By Michael Sears | As usual, the lightweight division is one of the deepest weights in terms of talent at the IBJJF 2017 No-Gi World Championships this weekend. Here is a look at who to watch at the last major tournament of 2017.

No-Gi Worlds takes place on Saturday, Dec. 16, and Sunday, Dec. 17, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. Watch it live or on demand only on FloGrappling. 

Former Champs

Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes – Soul Fighters

The Soul Fighters representative is a two-time world no-gi champion, winning the event in 2012 and 2015. Tanquinho has also finished as runner-up twice at No-Gi Worlds, along with capturing an ADCC bronze medal in 2015. A world champ in the gi also, Tanquinho has primarily focused on MMA and no-gi competitions for the past several years. 

Just this month, Mendes defeated Samir Chantre, Joao Miyao, and Milton Bastos at ACB 9 in Moscow. Other recent no-gi results for Tanquinho include a draw against Eddie Cummings at Polaris and winning a referee decision over Jeff Glover at Fight To Win 25.

AJ Agazarm – Gracie Barra

One of the more active competitors in jiu jitsu, Agazarm has already competed in 43 matches in 2017. This includes his run to the finals at the 2017 ADCC in Finland, where he came home with the silver medal.

AJ Agazarm. Photo by Mike Calimbas

Agazarm won No-Gi Worlds in 2014, was third in 2013 and 2016, and has also finished first at No-Gi Pans and the  No-Gi Europeans. Agazarm lost his only meeting with Mendes via ref decision and has had a series of heated matches with rival and 2017 No-Gi Worlds participant Vagner Rocha.

The Veterans

Vagner Rocha – Fight Sports

Rocha is one of the most established veterans currently competing in the no-gi game. On his third trip to ADCC he finally made the podium in 2017, taking bronze after defeating DJ Jackson and Garry Tonon in Finland. Also a two-time EBI silver medalist, Rocha has 18 matches this year, all of them being no-gi.

Rodrigo Freitas – Rodrigo Freitas Jiu Jitsu

The 34-year-old Freitas (pictured at top) is a two time No-Gi Worlds runner-up, in 2014 and 2016. Freitas also finished third at No-Gi Worlds in 2013. Freitas has amassed a staggering number of medals at major IBJJF no-gi competitions. He was the 2014 No-Gi Pan champion and was also second at the same event in 2010 and 2015. Freitas has reached the podium in second or third place at the No-Gi American Nationals a total of five times. He holds the distinction of being the only competitor in the bracket with a victory over Mendes, a win by advantages at last year’s No-Gi Worlds.

The Up and Comers 

Renato Canuto – Zenith

One of the most exciting athletes to watch in BJJ currently is first-year black belt Renato Canuto. Stay alert during his matches or chance missing a flying submission, cartwheel pass, or brilliant nonstop chains of attacks. 

Renato Canuto. Photo: Dan Rod / KASAI Grappling

Canuto won No-Gi Worlds a year ago as a brown belt and has been impressive so far in his first year at black belt. Just last weekend Canuto won the stacked KASAI Pro tournament, defeating Celso Vinicius, Garry Tonon, and Mansher Khera and drawing with Agazarm. 

Edwin Najmi – Gracie Barra

Giving Canuto a run for most exciting to watch in this bracket is Gracie Barra Northridge athlete Edwin Najmi. While the Romulo Barral pupil is more known for his success in the gi, including a 2016 World silver medal, he has recently been competing no-gi and with great success. 

At ACB 7 in Rio de Janeiro, Najmi faced ADCC champ Davi Ramos in the semifinal and won by rear-naked choke on the no-gi veteran. Be on the lookout for Darce chokes from nearly any position while Najmi is competing.

Best of the Rest

• Frenchman Nicholas Renier (GFT) is a five-time ADCC veteran and no-gi specialist, coming from a luta livre background. 

• Australian Lachlan Giles (Absolute MMA) was also a competitor at the last two ADCC events and is the coach of standout Craig Jones. 

• John Combs (Easton) and David Garmo (Detroit Jiu-Jitsu) are guillotine specialists that can spoil anyone’s day real fast if they see an opening. 

• Gilson Nunes (Checkmat), Johnny Tama (Alliance), and Alexandre Molinaro (Carlson Gracie) are capable of challenging anyone in this bracket and add to the depth of a solid lightweight division.

Watch the 2017 IBJJF No-Gi World Championships on Dec. 16-17 only on FloGrappling