We took a good look at the list of entrants for the black belt division of the UAEJJF’s Grand Slam in LA tomorrow. Senior Editor Hywel Teague and Andre Borges, the brains behind jiu-jitsu wikipedia BJJ Heroes, give their appraisals of how they action may go down. 

ADULT / BLACK / +94kg
André Alberto Campos – UAEJJ Team - Al Ain
Carlos Eduardo Farias– Roberto Traven BJJ
Joseph Moku Jr – ATOS
Roberto Abreu Filho – Fight Sports
James Puopolo – Lovato Jiu-Jitsu
Lucio Furtado Rodrigues – Gracie Barra Knightsbridge
Ricardo Ferreira Evangelista – Commando Group BJJ

Andre Borges: This is a very interesting division. Low in numbers but with 5 strong contenders. No doubt Cyborg will be regarded by most as the favorite, but depending on the draw there are a few gentlemen on the list who can pose a big threat to the 2013 ADCC champ. One of these men is Ricardo Evangelista, who has defeated Roberto in the past. He’s got a very strong closed guard game, one that matches well against Cyborg. 

Hywel Teague: Evangelista is a monster and everyone on GF Team talks really highly of him. I think we’ll likely see Evangelista and Cyborg in the final. Who takes it though is up in the air - I hope Cyborg doesn’t suffer any health issues like when he got struck with tachycardia at ADCC in August. 

ADULT / BLACK / 94kg
Eliot Kelly - Yemaso Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Jackson Sousa - Checkmat 
Erberth Santos - Guigo JJ
Fernando Moya Herrera - Costa Rica JJ
Evandro Nunes - Sampa BJJ
Faisal Al Ketbi - UAEJJ National Team

AB: There are a few interesting athletes in the division. Jackson Sousa’s preparation may not have been as intense, as he is starting a new gym in Sweden. I think Erberth takes it. 

HT: Erberth wanted to go up a division but is now back at -94. With no Spriggs and questions over Jackson’s prep, it’s a pretty good chance we’ll see Erberth meet Faisal in the finals. 

ADULT / BLACK / 85kg
Tanner Rice - Rice bros
Gregor Gracie - Renzo Gracie
Ryan Christopher Golgosky – Checkmat
Alec Baulding – Alliance Atlanta
Thomas Gallicchio – Checkmat 
Lucas Daniel Barbosa - ATOS
Matt Baker - JJ Machado 

AB: Exciting to see how Alec Baulding will fair against some of these black belts. This is a very even division, with the future of the medium heavyweight division in the sport. Lucas ‘Hulk’, Tanner Rice and Baulding, expect two if not all three to be on that podium. The veteran Gregor Gracie will also have plenty to say in the division.

HT: I think it’s crazy we consider Gregor a dark horse but I guess it’s because it’s a rarity to see him compete in the gi. I wish he’d do it more often. Like he showed at Copa Podio last year I think he could shock some people. Lucas Hulk has a pretty easy run to the finals though, and Gregor has to get past Tanner and then probably Alec. Looks good for Hulk to take this. 

ADULT / BLACK / 77kg
Stephen Gabriel Martinez - Checkmat 
Celso Venicius Júnior - Ryan Gracie
Youngam Noh - Jiu-Jitsu Lab
Marcio Andre Junior - UAEJJ Abu Dhabi Arena
Tiago Bravo Santos – UAEJJ Team Al Ain
Vinicius Agudo Silva – Soul Fighters BJJ 
Roberto Satoshi Souza - Bonsai Jiu-Jitsu 

AB: Marcio André, Tiago Bravo, Celsinho, Satoshi and Vinicius Agudo! There are no easy fights on this weight class. This will be a very tough day for any challenger, but I expect Márcio and Satoshi to meet in the final, if they don’t meet up in the elimination rounds. Slight advantage to Satoshi who is naturally the bigger athlete and has been pretty active competitively.

HT: Satoshi’s definitely got the easier route to the finals here, with a bye in the opening round. Celsinho is one of those crafty veterans you can never rule out, and with Marcio’s time out due to his knee injury I have my doubts he’s ready for a tournament this deep for his first one back. 

ADULT / BLACK / 69kg
Samir Chantre Dahas – Samir Chantre BJJ
Eduardo Ramos Silva - ATOS
Vitor Paschoal - Caio Terra BJJ
Matthew Magana - Paragon 
Paulo Miyao - PSLPB Cicero Costha
Osvaldo Augusto Moizinho – Samir Chantre BJJ

AB: This division has ‘Queixinho’ written all over it. Expect Moizinho to win this division. There are some tough guys on deck, but Moizinho has been very strong this year.

HT: Do you think so? I know ‘Q’ has had a good run but I think  Samir might have a better go at it, although they’ve both got to get past Paulo Miyao and we all know how though that is. 

ADULT / BLACK / 62kg
Gilbert Polim - Central JJ de Maua
Joao Pedro Mata - Paragon 
João Miyao - Cicero Costha
Rafael Freitas - Gracie Barra 

AB: Two opponents is probably not enough for a Miyao to get warmed up. I see João taking the gold in the smallest men’s division of the tournament.

HT: Hard to disagree! 

FEMALE / BROWN-BLACK / +70kg 
Leanna Mae Dittrich - Fight Sports
Tammy May Griego – Gracie Barra 
Jessica de Oliveira - Legacy Jiu-Jitsu 

HT: Dittirich has had a pretty successful year winning double gold at Masters Worlds and gold at Las Vegas Open, Dallas Open, Asian Open…  The list goes on. I think she’s got the edge here.

FEMALE / BROWN-BLACK / 62kg 
Marina Soares Ribeiro – UAEJJ Team - Abu Dhabi Training Center
Gegi Walker – Cia Paulista USA
Veronica Mayorga - Checkmat 
Kelley Farrell - ATOS 
Mackenzie Lynne Dern – Gracie Humaita

AB: Marina Ribeiro is a very game opponent and has the ability to take on make Mackenzie Dern, but Dern has been way too strong this year and it is impossible to vote against her. 

FEMALE / BROWN-BLACK / 55kg 
Maxine Thylin – Gracie Humaita
Pati Fontes – Checkmat (Leo Vieira)
Ana Talita Alencar – GF Team Brasil

AB: Very short division where Pati will be the only black belt. Although Fontes will have the belt seniority, I believe Talita Alencar will take the gold here. 

Brackets can be found here.