The Standout Blue, Purple & Brown Belts Vying For Worlds Gold
The Standout Blue, Purple & Brown Belts Vying For Worlds Gold
There are more than 1,000 adult athletes registered across the colored belt ranks. These are the competitors at every division whom we’re keying in on.
Before the black belts take the mats at the Walter Pyramid, droves of blue, purple, and brown belts will have their opportunity to try and earn an IBJJF World Championship in the junior categories.
The up and coming classes are loaded with athletes who have impressed us throughout the 2022 season, and still more who have demanded attention since their time in the youth ranks.
There are more than 1,000 adult athletes registered across the three colored belt ranks, making it a challenge to identify exactly who to watch in these loaded divisions. But there are standout competitors at every division whom we’re keying in on.
Brown Belt
All brown belt male divisions are on Thursday, June 2. The three lightest female brown belt divisions also go on Thursday, while the remainder of female brown belts compete on Saturday, June 3.
Key Athletes
Elder Cruz “El Monstro”
El Monstro took silver at Worlds as a brown belt in 2021, and has become increasingly more dangerous from dominant positions over the last few years. He has a fearsome takedown and top control game, and his north south lapel choke, which helped him win Pans in 2021, could carry him through several rounds.
Matheus De Menezes “Teteu”
The Atos ultra heavyweight will be riding high after a dominant performance at Pans. He’s a well-rounded submission hunter, and will be the biggest force in this division.
Shay Montague
The UK-born roosterweight is on track for a grand slam with an incredible submission rate. The 2021 purple belt world champ has a tricky attack style, and will throw them up from everywhere to try to tackle the 15-man division, in which he’ll have the only bye.
GF Team’s star brown belt may be the strongest in her division, and took third at Worlds in 2021. She’s proven herself among the best in the world at both ADCC Trials and the AJP circuit. A successful outing at Worlds should propel her into the black belt ranks.
Paige Ivette Borras
Legion’s 2021 brown belt world champ is back for more. She was promoted to brown belt just a few months before submitting her way through the roster in December, and will try to double down this weekend.
Elizabeth Liera
After a silver-medal performance at Worlds in 2021, the Atos featherweight should be the favorite in the 15-deep division, and will likely look to use her guard game to rack up submissions from the back or elsewhere.
Most Stacked Divisions:
Male Light Featherweight
This may be the most hotly contested division of any colored belt bracket at Worlds. Pan champ Mario Alvarado is returning, and may be tasked with repeating on Zach Kaima or Thalys Pontes, either of whom are dangerous from everywhere. Two new brown belts, Mourece Ramirez and Jacob Cisneros, will add some additional heat to the division of firecrackers.
Male Ultra Heavyweight
Matheus Menezes will have a target on his back in this division after winning Pans earlier this year. Joining him are Brasileiros champ Helder Rorigues, 2021 purple belt world champ Joao Ribeiro, and Six Blades up-and-comer Felipe Costa.
Female Middleweight
This 14-woman division is loaded top to bottom with talent. Two Brasileiros champions — Amanda Hening and Larissa Martins — will take the helm, but they could see threats from the Atos duo, Brittney Johnson and Rachel Ranchau, as well as perennial challengers Deise Leonanjo and Mayara Melo.
2022 Majors Champions Registered For Worlds
Shay Montague (Euros, Pans, Brasileiros)
Mario Alvarado (Pans)
Daniel Sathler (Pans)
Elijah Dorsey (Pans)
Carlos Henrique Campos (Pans)
Joao Pedro Silva de Sousa (Pans)
Lucas Souza “Foguinho” (Pans)
Jose Jurema Nascimento (Pans)
Caio Vinicius Lima (Brasileiros)
Enzo Guimaraes (Pans)
Steffen Banta (Pans)
Nicholas Maglicic (Pans)
Helder Rodrigues Junior (Brasileiros)
Matheus de Menezes (Pans)
Giulia Guimares (Pans)
Bianca Giannini (Pans)
Maria Claudia Almeida (Brasileiros)
Emilia Pakulski (Pans)
Sabrina Gondim (Brasileiros)
Amanda Hening (Brasileiros)
Larissa Martins (Brasileiros)
Aurelie Le Vern (Pans)
Welma Moureira (Brasileiros)
Paige Borras (2021 Worlds)
Tamiris Da Silva (Pans, Brasileiros)
Mikaela Lima (Brasileiros)
Samantha Hall (Pans)
Brown Belt Stats
342 registered; largest division: male middleweight (46 athletes)
Purple Belt
All male purple belts will compete on Friday, June 3. All female purple belts will compete on Saturday, June 4.
Key Athletes
The Art Of Jiu-Jitsu phenom came up short in his first adult competition at Pans, losing by narrow margin in the semis. But leading up to that match, he flexed on everyone in the division, racking up fierce submissions and demonstrating his dominant and well-rounded game. We expect more of the same from him at Worlds, a fine-tuned and innovative game in which he’s never on the back foot.
Takeshiro Tanino “Samurai”
Equipped with a sharp judo game and armbars from everywhere, Atos’ newest breakout teen has a dynamic, explosive game that’s incredibly viewer-friendly. He’ll be a considerable threat to everyone in the medium heavyweight division.
