Three ADCC champs and no less than eight IBJJF No-Gi World champions are registered in the female black belt divisions for the 2018 IBJJF World No-Gi Championship. This is probably the deepest female field of all time and should contain some exciting battles for gold in the weight classes and a stacked absolute.

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Left to right: Ana Carolina Vieira (Pic: Mike Calimbas), Mayssa Bastos (Pic: Blanca Marisa Garcia), Beatriz Mesquita (Pic: Hywel Teague). 

Two 2018 World champs are registered in the middleweight division in Beatriz Mesquita (Gracie Humaita) and Ana Carolina Vieira (GFTeam). Mesquita is one of the most dominant women of all time as an eight-time IBJJF World champ and ADCC 2017 champion, however Vieira won their last meeting by advantages in the 2017 Worlds open class. 

Mesquita told us, “I’m really excited to be fighting in No-Gi Worlds again after five years. I’m a three-time champion and my last time competing here was 2013. This championship has grown a lot and I’m ready to close out 2018 in a good way.” 

Berimbolo machine Mayssa Bastos (GFTeam) has stormed onto the light-featherweight scene since receiving her black belt in June, already winning No-Gi Pans and EBI 18 in dominant fashion. Bastos outscored her three opponents at No-Gi Pans by a combined 47 points, with two submissions and a 20-point victory over 2017 No-Gi World champ Patricia Fontes (Checkmat) in the final. At last weekend’s EBI, Mayssa submitted all four opponents, including Fontes in the final. Fontes is a three-time World No-Gi champ and will be looking to defend her title against Bastos in Anaheim. 

“My training for No-Gi Worlds has been fantastic and I’m ready to fight for the gold,” said Bastos. 

The featherweight division contains five solid competitors in 2018 World champ Amanda Monteiro (GFTeam), Heather Raftery (Atos), Jessica dos Santos (Elite BJJ), Ffion Davies (ECJJA), and Nathalie Ribeiro (Checkmat). 

Monteiro won Worlds and the 2017 No-Gi Pans in her first year at black belt. Raftery finished second here a year ago after submitting legend Michelle Nicolini with a knee bar in the semifinal. Dos Santos looked on top form at the 2018 No-Gi Pans, where she won featherweight and finished second in the open.

About the upcoming challenge, Monteiro said: “I’m really excited for this competition. There’s no pressure because I barely train No-Gi throughout the year. I’ll do my best and have fun doing what I love.” 

ADCC champ Michelle Nicolini (Checkmat) is looking for her fifth No-Gi World title in the lightweight division, and will have her work cut out for her in a competitive bracket. Returning champ Jena Bishop (Gracie Humaita) stands in her way as Bishop looks to win back-to-back World titles. Two-time No-Gi World champ Tammi Musumeci (Brasa CTA) makes it three No-Gi World champs in this bracket. Nicolini’s Checkmat teammate Catherine Perret is a three-time No-Gi Pans champ and took second at the 2017 No-Gi Worlds up a weight class at middle. 

Also adding to the depth of the lightweight division are former No-Gi World champs at brown belt in Gabrielle McComb (Gracie Humaita) and Kristin Mikkelson (Brazil 021). McComb recently won her first No-Gi Pans as a black belt in September.

Jessica Flowers (Gracie Barra) returns to defend her open class gold from a year ago, when she closed out with teammate Ana Laura Cordeiro. Flowers won double gold in 2017 and is a two-time ADCC medalist. 

The medium-heavyweight division sees the return to competition of 2009 ADCC champ and five-time World champ Luanna Alzuguir (Alliance). Contending with Alzuguir will be two-time World champ Claudia Do Val (De La Riva) and 2017 No-Gi Worlds open class bronze medalist Amanda Loewen (SBG).

Nathiely de Jesus (Unity) won double gold her last time competing at No-Gi Worlds in 2016. Nathiely is registered in the heavyweight division, along with three-time No-Gi Worlds champ Andresa Correa (Alliance). Maria Malyjasiak (Zenith) won her weight and the open class at the 2018 No-Gi Pans and should be a tough test for the two former No-Gi World champs registered at heavyweight.

IBJJF World No-Gi Championship 

Dec 14-16 | 9:00am PST start time each day | Click for more