Why To Watch IBJJF Worlds 2025
Why To Watch IBJJF Worlds 2025
The IBJJF World Championship will see the return of many familiar faces looking to make this year's competition one that fans won't want to miss.
The most prestigious jiu-jitsu competition of the year has nearly arrived, and registration is filling up with the most elite teams and athletes to ever hit the mat.
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This year's IBJJF World Championship is packed with talent looking to make it into the final round to secure the ultimate global title. From reigning champions to rising stars, the competition will be fierce and unforgiving across the four-day spectacle.
FloGrappling expert Joe Giplin believes there will be a significant showing of first-time world champions this year as multiple athletes pursue gold to round out their careers.
Here are some highlights to look out for before World Championships commence on Thursday, May 29.
How To Watch IBJJF Worlds 2025
Every match of the 2025 IBJJF Worlds will be streamed live on FloGrappling and the FloSports App.
Diego Pato Coming Off Grand Slam
Diego Pato completed the IBJJF Grand Slam last [month] after securing his fourth IBJJF Major title with a victory in the Brasileiro Championship. Oliveira has now won gold in the European, Pan, Brasileiro, and World Championships to secure his place in jiu-jitsu history. He now returns to IBJJF Worlds as the 2021, 2023, and 2024 champion in the light featherweight division as a black belt athlete.
"Pato is like a boxer who has incredible punching power, he only needs to touch the person and they are in profound medical trouble. This lets him take on elite competition on his own terms because everyone has to be so careful with him," says Giplin.
Diego Pato Vs. Diogo "Baby Shark" Reis Rivalry
If there's one competitor who knows how to defend against Pato's inhuman strength, it's rival Diogo "Baby Shark" Reis. They currently sit at a 2-2 head-to-head record in their careers and have only met in the World Championship finals.
Reis surpassed Pato in the race to the IBJJF Grand Slam, receiving gold in all four events in the juvenile and lower belt divisions by 2019 at just 17 years old.
Pato and Baby Shark "are the two best guys in this weight in this era," Gilpin says, and now look to break the tie to determine who is truly on top.
Gabi Pessanha Vs. Tayane Porfírio Rematch
On the women's side of Worlds, the rematch between Gabi Pessanha and Tayane Porfírio should bring th eheat.
Porfírio comes in with a target on her back after ending Pessanha's near-200 match win streak in the 2025 IBJJF Brasileiro Women's Super Heavy final round.
Porfírio had not defeated Pessanha since 2021 and has only won twice across the seven total times the two have been matched.
Pessanha hopes to start anew with a potential seventh gold medal at Worlds this year, but Porfírio might get in the way.
Returning Faces, New Divisions
Many athletes from last year's World Championship showcased a new weight class or belt color in Brasileiros last month, and the 2025 Worlds will mark their second major in their newly debuted divisions.
In turn, Giplin hopes to see some new faces win gold at Worlds this year because of all the shifts, most notably Andy Murasaki, who recently switched from men's middle weight to lightweight.
"I think we are going to have a ton of first time world champions," Giplin says.
"Murasaki has been in three world finals at three weights and keeps coming so close, but he's been against some true all-time greats. Now, he's got the best chance he has ever had - and may ever have - in this year's lightweight division."
Giplin says Yara Soares is also a name to watch, as she just moved down to heavy weight from super heavy after settling for second place against Gabi Pessanha. Soares is already ranked No. 1 in the world at heavy weight and could finally claim her first Worlds title.
World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2025 Schedule
Brackets and full schedule will be released on Tuesday, May 27, but here is the general schedule for the 2025 IBJJF Worlds.
Thursday, May 29
- Blue belt adult
- Purple belt adult
- Brown Belt adult
Friday, May 30
- Blue belt juvenile
- Blue belt adult
- Purple belt juvenile
- Purple belt adult
- Brown belt adult
Saturday, May 31
- Blue belt juvenile
- Purple belt juvenile
- Purple belt adult
- Black belt adult
Sunday, June 1
- Black belt adult
The IBJJF Grand Slam
The IBJJF Grand Slam is a collection of four major gi tournaments throughout the season.
Here’s the schedule for those events:
- The European Championships – Jan. 17-25
- The Pan Championships – March 19-23
- The Brazilian National Championship – April 26-May 4
- The World Championships – May 28-June 2
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