The IBJJF European Championship's women's black belt divisions are some of the most exciting of the tournament, with many big name competitors signed up to compete.

There's a mix of new and old, with some recognizable names from past years but a fresh crop of black belts making their debut at the Euros.


Roosterweight
A bracket of two, the only two roosterweights are no strangers to one another, but they normally fight as light-featherweights. Outi Jarvilehto is making her black belt debut but she has competed against Serena Gabrielli before. Serena placed third last year in the light-featherweight division.

Light Featherweight
The light featherweight division this year is stacked, with previous year's champion Kristina Barlaan of Caio Terra in the mix once again. The 2016 world champion, Gezary Matuda will be making her debut at the Europeans and hoping to earn her first title at this event, and very well may. Sofia Amarante of Fight Sports, a seasoned competitor will be in the bracket as well as new standout black belt Ana Talita Alencar who is on fire. Talita just won her division this past weekend at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in the UAE. Chelsea Bainbridge-Donner of Atos placed third last year and new black belt Thamires Aquino of GFTeam will also be making her debut.

Featherweight
Since last year's two-person bracket, the featherweight division has improved to six females. Previous champion, world champion and winner of 2016 best female grappler award, Mackenzie Dern will be making it to the podium as we expect and last year's second place medalist Yasmine Wilson is vying for her spot once again. Another big name in this division is Leticia Ribeiro's student Maxine Thylin who is pushing for her big break at black belt.

Lightweight
Lightweight has a number of world champions and some major standouts but no previous medalists present. Multiple-time world champion Beatriz Mesquita will be in town, and Luiza Monteiro, winner of last year's middleweight division, has moved back down to lightweight-- a place she hasn't been for awhile. Veteran Fabiana Borges of Gracie Barra hasn't been on the competition scene in awhile and we're excited to have her back. And we cannot forget that Tammi Musumeci, who has defeated some of the best names in the female categories will be making her first trip to the Europeans. Last year's brown belt lightweight champion Eirin Nygren will be making her black belt debut.

Middleweight
Ana Carolina Viera Srour, despite being a new black belt, has already made a big enough name to be considered a favorite in the middleweight division having just won her Abu Dhabi Grand Slam division. Last year's third place medalist Amanda Loewen will be a challenger and avid competitor Megan Nevill of Marcelo Garcia has a chance to medal as well.

Medium heavyweight
Both Nathiely de Jesus and Ida Floisvik are new black belts in the medium-heavyweight division who are meeting the other two females Krarolina Zawodnik and Olga Lyashevska who placed second and third last year respectively. Nathiely is another athlete who is on a tear, also coming from Abu Dhabi with a UAE gold in hand.

Heavyweight
At heavyweight there are only two females, Claudia Doval and Nivia Moura, who will both be making the podium in a division that had no one in it last year. Two-time double gold world champion Dominyka Obelenyte was signed up but dropped out.

Super Heavyweight
Super-heavyweight division houses the previous year's vice-champion and world champion Venla Luukkonen along with the new tough black belt, Alliance's Tayane Porfirio who has been on a winning streak.

Absolute
As far as the open class, Mackenzie Dern placed second last year and has a chance to win it this year, however names like Tayane and Nathiely can take the gold as well. We can't forget about the world champions, Luiza Monteiro, Beatriz Mesquita, Tammi Musumeci, who will make it an exciting bracket dependent upon who signs up.

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