Many of the top pound-for-pound brown belts have been promoted since the IBJJF canceled the second half of the 2019-20 season due to COVID-19. In April, Meyram Maquine earned the strap, and just this month, Higor Lima, Raul Basilio, Roosevelt Sousa, Samuel Nagai, and Fabricio Andrey each leveled up to black belt.

The pandemic has thoroughly shaken up the jiu-jitsu scene. It could continue to have implications on the career paths of those competitors who were expected to do well in the brown belt brackets this year whether they remain in the colored belts or enter their next competitions at black belt.

The era of dynastic world champions seems to be coming to an end. The 10-time world champions may be on their way out alongside Buchecha and Lucas Lepri. There are so many talented new contenders at black belt each year that even the most prominent black belts only have a few years in the spotlight. With that in mind, it may be a blessing to ensure these young prospects have enough injury-free years at the top level to take their shots at world titles.

However, an early promotion from brown to black is not without its consequences. For the last several years, a competitor’s stay at brown belt has been his or her opportunity to build hype and momentum, to set themselves apart from the pack. Consider the excitement that competitors like Ronaldo Junior, Johnatha Alves, Jonnatas Gracie, Victor Hugo, Levi Jones-Leary, Thalison Soares, and Kaynan Duarte were able to drum up in their exceptional climbs to the Worlds podium at brown belt.

Alves being promoted at 2019 Worlds

You have to wonder if those competitors would have the same clout in their rookie black belt years without their final performances at the colored belts to back them up.

Those would-be brown belt Worlds medalists who earn their black belts this year may be haunted in following years by their successors. In the event that the 2020-21 season carries on, the brown belts who have stayed at that rank for another season – and the ones who have moved up from purple belt –  may be able to build momentum in a way that allows them to jump ahead of this year’s black belt recipients.

On the other hand, some of the most prominent brown belts seem to have developed what it takes to move forward despite the canceled season. Erich Munis, for example, stands alone as the number one pound for pound brown belt, especially following his double gold performance at Euros in January.

Watch: Erich Munis vs Tarik Hopstock at 2020 IBJJF Europeans

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Pedro Marinho has also made a case for his black belt candidacy with exciting showings most weekends since June, and has taken out black belts such as Oliver Taza, Johnny Tama and developing rival Roberto Jimenez.

Conner Deangelis is making the argument that he’s ready for a step up to the major leagues without a Worlds title. After winning the Fight to Win brown belt middleweight title, he expressed that he felt ready to take on black belts.

Several light-featherweights had the opportunity to build their credentials in July at Spyder: Road to Black. Fabricio Andrey, who was the runner-up of the eight-man bracket, has since been promoted to black belt while Diego Sodre, the tournament champion, remains a brown belt . . . at least for now.

How many more new black belts will we see before the next IBJJF season takes off? What other competitions might stand as a place-holder to validate these brown belts on the tipping point of promotion? 

Most importantly, who will pay the larger price: those brown belts who were left behind and lost a year of black belt competition, or those who moved ahead without an opportunity to build their brand as brown belts?

Now that 2020 Pans is back in place, we could see competitors treating this tournament as a stand-in for Worlds. But the event will have a limited capacity, and travel restrictions mean it's only available to those athletes already residing in the states.

Regarding those athletes who have already been promoted to black belt, it will be interesting to see who, if any, decide to finish their season at their new rank.