The IBJJF Brazilian National Championship is right around the corner and registration is now closed, with participants having reached over 7,000 (a new record for the event). This is one of the biggest tournaments of the year and tons of elite black belts will take the mat searching for major championship gold.

The IBJJF Brazilian National Championship is the third of their four annual major championships, joining the European, Pan, and World Championships. The tournament kicks off April 26th and runs through May 4th, with black belts taking the mats the final two days.

Ranking according to FloGrappling's official men's and women's world rankings;

Men's Rooster

• #9 Welerson Goncalves
• #14 Oziel Santos

The initial tournament favorite, Yuri Hendrex, has moved up so things are pretty open here for someone to win their first black belt major gold. The likely pick is Welerson Goncalves who has podiumed and picked up nice wins at majors.

Favorite to win - Welerson Goncalves

Major contenders - Oziel Santos, Aniel Bonaficio

Dark horse to win - Weslei Costa

Men's Light-Feather

• #1 Diego Pato
• #3 Diogo Reis
• #11 Shoya Ishiguro
• #12 Zach Kaina
• #13 Anderson Delfino
• Leonardo Mario
• Roiter Lima
• Yuri Hendrex

This is another great weight. Originally it had the top-3 with Pan champion Rerisson also in the mix but he dropped so we still have Pato and Baby Shark - one of my favorite rivalries in the sport. These two have gone back and forth with their matches often decided by late dramatics. In their last meeting, however, it was Baby Shark roaring back with an arm triangle submission win at the ADCC Worlds so now Pato has plenty of motivation to get his win back. This is Pato's first time down at light-feather since Worlds last year, which he won, and he's looked great at feather as well. Diogo won Euros but stumbled in the Pan finals with that close, somewhat controversial decision loss to Rerisson. For good action, watch the quarter that includes Shoya Ishiguro, Zach Kaina, and Anderson Delfino - all three are elite and meeting early. Winner of that gets Baby Shark.

Favorite to win - Diego Pato

Major contenders - Diogo Reis, Shoya Ishiguro, Yuri Hendrex, Zach Kaina

Men's Feather

• #3 Meyram Alves
• #4 Alex Sodre
• #5 Diego Sodre
• #7 Cole Abate
• #9 João Mendes
• #11 Isaac Doederlein
• Florian Bayili
• Kevin Gabriel
• Kalel Nascimento
• Marcos Amorim

This is a really deep bracket, as featherweight usually is, and the way the seeds shake out make for one really tough half especially - with Meyram, João Bisnaga, Cole Abate, and Diego Sodre all on the same half (4 of the 5 top ranked guys). The IBJJF uses a mathematical algorithm to seed, so it isn't intentional just how things work out sometimes. Meyram, the defending world champion at the weight, looked incredible at BJJ Stars when he ran up 11 points on Baby Shark - a really rare feat. On the other side of that quarter, Diego Sodre takes on João Bisnaga and the winner likely has Cole Abate. Tough road. Isaac Doederlein and Alex Sodre are on a likely collision course in the other semifinal, but Isaac will need to navigate a match with Florian Bayili that has upset potential all over it.

Favorite to win - Meyram Maquine

Major contenders - Isaac Doederlein, Alex Sodre, João Mendes

Dark horse to win - Cole Abate

Men's Light

• #4 Luiz Paulo
• #15 Julio Arantes
• Sandrey Silva
• Lucas Protasio
• Espen Mathiesen

This is a surprisingly small bracket with only about sixteen guys in it. Usually that means that there's a dominant force in the division driving people out but that isn't really the case here. The bracket is headlined by LP10, Luiz Paulo, who is certainly very good but not a hegemon like we have in some other weights. In his way will be foot lock master Julio Arantes and berimbolo wizard Espen. Both have what it takes to beat anyone entered here.

Favorite to win - Luiz Paulo

Major contenders - Julio Arantes, Espen Mathiesen

Dark horse to win - Lucas Protasio

Men's Middle

• #1 Tainan Dalpra
• #9 Vinicius Martins
• #10 Elijah Dorsey
• #11 Fabyury Khrysthyan
• #12 Gabriel Galvão
• Rafael Borges
• Jefferson Goteu
• Tarik Hopstock
• Pedro Veras

It's a deep weight on talent but there's a force at the top in Tainan who is a very clear favorite. A few years ago I would have said he was a prohibitive favorite but I think there's some interesting matchups here - including Elijah Dorsey who is fresh off of a near-upset of Mica. He's young, well-trained, already experienced, and could be the one for an upset here. Remember it was Elijah who reinjured Tainan's hand at Brasileiros. Also in the mix will be Vinicius Martins and Fabyury Khrysthyan, who have both been on some big podiums but are still hunting that first major gi gold.

