The official state date of the IBJJF 2017 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship is Match 16*. Pans is one of the biggest and most important tournaments of the year, and here's what you need to know ahead of this prestigious event. 

*The IBJJF may start the event on March 15 if the number of athletes registered exceeds capacity to fit the event over four days

A Medal That Means Something 

Traditionally, the IBJJF World Championship title is considered the most important title of the year. After Worlds, Pans is seen as one of the most important titles a jiu-jitsu athlete can have on their resume. To be crowned a Pan champion is a major achievement and one that almost every jiu-jitsu athlete aspires to achieve. 

Who's In, Who's Out

You can see who's signed up here, and a quick scan of the black belt divisions gives you an overview of how they might play out. 

Registration closes on March 6, though, so there may still be a few people holding out until the last minute before signing up.


2016 double gold brown belt champion Nicholas Meregali. Photo: Chase Smith 

The 'new' black belts

A lot of the "new" black belts are in, athletes who were brown belt for last year's event, namely…

• ​Kristian R Woodmansee - roosterweight 
  
• Cleber Sousa - light featherweight
  
• Silvio Duran - featherweight
  
• Johnny Tama - lightweight
  
• Renato Canuto - lightweight
  
• Isaque Bahiense - middleweight
  
• Nicholas Meregali - heavyweight
  
• Samuel Rice -- heavyweight (and he's in same division as his brother, Tanner) 
  
• Nick Schrock - heavyweight
  
• Bianca Basilio - featherweight 
  
• Tayane Porfirio - super heavyweight 
  

They could shake things up somewhat, and a few of them are definite candidates to make it to the podium. 

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2016 ultra heavyweight champion Andre Galvao. Photo: Chase Smith

Defending champions

Of last year's winners, only a few are signed up (so far).

• ​Rooster: Michael Musumeci Jr -- not yet signed up, and if he does it will be at light feather
  
• Light feather: Joao Miyao -- not yet signed up
  
• Feather: Paulo Miyao -- won't compete 
  
• Light: Edwin Najmi -- he told us he's almost definitely going to compete 
  
• Middle: Yago de Souza -- the middleweight gold medal winner from last year is signed up 
  
• Medium heavy: Leandro Lo -- his name isn't down yet but he's definitely going to compete 
  
• Heavy: Cassio Francis -- not yet signed up 
  
• Super heavy: Luiz Panza -- not yet signed up
  
• Ultra heavy: Andre Galvao -- not yet signed up
  
• Absolute: Bernardo Faria -- most likely will not compete, has told us he's likely planning a comeback for Worlds
  

• ​Light feather: Gezary Matuda -- not yet signed up
  
• Feather: Mackenzie Dern -- she's in, but she has an MMA fight the week before so a question mark hangs over her participation 
  
• Light: Beatriz Mesquita -- she's in
  
• Middle: Luiza Monteiro -- will be in London
  
• Medium heavy: Andresa Correa -- not yet signed up
  
• Heavy: Talita Nogueira -- not yet signed up
  
• Super heavy: Dominyka Obelenyte -- out with a shoulder injury that will require surgery
  
• Absolute: Andresa Correa 

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Who's definitely out…

Some people we know are out because of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam London on the same weekend, such as: 

• ​Gabriel Arges
  
• Nathiely Jesus 
  
• Jackson Sousa 
  
• Luiza Monteiro 
  

The IBJJF 2017 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship goes down March 15*-19. Watch it LIVE or on demand ONLY on FloGrappling

How to Watch IBJJF 2017 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship

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