At 22 years of age Yago de Souza is ready to throw down with the best black belts on the planet at next week’s IBJJF World Championships in Long Beach, California. 

By Vitor Freitas. Para ler a versão em português deste artigo clique aqui

This year, the student of Leandro Lo has already won the IBJJF European and Pan Championships – all in his first year as a black belt. In Europe, he beat experienced opponents including Alan Finfou of Checkmate and Eduardo ‘Teta’ Rios. At Pans, which took place in March, he was tested by the highest-level black belts in the middleweight division. 

The NS Brotherhood team member eliminated three-time world champion Otavio Sousa of Gracie Barra in the semi-finals and beat Vitor Oliveira of GF Team (one of the toughest guys in the bracket) in the final. 

In an exclusive conversation with FloGrappling Yago analyzes the middleweight division and talks about training with Leandro Lo. 

Yago, you beat Otavio Sousa and Vitor Oliveira at the Pans, did this give you more confidence or will you be more cautious as we approach the Worlds? 

For sure it was important to beat them, it gives me confidence. However it’s always good to maintain focus and be cautious, to underestimate people is never good. This was one of the first things I learned in jiu-jitsu, to never underestimate anybody.

You’ve got a lot of good guys at middleweight, and I don’t consider myself the favorite. I have to work hard to conquer my spot on the podium, and God willing I’ll get there. I see myself as a strong athlete that has a chance to win the gold medal. 

In 2015 you won the Worlds as a brown belt, and now you will fight at Worlds for the first time as a black belt. What kind of lessons did Leandro Lo pass to you to ensure victory? 

Leandro always says that I have it within me to be world champion. I just stay focused on the tournament and try not to mess up, or to be cocky, as my opponents are much more experienced than me. So, I have to avoid mistakes and believe in my potential. I didn’t change my training much, I’m rolling a lot and adjusting my game, as my game doesn’t depend much on physical strength. I prefer to stay technically sharp. 

What can expect from Yago de Souza at the 2016 IBJJF Worlds? 

What’s changed in me since last year is that I'm a little older and with a bigger beard! I think I'm more experienced, and I see jiu-jitsu and tournaments differently. I think I used to do it because I felt I had to, but now I started to have more love for the sport. 

Watch Yago de Souza compete LIVE at the 2016 IBJJF World Championships, only here on FloGrappling!

Watch Yago de Souza's matches from the 2016 Pans