Favorite to win - Tainan Dalpra

Major contenders - Fabyury Khrysthyan, Vinicius Martins

Dark horse to win - Elijah Dorsey

Men's Medium-Heavy

• #2 Jansen Gomes
• #5 Gabriel Costa
• #6 Davi Vetoraci
• #7 Uanderson Ferreira
• #10 Matheus Vetoraci
• Matheus Spirandeli
• Dory Aoun
• Lucas Gualberto
• Rafael Paganini
• Rui Alves
• Servio Tulio
• Leo Lara
• Angelo Claiborne

This is a really fun division that is really improved by the inclusion of Jansen Gomes. Jansen is one of the best in the world but just doesn't compete very often so seeing him here in this bracket is really exciting. He has stellar passing and back takes and really made a name for himself at the 2023 Worlds by beating Tainan. It's also really worth watching the Vetoraci brothers, who emerged in a big way at Euros by making the finals with very energetic performances. Both brothers scored big upset wins and fought with a real intensity that should be fun to see against some of the big names here like Jansen and world medalist Costa. Also in the mix should be Uanderson Ferreira who brings probably the best takedown skills to the field but has trouble opening up in bigger matches. This field is littered with tough competitors looking to level up, including Dory Aoun, Matheus Spirandeli, Angelo Claiborne, Gabriel Brod, Rui Alves, and more.

Favorite to win - Jansen Gomes

Major contenders - Davi Vetoraci, Matheus Vetoraci, Gabriel Costa

Dark horse to win - Uanderson Ferreira

Men's Heavy

• #1 Adam Wardzinski
• #3 Pedro Machado
• #4 Roberto Jimenez
• #7 Vinicius Liberati
• #8 Leo Ferreira
• #10 Rider Zuchi
• Hygor Brito
• Gregor Gracie

This is another stacked weight class, featuring many familiar faces for Poland's Adam Wardzinski. Just in 2025, he's beaten every one of the other five ranked grapplers in the field but there have been serious wars to get there. Watch out for an early match between him and Gregor Gracie that could also be a lot of fun. Roberto Jimenez is back and in the bracket here, but it remains to be seen if he makes it after a pretty gnarly armbar at BJJ Stars. If he does compete he starts his campaign Sunday with world silver Liberati, then a potential rematch with Adam. On the other side, Pedro Machado looms large as a potential finalist but the armbar artist will have to get through some tough guys including Rider Zuchi and a streaking Leo Ferreira.

Favorite to win - Adam Wardzinski

Major contenders - Roberto Jimenez, Pedro Machado

Dark horse to win - Leo Ferreira

Men's Super-Heavy

• #2 Erich Munis
• #6 Nolan Stuart
• #11 Windson Torres
• #13 Gabriel Henrique Oliveira
• Elioenai Braz
• Nico Maglicic

The big man is back, the 2024 open class champion from Worlds Erich Munis will return to the IBJJF mats for the first time in major competition this year at Brasileiros. He's the clear man to beat at the weight but he has two young black belts in his way first - Nolan Stuart and Windson Torres. Nolan impressed a lot at Pans with his gold medal run there that was built off a very powerful omoplata game. It wasn't the deepest weight at Pans in terms of names but he really dominated that bracket. Windson also looked great at Euros, winning gold in his first major as a black belt, but lost early at Pans. He's taking his lumps in his rookie year but I do expect he will mature into a very solid contender too. The story of this weight is whether or not either can meaningfully push the dominant Soldiers grappler, who uses his open guard, lapel guard, and ezekiel chokes to great effect.

Favorite to win - Eric Munis

Major contenders - Nolan Stuart, Windson Torres

Men's Ultra-Heavy

• #4 Guilherme Soares
• #5 Luis Cantereira
• #6 Marcus Ribeiro
• #15 Anderson Kauan
• Jose Inacio
• Kjetil Lydvo
• Anderson Munis
• Pedro Lucas

This is a really important bracket heading into Worlds for a few reasons. This weight class, especially when Erich Munis is at super-heavy, is really wide open and we are very likely to get a new world champion this year for ultra-heavy. I think the three most likely candidates are all here, Gui Soares, Luis Cantereira, and Marcus Scooby. Scooby and Luis split matches at Euros and Gui has been right there for a few years now, I really think whoever wins this is the favorite in the Pyramid. Also in the mix is Pedro Lucas, who has the physical power and takedowns to also win. My dark horse pick here is InFight's Anderson Kauan, who nearly won a no-gi world title in 2024 and has developed a really wicked foot lock.

Favorite to win - Luis Cantereira

Major contenders - Gui Soares, Marcus Ribeiro, Anderson Munis

Dark horse to win - Anderson Kauan

Women's Rooster

• #1 Mayssa Bastos
• #5 Mariana Cabral
• #6 Thais Felipe

Mayssa is back down to rooster after her bronze at Pans. Rooster has always been her best weight and often she lacks real competition when she drops down. Here though she will face a tougher test when she faces Thais Felipe of Atos who won Euros and medaled at Pans. Still though, Mayssa is a heavy favorite anytime she enters rooster and this is no different.

