While there is indeed a 'new wave' of incoming talent at the black belt ranks prepared to shake things up at the 2021 World Championships, there's an army of prior World Champs looking to retain their place at the top of the mountain.  

Below are all the prior World Champsiobs registered to compete at the 2021 World championships

Returning Men's Black Belt Champs

Note: The Weight class listed below represents athletes registration for this year's Championships and not necessarily the weight class where they've obtained a prior world title.

Roosterweight

• Bruno Malfacine (10x)
• Mikey Musumeci (3x) 

Light-Feather

• Ary Farias (2x)

Featherweight

• Shane Jamil Hill-Taylor (2018)

Lightweight 

• Matheus Gabriel (2019)

Middleweight

• Isaque Bahiense (2018)

Medium-Heavy

• Leandro Lo (7x)
• Gustavo Batista (2018) 
• Lucas Hulk Barbosa (2018)
• Otavio Sousa (3x)

Super-Heavy

• Felipe Pena (2x)

Ultra-Heavy

• Nicholas Meregali (2x)

Returning Women's Black Belt Champs

Note: The Weight class listed below represents athlete's registration for this year's Championships and not necessarily the weight class where they've obtained a prior world title

Rooster

• Mayssa Bastos (2019)

Light-Feather

• Tammi Musumeci (2019)

Lightweight

• Beatriz Mesquita (6x)
• Luiza Monteiro  (6x)
• Hannette Stack (5x)

Medium-Heavy

• Ana Carolina Vieira  (3x)
• Andressa Cintra (2019)

Heavyweight

• Fernanda Mazelii (3x)

Super-Heavy

• Gabi Garcia (6x)
• Talita Nogueira (2011)