The Checkmat heavyweight has had a few near misses this year, but he’s growing increasingly more threatening at every turn. Aoun is a force at heavyweight, especially when he gets to his opponent’s back.
2022 has been a career year for Giovanna Jara. The Dream Art standout collected double gold at Pans and Brasileiros, and proved herself among the elite at ADCC South American Trials, winning her ticket to Vegas. She should be considered a favorite for double gold again at Worlds.
Nia Blackman
This is Nia Blackman’s first year competing as an adult, and already the English Checkmat athlete has achieved major success, taking double gold at Euros and collecting heavyweight gold and open weight silver at Pans. She’ll have an opportunity to avenge a narrow loss from Pans against Giovanna Jara, with whom she’ll share the 8-deep heavyweight division.
Shelby Murphey
The Art Of Jiu-Jitsu roosterweight is the regning purple belt world champion at that category, and added Euros and Pans gold to her stack earlier this year. Equally dangerous in her pressure passing and guard work, Murphey will have a target on her back in the Pyramid.
Most Stacked Divisions:
Male Medium Heavyweight
This division is loaded with hardware earners from the previous six months. Pedro Rubim may be considered the favorite after gold-medal performances at both Euros and Brasileiros. But the Atos armbar machine, Takeshiro Tanino “Samurai,” may be the most exciting prospect of anyone at purple belt this year. He’s riding off of a successful outing at Pans. Others to watch include European champ Jose Steve, 2021 blue belt double gold winner Danylo Wruck and ADCC trials standout Harrison Woods.
Female Lightweight
Three aggressive submission hunters decorate this 31-woman division. Pan champion Karina Lagrana will be the favorite, but others to watch include Iris Nascimento and Naomi Sharp.
2022 Majors Champions Registered For Worlds
Gustavo Clemintino (Pans)
Steven Gomez (Euros)
Kevin Alencar (Pans)
Romulo Rocha (Pans)
Jeferson Goteu (Pans)
Pedro Rubim (Euros, Brasileiros)
Takeshiro Tanino (Pans)
Jose Steve (Euros)
Leon Mendonca (Pans)
Pedro Marcolinho (Pans, Brasileiros)
Shelby Murphey (Euros ,Pans, 2021 Worlds)
Karina Lagrana (Pans)
Gisele Tavares (Brasileiros)
Heloysa Oliveira (Pans)
Nia Blackman (Euros)
Giovanna Jara (Pans, Brasileiros)
Purple Belt Stats
441 registered; largest division: male lightweight (60)
Blue Belt
All male adult blue belt divisions are scheduled for Thursday, June 2. All female adult blue belt divisions are scheduled for Friday, June 3.
Key Athletes
Enzo Silva
The Renzo Gracie lightweight has two major titles to his name this year already. He won Pans and Euros with an incredible submission rate, and an equally impressive work rate. He’s an ace in scrambles, and a submission machine from the back. Don’t be surprised to see the lightweight enter and excel in the absolute division if he medals in his category.
Nata Tenca
The footlock specialist took absolute gold at Pans, and won his category at Brasileiros. If he gets a bite on his opponent’s foot, you can expect to see a quick — and violent — finish.
Joao Nascimento “Bolinho”
The Dream Art ultra heavyweight moves surprisingly well for a big guy. “Bolinho” tore through the absolute division at Euros.
Tamara Toros
The Atos blue belt is one gold medal away from completing the grand slam in 2022. This featherweight is on a tear this year.
Keanna Klay
The Gracie Barra middleweight has been shredding the juvenile divisions for years, and proved her merit in the adult divisions with a gold medal performance at Pans. She’s on track to win her first adult world title this year, but she’ll be tested in the stacked middleweight division.
Most Stacked Divisions:
Female Middleweight
The division had a different champion at all three majors. Klay won Pans, Ana Fernandes won Euros and Luana Soares won Brasileiros. The three champs are among the 25 seeking a world title at middleweight.
Male Ultra Heavyweight
As in the female middleweight division, all three majors titleholders from earlier this year will be contending to round off the year with a world title. Among the favorites in the 17-man division are Pans champion Arash Soofiani, Brasileiros and European champion Italo Mendonca and European absolute champ Joao Nascimento.
2022 Majors Champions Registered For Worlds
Kleber Alves (Pans, Brasileiros)
Pedro Moura (Pans)
Bruno Marllon Costa (Pans)
Bernardo Gatti (Brasileiros)
Lisander Lopes (Euros)
Enzo Silva (Euros ,Pans)
Matheus Martins (Brasileiros)
Nata Tenca (Pans ,Brasileiros)
Maycon Amaral (Pans)
Murillo Carillo (Brasileiros)
Salron Zephirin (Pans)
Jose Victor Rossi (Brasileiros)
Joao Nascimento Bolinho (Euros)
Arash Soofiani (Pans)
Italo Mendonca (Euros ,Brasileiros)
Kamily Oliveira (Pans, Brasileiros)
Micaela Gomes (Pans)
Ana Karoline Oliveira (Brasileiros)
Tamara Toros (Euros, Pans, Brasileiros)
Caroline Vinhaes (Brasileiros)
Keanna Klay (Pans)
Ana Fernandes (Euros)
Luana Soares (Brasileiros)
Ashley Green (Pans)
Laura Kolm (Euros)
Blue Belt Stats
516 registered; largest division: male lightweight (71)