Favorite to win - Mayssa Bastos

Major contenders - Thais Felipe

Women's Light-Feather

• #5 Jessica Caroline
• #6 Shelby Murphey
• #8 Brenda Larissa

I think this bracket is kind of basic, but will produce really good action. Jessica Caroline is up from rooster and the one seed, I think she's got a great path to the finals. Brenda Larissa and Shelby Murphey are going to likely face off in the semifinal on the other side and the winner advances to Jessica. At Pans, Shelby won over Brenda and was only seconds from gold before Thaynara Victoria stormed ahead. She's definitely the favorite in that match and I think the bracket but it's no easy path.

Favorite to win - Shelby Murphey

Major contenders - Jessica Caroline, Brenda Larissa

Women's Feather

• #3 Margot Ciccarelli
• #4 Maria Luisa
• #5 Cassia Moura
• #8 Emily Nicholson
• #13 Emilia Pakulski
• Caroline Brunacio
• Laura Riberti Silecki
• Maria Luisa Delahaye

There are a lot of black belts in the mix here. I think the favorite coming in is likely Maria Luiza, who won Pans and last year's Brasileiros. She had a really close, controversial match with Cassia Moura and Cassia has been right on the verge of winning her first black belt major. It might just happen here. Margot of AOJ is also back, and her thoughtful style is always a bonus in any bracket. If she can catch a little momentum, she's hard to beat.

Favorite to win - Maria Luiza

Major contenders - Margot Ciccarelli, Cassia Moura, Emily Nicholson

Women's Light

• #1 Brianna Ste-Marie
• #2 Janaina Maia
• Maria Claudia
• Natalia Zumba

I think this is one of the few weights that is really just a two horse race coming in. Janaina has been on a tear in 2025, winning Euros and Pans with submissions in both finals. The woman in her way now, though, is the last woman to beat her - Brianna Ste-Marie. Both are seeking their first gi world title this year at black belt and it's going to be a war for either to beat the other but BSM has the upper hand here after winning at The Crown last year. Can Janaina even that up and emerge as the top contender before Worlds? A lot on the line here.

Favorite to win - Brianna Ste-Marie

Major contenders - Janaina Maia

Women's Middle

• #2 Larissa Martins
• #3 Thalyta Lima
• #5 Gisele Tavares
• #6 Ana Beatriz Silva
• #8 Elisabeth Clay
• #9 Vitoria Gabriella
• Julia Boscher
• Alexia Arantes
• Vitoria Vieira

Women's middleweight has been really chaotic this year in a good way, producing new contenders and a lot of movement heading into Worlds where we'll get a new champion (with 5-time champion Andressa Cintra not competing). The favorite will be Larissa Martins, but I don't think she's any kind of major prohibitive favorite - there are many quality black belts here. Gisele Tavares, for example, looked great at Pans in winning her first major at black belt. Also watch out for Vitoria Vieira, who's up from her usual home at feather/lightweight.

Favorite to win - Larissa Martins

Major contenders - Thalyta Lima, Gisele Tavares, Vitoria Gabriella

Dark horse to win - Elisabeth Clay

Women's Medium-Heavy

• #4 Ingridd Alves
• #5 Maria Carolina Vicentini
• #6 Aurélie Le Vern
• #7 Sabatha Lais
• #13 Nia Blackman
• Magdalena Loska

Another deep weight for the women, with five ranked black belts (including four in the top ten). 

Favorite to win - Ingridd Alves

Major contenders - Maria Carolina Vicentini, Aurelie Le Vern, Sabatha Lais

Women's Heavy

• #1 Tamiris Silva
• #2 Melissa Cueto
• #3 Izadora Cristina
• #9 Giovanna Jara
• Yara Soares
• Welma Moreira

This bracket will finally see the return of Tamiris after she won Worlds last year in this weight. I think heavyweight for women's black belt has become a really fun weight class because of how many are cutting down to avoid Pessanha. This tournament includes a new name - Yara Soares, who has taken so many silvers behind Gabi at super-heavy. She's got the guard to beat anyone here. Also be on the lookout for Melissa Cueto, a multi-time world champion who always brings extra porrada to the mats.

Favorite to win - Tamiris Silva

Major contenders - Melissa Cueto, Izadora Cristina

Dark horse to win - Yara Soares

Women's Super-Heavy

• #1 Gabi Pessanha
• #3 Tayane Porfirio
• #9 Isa Lemos
• #12 Kauany Ramos
• #14 Mikaela Lima
• #15 Maria Barboza

This is a relatively deep division in one sense, with six top-15 competitors in one bracket. In the real world though, we are all just living in Gabi Pessanha's world once we hit the mats. The greatest women's grappler of all-time is a heavy favorite to continue her reign at Brasileiros, which will officially deliver her fourth straight Grand Slam (according to the IBJJF's definition of the calendar). Her biggest threat would be Tayane, a former IBJJF open class world champion herself, but Gabi has owned that series lately - including a recent submission win at BJJ Stars. That win was controversial, though, as Porifirio did protest the stoppage, but she will need a genuine path to scoring and controlling Pessanha.

Favorite to win - Gabi Pessanha

Major contenders - Tayane Porfirio

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