The IBJJF has released the brackets and schedule for the five-day long 2021 Pan Championships, which begins on Wednesday, September 1. Find the brackets by division here, or see the event schedule by day here.

Fourteen of the seventeen champions from the 2020 Pan Championship are returning to defend their titles, including Johnatha Alves, Joshua Cisneros, Fellipe Andrew, Ronaldo Junior, Mayssa Bastos and more. They’ll try to defend their titles against additional returning champions, and a smattering of hungry rookies in the field of over 250 registered black belt competitors. 

Some of the rookies are bound to make waves in their divisions this year, but the ones with the most hype are likely Tainan Dalpra, Elisabeth Clay, Andy Murasaki, and Pedro Marinho. Any of those four could come home with their first black belt Pans gold, but none will have an easy path.

Murasaki, for example, would have to defeat the returning lightweight champ, Johnatha Alves, in the second round to have a run at gold this year.

Earlier in the week, the colored belts will take the mats, including some of the most exciting brown belt prospects. 

The heavyweight brown belt division will be the one to watch, as it will feature fan favorites such as Jacob Couch and Elder Cruz, alongside lesser-known dark horses like Ramiro Leon and Cassio Felipe Costa. 

Schedule Overview

The Pans Championships kicks off on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m, ET, starting with all adult male blue belt weight categories, as well as all male and female white belt divisions, adult through master 5.

On Thursday, September 2, the adult male brown belts will take the mats, as will adult female blue and purple belts. All master 1 and master 2 black belts are also scheduled to compete on Thursday.

Friday, September 3 will be a day for master purple belts. All male and female purple belt masters divisions are set for Friday. The lone adult division that day will be the female brown belt bracket.

The adult black belts take the mats on Saturday, September 4, and will compete until the quarter-finalists in each division are identified. Adult male purple belts will also compete on Saturday, as will some blue and brown master categories.

The remaining blue, brown and black master divisions will compete on Sunday, September 5. Meanwhile, the main event of Pans is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday: the black belt finals.

The last three rounds of all adult black belt categories, as well as the adult black belt open class finals, will take place throughout the day on Sunday, with the last black belt match tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.