The best indicator for whether a jiu-jitsu competitor will be a force at the rank of black belt is to scope them out while they're still a brown belt, and there is plenty of opportunity to scout some talent at the IBJJF 2017 Europeans. 

Just as a high schooler can excel at their respective sport and be recognized by a scout, athletes can build recognition even at the colored belts.

The ones who really shine are those who win all the major tournaments, of course, but sometimes there are a number of high level competitors in the same division and we see a back and forth between who takes the top spot on the podium. Some athletes only take a stab at their divisions and never enter the absolute and some dominate both. 

Either way, the 2016 IBJJF European Jiu-Jitsu Championship is the start of the year for these brown belts and we have our eye on a select number of them.

Rudson Mateus

Teles first found success as a blue belt juvenile competing in Brazil and by 2013 he had won the adult blue belt world title. At purple belt in 2015 he joined the Caio Terra/Brasa team, training in San Jose, CA and won double gold at the Europeans, a Pan title, and a World title. 

In the past year he has racked up gold medals, often from both weight and absolute, at the IBJJF Manaus Open, Curitiba Open, Rio Open, BJJ Pro Sao Paulo, and other events around Brazil. This momentum should carry him onto the podium.

Adult / Male / Brown / Heavy
Rudson Mateus Sarmento Teles (Brasa CTA) vs River Blue Dillon (Carlson Gracie Team)
Starts 12.00 PM, Mat 10

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Mayssa Bastos

Yet to test out her brown belt in the major gi tournament season, Bastos was a standout in the purple belt light-feather division, berimbolo-ing her way to gold medals at Europeans, Brazilian Nationals, Pans, Worlds, No-Gi Worlds, No-Gi Pans in both 2015 and 2016. 

She's only 19 years old with a promising career ahead of her, including an expected gold at the 2016 Europeans.

Adult / Female / Brown / Light-Feather
Mayssa Caldas Pereira Bastos (GF Team) vs Matilda Kristina Frycklund (Dynamix Fighting Sports)
Starts 2.30 PM, Mat 7

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Espen Matheisen

Another Norwegian and training parter to Langaker, and another Copa Podio two-time superfight champion. His berimbolo style has earned him the European title in 2014 and a silver in 2015. He also placed second at the Worlds as a purple belt in 2015. 

He studies the game just as much as he trains, even releasing breakdowns of the Miyao brothers and the like. This will likely be his last year at brown belt and we can't wait to see how he performs this time. 

Adult / Male / Brown / Light
Espen Mathiesen (Nova União) vs Jacopo Madaro (Tribe JJ)
Starts 9.30 AM, Mat 7

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Dante Leon

One of the top GFTeam brown belts, Dante Leon is a Canadian teaching and training inToledo, Ohio. And despite having only one solid training partner, fellow brown belt star Gutemberg Pereira, he has accomplished more than most brown belt last year including gold at Pans, New York Open, Chicago Open weight and absolute in gi and no-gi, LA Grand Slam, No-Gi Pan champion weight and absolute, No-gi Worlds, New York Pro and more. A gold medal would be expected from this 21-year-old.

Adult / Male / Brown / Middle
Dante Leon (GF Team) vs Max Leonard Lindblad (CheckMat)
Starts 10.00 AM, Mat 8

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Danielle Alvarez

Among one of the top female competitors, the sometimes lightweight, sometimes featherweight finally achieved her world title at the 2016 Worlds in the brown belt featherweight division after repeated podium placements. Prior to that, she won her brown belt no-gi world title in late 2015, a couple months after being promoted. 

Also on her resume at purple belt is a European title, Pan title, and many IBJJF city tournaments. Her packed competition schedule year round makes her a seasoned athlete and a heavy chance of getting to the podium every tournament.

Adult / Female / Brown / Light
Danielle Renee Alvarez (LEAD BJJ) vs Amandine Cathy Nadege Layec (Toulon JJB)
Starts 2.10 PM, Mat 9 

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Tommy Langaker

Having trained under the Mendes brothers in Costa Mesa, CA this Scandinavian is back in his own quarters training in Norway to continue conquering the big names of jiu-jitsu. His name has gained notoriety through two successful super fights in Copa Podio, a win at Berkut BJJ, as well as a submission win over Gordon Ryan. 

He is constantly attacking, has aggressive passing and an uncanny ability to make things happen no matter how, in true Viking fashion.

Adult / Male / Brown / Middle
Tommy Lilleskog Langaker (Nova União) vs TBD
Starts 10.30 AM, Mat 9 

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Rafael ‘Babilonia’ Cristovao

'Babilonia', as he is commonly referred to, is a member of the NS Brotherhood clan with Leandro Lo but he also spends time in New York at Unity Jiu-Jitsu under Murilo Santana. He has come onto the USA circuit with wins like double gold at Charlotte Open, second at the NY Pro, Dallas open gold, NY Open double gold, and medals at both No-gi Pans and Worlds. Without some big name rivals present, we can see Babilonia making this Europeans his breakout moment.

Adult / Male / Brown / Ultra-Heavy
Rafael Babilonia Cristovão (Ns Brotherhood) vs Danny Andre Feliz Capitao (Icon Jiu-Jitsu Team)
Starts 1.00 PM, Mat 7