We’ve picked out half a dozen of the best brown belts that you should keep an eye on at this weekend’s No Gi World Championships. 

Obviously the brown belt division is stacked with talent and some of them will be future world champions, but here are 6 guys to keep an eye on. We chose the guys on this list based on their recent performances and how much potential we think they’ve got. 

There will no doubt be plenty more brown belt who will impress over the weekend, if you've got a top for one to watch let us know in the comments. 

Isaque Bahiense – Aliance – Middleweight 

Since getting his brown belt just after this years’s IBJJF World Championships, the Alliance rep has been on a tear winning double gold at tournaments including the Rio Winter Open, the Miami Open, and most importantly, the No-Gi Pans just last month in New York. To top it off, he's recently been training with Marcelo Garcia in a bid to sharpen his no-gi game. Expect a strong performance this weekend. 

Watch Isaque in action at 2015 No-Gi Pans

Jessica Oliveira – Gracie Barra – Female middle heavyweight 

Oliveira hails from Manaus, a city renowned for producing storied grapplers. A silver medal at this year’s ADCC in Sao Paulo marked her as a no-gi talent, as did a double gold at this year’s Manaus No-Gi Open. She took double gold at 2014’s World No-Gi as a purple belt, so she’ll be looking to repeat the feat this year. 

Gordon Ryan – Gracie Elite Team America – Lightweight 

21-year-old Ryan has yet to register any significant achievements in IBJJF tournaments but he’s been making waves on the New York / New Jersey regional circuit. He’s a product of the Renzo Gracie network and has Garry Tonon, Tom DeBlass and John Danaher as his coaches. 

Talita Alencar – GF Team – Female featherweight 

Rio de Janeiro’s Alencar is a ferocious grappler who always competes with a ton of intensity. She’s equally proficient in both gi and no-gi, having won gold as a purple belt at both the 2014 American Nationals (weight and absolute) and at 2014’s No-Gi Worlds (with a bronze in the openweight). 

Kristian Woodmansee – ATOS – Roosterweight  

ATOS Jiu-Jitsu’s roosterweight is a prolific competitor well-known on the circuit, and for good reason. He’s as entertaining as he is effective when on the mat, and he’s got the results to prove it: gold at the No-Gi Europeans this year, gold at 2013 No-Gi Worlds, and a bronze in 2014. Should he get gold again this could be the year he finally gets his black belt. 

Watch Woodmansee in action at 2015 No-Gi Pans

Gutemberg Pereira – GF Team – Super heavyweight

Another product of the champion factory that is GF Team’s Rio de Janeiro HQ, Pereira is a lanky grappler still growing into his sizeable frame. He took gold at the recent No-Gi Pans as an ultra heavyweight along with a bronze in the absolute. A World gi and no-gi gold medallist medallist at purple belt, he’ll look to continue his streak this weekend with another run, this time at super heavyweight. 

Watch Pereira in action at 2015 No-Gi Pans 



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