The way athletes qualify to compete at the Abu Dhabi World Pro has changed. New for 2017 is the announcement that only two athletes from the same country will be eligible to compete in the main bracket. 

The main bracket will feature athletes from different countries, making the World Pro a truly international affair. 

Athletes can qualify for the main tournament in one of two ways. 
• The person with the highest ranking based on UAEJJF points automatically receives a confirmed position as a qualified athlete.
• All other athletes from that country will be placed into a single-elimination bracket called the "World Pro Country Qualifier" where they will face off against each other. The overall winner in each division will earn the second position to fight in the main bracket. 

Some notes: 
• The main bracket starts on Friday, April 21. 
• The World Pro Country Qualifier will occur on Thursday, April 20. 
• Athletes from the same country will be placed on the same side of the main bracket, preventing a final match between two athletes of the same nationality. 
• The runners up of the main brackets will compete in the repechage for the bronze medal. 
• The changes listed above apply to the adult and master 1 brown belt and black belt divisions starting at the 2017 ADWPJJC.
• The top brown and black belt fighters (ranked No. 1) will be directly eligible based on the UAEJJF world ranking. Only one top fighter from each country will be selected according the UAEJJF world rank.
• The Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2017 is open entry to all fighters from all nationalities, and there is no limit to the number of athletes from any one country who wish to participate. 
• Fighters are not allowed to change their nationalities or team academies during the season. 

Below is a list of the American black belts who have qualified for the main bracket. All other American black belt competitors will need to participate in the World Pro Country Qualifier to compete in the main bracket. 

The American Black Belts Qualified For World Pro

Male / Adult / Black / 62kg  
Michael Musumeci 
RG-CT

Male / Adult / Black / 69kg  
Isaac Doederlein 
Alliance Los Angeles 

Gianni Grippo 
Alliance Marcelo Garcia 

Male / Adult / Black / 77kg  
Edwin Najmi 
Gracie Barra

Male / Adult / Black / 85kg  
Nathan Mendelsohn
Coalition 95 

Male / Adult / Black / 94kg  
Diego Herzog
RG-CT

Keenan Cornelius
Atos Jiu Jitsu - Andre Galvao

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Female / Adult / Brown Black / 55kg  
Mackenzie Dern 
Gracie Humaita 

Female / Adult / Brown Black / 62kg  
Erica Alicia Santana 
One Jiu Jitsu

Female / Adult / Brown Black / 70kg  
Melissa Davis 
One Jiu Jitsu

Female / Adult / Brown Black / 90kg  
Tara White 
Carlson Gracie Team​

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How to Watch the Abu Dhabi 2017 World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship

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Start Times

Abu Dhabi	London	Rio de Janeiro	New York	Houston	Los Angeles
Tue 10:00	Tue 07:00	Tue 03:00	Tue 02:00	Tue 01:00	Mon 23:00

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