The Brazilian Nationals (aka Brasileiros) is the biggest IBJJF tournament in the world with 5,200 competitors. The competition has been running all week, but the adult black belts start Saturday with what looks to be the toughest absolute division we've ever seen. 

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No less than 51 male black belts have signed up for the openweight class, among them well-known athletes such as: 

• ​Leandro Lo (NS Brotherhood) 
  
• Erberth Santos (Almeida JJ) 
  
• Renato Cardoso (Alliance) 
  
• Max Gimenis (GF Team)
  
• Otavio Nalati (Guigo JJ)
  
• Admilson Gobi Jr. (Team Lloyd Irvin) 
  
• Dimitrius Souza (Alliance) 
  
• Igor Schneider (NS Brotherhood) 
  
• Victor Honorio (GF Team) 

The top two athletes two watch are, of course, Lo and Santos. Both men are World, World Pro, Pan and European champions. They top the IBJJF ranking table, and the results from this weekend play a crucial part in determining who will claim the $15,000 end-of-season prize. 

Explained: The High-Stakes Feud Between Leandro Lo And Erberth Santos

Potential athletes to cause a disturbance include: 
Victor Honorio -- who has a long history of battling with Santos all the way back to blue belt, the result of much animosity between Santos and GF Team.  

Admilson Gobi Jr. -- an ultra heavyweight black belt still looking to make his mark but among the most dangerous athletes in the ranks. 

Igor Schneider -- a teammate of Lo, an ultra heavyweight who holds wins over Santos. 

Dimitrius Souza -- one of Fabio Gurgel's most solid Alliance black belts, a heavyweight with inconsistent results but the ability to spoil anybody's day. 

Female Black Belt Absolute 

The women's black belt openweight division has gathered 14 black belts together, and save for the absence of any non-Brazilians the bracket looks much like what you would expect to see at Worlds. 

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Athletes of note in the female black belt absolute division include: 

• ​Tayane Porfirio (Alliance) 
  
• Beatriz Mesquita (Gracie Humaita) 
  
• Talita Nogueira (NS Brotherhood) 
  
• Claudia do Val (De la Riva) 
  
• Bianca Basilio (Almeida JJ) 
  
• Fernanda Mazelli (Striker) 
  

Smart betters would put money on a showdown between Beatriz Mesquita and Tayane Porfirio in the final. The Gracie Humaita and Alliance reps have faced off twice this year already, with Porfirio claiming victory both times. 

The black belt absolute divisions go down approx. 4:15 PM local time on Saturday, April 29. Weight divisions and finals take place Sunday, April 30.