Here are the top five up-and-coming brown belt women coming out of Brazil. Don’t miss the chance to see them at the 2016 IBJJF World Championships, as there's no doubt these competitors will tear it up at black belt very soon. 

The name Tayane Porfirio is no longer a secret! The Alliance star, a double gold medalist at the World Pro as well as European brown belt double gold medal winner, is leading the charge of a new generation of Brazilian women ready to take over the highest levels of jiu-jitsu. 

Five of the best Brazilian brown belt female competitors to watch at Worlds:

Nathiely Karoline

PSLPB Cicero Costha, medium heavyweight
Long and lean, 20-year-old Nathiely caught the attention of the jiu-jitsu world by narrowly losing out to Mackenzie Dern in the absolute division of the World Pro. Ahead on points, Nathiely was given a number of penalties in the dying seconds of the match that led to her disqualification. Her height and long legs means she has a dangerous guard, but training at the tough Cicero Costha gym in Sao Paulo gives her the pedigree to back it up.  

Bianca Basilio

Ryan Gracie, lightweight
Basilio is another Sao Paulo-based grappler. She hails from the elite Ryan Gracie academy, which is renowned for producing aggressive competitors. Basilio is no exception—she was another breakout star at the Abu Dhabi World Pro after making it to the final of the combined black-brown belt absolute division. Basilio lost only to the experienced Beatriz Mesquita (and even beat Luiza Monteiro along the way). Don’t sleep on her. 

Talita Alencar

GF Team, light featherweight
A go-forward grappler cut straight from the typical GF Team mold of hyper-aggressive competitors with dynamic guard passing, Alencar is one of the most active people in her division. She pops up in tournaments around the world and is fearless in her approach. Don’t believe us? Watch her go head-to-head with Tayane at this year’s Europeans. If she fights like that against an ultra heavyweight, imagine what she can do to opponents her own size. 

Catherine Fuhro Perret

Checkmat, featherweight
With dreadlocks piled high on her head, Perret is hard to miss. A Checkmat team member hailing from the south of Brazil and based at Rico Vieira’s Rio de Janeiro academy, she has a dangerous stand-up game with dynamic judo throws and takedowns. Agile from top and hard to hold down on bottom, Perret is a physical competitor and always fun to watch. 

Thamires Aquino

GF Team, light featherweight
A technician that matches skill with aggression, Aquino is another GF Team product from the Rio de Janeiro HQ in Meier. Stylistically different from Alencar, Aquino is more of a guard player, but is no less dangerous. Her flexible spider guard and creative attacks keep opponents on their toes and fans entertained.