The 2019 Abu Dhabi World Pro kicks into full swing on April 24, and some of the most compelling matchups are certain to go down in the stacked women's divisions.

In an effort to combat potentially low turnouts in the women's black belt divisions, the  UAEJJF opts to combine brown and black belt competitors together.  Not only does this bolster the total number of competitors; we also get to see matches that were impossible before – leading to some great clashes of style and generation.

Without further adieu, let's jump into the several storylines surrounding the thrilling women's brackets this year at the 2019 Abu Dhabi World Pro. 

Watch the 2019 Abu Dhabi World Pro LIVE April 24-26

49kg: Will Mayssa Bastos Reign Supreme?

The 49kg Bracket features six athletes will be split into two groups of three – the athlete who accumulate the most points from group A & group B will meet in the final match. The current queen of 49kg, GF Team star Mayssa Bastos is signed up and there is a very strong possibility that she will find herself atop the podium once more this year – her guard is among the most difficult to pass and she holds wins over some of the divisions toughest competitors. 

Challenger Elina Moestam from Sweden is a former World Pro Champion at purple belt and will be taking her first shot at the elite rank this week, and she may be the wild card of the group.

55kg: Epic Clash Guaranteed Between Basilio & Amal

The most exciting story of 55kg division is the pending epic battle between Amal Amjahid and Bianca Basilio.  Both women are known for their relentless pace and submission oriented approach – expect no punches to be pulled when they clash in group b. This could very well be one of the best matches of the day.

62kg: Can Mesquita Qualify, Meet Ffion?

The 62kg women’s division is one of the most stacked groups of female athletes at World Pro this year.  Ffion Davies, Nicole Sullivan, and Larrisa Paes have already claimed their positions in the main bracket – previous World Pro Champion and one of the best athletes of her generation, Bia Mesquita, will need to qualify for the main bracket the day before, though we believe there is a strong chance she will do so successfully.

For those who have been living under rock for the better part of 2019, Ffion Davies is a Welsh athlete that has been making waves in her first year as a black belt – she's already secured titles at the European and Pan Championships and a gold medal at the World Pro would further cement her reputation as one of the best competitors today. 

The winner of the Brazilian qualifier will take on Nicole Sullivan, an Atos athlete who's come on strong of late, including a recent silver medal performance at 2019 ADCC trials.

70kg: World Champs, Rising Stars

This division opens with the barnburner first-round matchup between Ana Carolina Vieira and Samantha Cook.  Vieira is a previous World Champion and a strong favorite of the divison, but Samantha cook is not someone to take lightly, the British black belt just took home a gold medal the European Championships back in January, and a win over Viera could launch her into new levels of recognition. 

On the other side of the bracket, we'll find Thamara Silva, a Brazilian athelte has been cleaning up the 70kg divisions at Grand Slam events around the globe and a strong contender for claiming a place in the final. 

Ana Carolina Vieira at the Rio Grand Slam.

90kg: Can Gabi Pessanha Do it again?

There's no other way to say it: brown belt Gabi Pessanha has simply been dominating the UAEJJF Circut.  She holds wins at every single Grand Slam Event (Tokyo, Los Angeles, Rio, Abu Dhabi, and London) and numerous UAEJJF regional events.  

Throughout those victories, shes managed to upset one of the most established and successful women's black belts today, Nathiely de Jesus, who is also set to compete at the World Pro and would love to put a stop to Pessanha's hot streak.