This is one of the most intriguing matchups of the first round, when AOJ's Pereira takes on Laranjinha of Six Blades. Gutemberg had a great start to the year, winning Euros double gold, but fell off some by Worlds where he failed to medal in the open or weight. Now, he gets his shot at redemption and a Crown title which would be the biggest accomplishment of his career. Felipe on the other hand spent most of the year focusing on no-gi, with a bronze medal at ADCC to show for it. Now, if he can come in and make a statement he can become one of jiu-jitsu's best multi-style athletes. To do that, though, first he needs to go through Gutemberg.

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