World-ranked Michael Pixley was dominant today in his official brown belt debut at the 2025 IBJJF No-Gi Pans, as the NCAA wrestling champion went 3-for-3 in submissions with only under two minutes of mat time total. It was a dominant day for Pedigo Submission Fighting's most intimidating athlete.

The IBJJF No-Gi Pan Championship is one of the toughest tournaments of the year, and the unofficial start of the IBJJF's no-gi season. Every match from the No-Gi Pans streams live exclusively on FloGrappling.

Quarterfinal

Michael made his official brown belt debut against Mohmad Waell Qablany and in classic Pixley form it didn't last long. He snapped Mohmad into a front headlock, then rolled through to come up into a cow catcher - the crank was enough to get the submission and put Pixley on the podium.

Semifinal

Michael faced Pietro Emanuel do Amaral Leal in the semifinal. This also wouldn't last long - under a minute. Pietro wisely pulled but Michael circled into north south and as Pietro turtled, the darce was locked and Pixley scored his signature submission. Into the finals with under 90 seconds of mat time.

Final

Michael faced Milo Reid Ketterhagen in the final and scored another timely finish to go 3-for-3 and claim gold. After an early out of bounds throw, Michael slid by his opponent's elbow and slammed him down with a rear body lock mat return. In the scramble, he launched onto another classic darce choke and got the tap.

Michael Pixley looked like a beast in this bracket, no one was able to handle his wrestling, submission prowess, or physicality. After running away with the purple belt Pans & Worlds last year, I think there's a great chance Michael repeats at brown belt - a potential prelude to the black belt.