The way athletes qualify to compete at the Abu Dhabi World Pro has changed. New for 2017 is the announcement that only two athletes from the same country will be eligible to compete in the main bracket. 

The main bracket will feature athletes from different countries, making the World Pro a truly international affair. 

Athletes can qualify for the main tournament in one of two ways. 
• The person with the highest ranking based on UAEJJF points automatically receives a confirmed position as a qualified athlete.
• All other athletes from that country will be placed into a single-elimination bracket called the "World Pro Country Qualifier" where they will face off against each other. The overall winner in each division will earn the second position to fight in the main bracket. 

Some notes: 
• The main bracket starts on Friday, April 21. 
• The World Pro Country Qualifier will occur on Thursday, April 20. 
• Athletes from the same country will be placed on the same side of the main bracket, preventing a final match between two athletes of the same nationality. 
• The runners up of the main brackets will compete in the repechage for the bronze medal. 
• The changes listed above apply to the adult and master 1 brown belt and black belt divisions starting at the 2017 ADWPJJC.
• The top brown & black belt fighters (ranked No. 1) will be directly eligible based on the UAEJJF world ranking. Only one top fighter from each country will be selected according the UAEJJF world rank. 
• The Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2017 is open entry to all fighters from all nationalities, and there is no limit to the number of athletes from any one country who wish to participate. 
• Fighters are not allowed to change their nationalities or team academies during the season. 

The Brazilians Black Belts Qualified For World Pro

Male / Adult / Black / 56kg 
Rodnei Junior 
Zenith 

Male / Adult / Black / 62kg 
Hiago George  
PSLPB Cicero Costha

Male / Adult / Black / 69kg  
Tiago Bravo 
UAEJJ Team - Al Ain 

Male / Adult / Black / 77kg  
Gabriel Arges  
Gracie Barra 

Male / Adult / Black / 85kg  
Marcos Costa 
UAEJJ Team - Training Hall 

Male / Adult / Black / 94kg  
Alexandre Ribeiro 
Ribeiro Jiu-jitsu 

Male / Adult / Black / 110kg  
Jose Junior 
UAEJJ Team - Training Hall 

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Female / Adult / Brown Black / 49kg  
Mayssa Bastos 
GFTeam 

Female / Adult / Brown Black / 55kg  
Talita Alencar 
Alliance Los Angeles 

Female / Adult / Brown Black / 62kg  
Luiza Monteiro 
NS Brotherhood

Female / Adult / Brown Black / 70kg  
Ana Carolina Vieira 
GFTeam 

Female / Adult / Brown Black / 90kg  
Nathiely De Jesus 
Rodrigo Pinheiro Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 

All other Brazilian black belt competitors will need to fight in the World Pro Country Qualifier to qualify for the main bracket

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How to Watch the Abu Dhabi 2017 World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship

On TV: Now available on Roku and Apple TV 4 -- download the FloSports app today.
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Start Times

Abu Dhabi	London	Rio de Janeiro	New York	Houston	Los Angeles
Tue 10:00	Tue 07:00	Tue 03:00	Tue 02:00	Tue 01:00	Mon 23:00

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