The 2025 IBJJF No-Gi World Championship are going down in a matter of days and while the black belts will take center stage on Friday, Thursday features one of the best lineups of brown belts we have ever seen at this tournament. The brown belt divisions are loaded with athletes who are already competing on major stages, finishing opponents at a high rate, and pushing the pace with modern, submission-focused styles. With international talents, wrestling converts, and plenty of athletes already competing at the highest levels of grappling, this is going to be a can't-miss day. Here’s a look at 20 of the top brown belts fans should keep their eyes on in Las Vegas, NV.

Michael Pixley - First match Thursday 1:20pm CDT
Perhaps the most intimidating man in grappling takes the mats again this week, as Pixley takes aim at brown belt world gold. Michael Pixley enters No-Gi Worlds with a well-earned reputation for relentless pressure and a game built to break opponents - mentally and physically. Known for his wrestling pedigree and lethal front headlock series, he has found success in every ruleset he has competed in. The 2024 ADCC placewinner and purple belt world champion enters as one of the weekend's biggest favorites. A few matches to watch out for is a potential semifinal against Poland's Mateusz Mazur and Atos's Nata Tenca.

Owen Jones - First match Thursday 12:50pm CDT
The brash Londoner Owen can win his first colored belt world title this week! He brings a fast-paced, submission-first style that makes him a constant threat in extended scrambles. Owen is a consummate student of the game who is always on top of the most recent trends - but doesn't have as much IBJJF experience as some of these other guys which can be a liability. His bracket is very tough, with an early pigtail bout and then an early one against the 1-seed Shai Iftar. Also in that lightweight bracket will be Alex Vasquez, Diallo Braithwaite, Riley Golden, Luca Ramaci, Daniel Deeder, Tarciscio Santos, and Joshua Lorton. This is probably the toughest division at the weight and Owen got a bad draw, so it'll be a tough day even given his track record of success.

Jacob Bornemann - First match Thursday 11:30am CDT
"Little Jacob" is staying busy! After his big breakout performance at ADCC East Coast Trials, where he was promoted on the mat after winning gold, Jacob Bornemann now turns right around to debut at this level at No-Gi Worlds. He is a physical takedown artist and top player who is as aggressive as he is well-conditioned. His passing, especially high steps, looked great at Trials so watch out for some more of that here. He will get a pigtail and then the two-seed to open up, so we will find out quickly if he is the man to beat here.

Emily Leyva - First match Thursday 1:30pm CDT
Emily Leyva takes aim at another colored belt world title after winning purple belt in the gi earlier this year. The Atos Dream Teamer is a super aggressive competitor who comes to the mat with vicious intentions, which has produced some incredible moments over the year - including a few dramatic late comebacks. Don't blink when Emily is up, she is about as exciting a brown belt as there is in this tournament.

Marlon Tajik - first match Thursday 12:40pm
Marlon Tajik has had a great 2025 no-gi season, with double gold at Euros to compliment gold at Pans as well. Marlon is a calculated finisher who thrives in tactical matches. His guard-heavy style makes it easy for him to start chaining together submission threats, especially his inversion into the saddle. 

Felipe Goulart - first match Thursday 11:50am CDT
Felipe Goulart put himself on the map by winning the IBJJF purple belt world absolute this year - as a light-feather! The AOJ brown belt brings a polished, technical game that he has been honing with instruction from mentors like the Mendes Brothers, Tainan Dalpra, and Cole Abate. He is most dangerous when he is finding the back, but he has a very diverse skillset if called upon. Watch out for a tough one early against Igor Moreira of CheckMat before he hits the 1-seed Guilherme Lucas.

Grayson Henley - first match Thursday 11:30am CDT
Grayson Henley is riding high from the momentum of his 33-second submission at WNO 31, snatching the Caio Terra ankle lock for the quick tap. He is a high-output competitor known for his scrambling ability and explosive transitions. He thrives in chaotic exchanges where timing and instinct matter most. Expect Henley to push the pace from the beginning of the match as a habit. He's the two-seed here and a potential match with Goulart looms.

Jadeya Reber
Jadeya is our second Dream Team member here, one of Atos's premier female squad who have been winning individual and team accolades at the highest levels over the last few years. Now she's in for No-Gi Worlds as the two-seed at brown belt lightweight. If she can navigate her way there, she has a potential semifinal with Trinity Pun.

Cindy Ung - first match Thursday 3:18pm
Cindy Ung had a great No-Gi Pans, winning gold in a tough bracket at feather. She brings a calm, methodical approach built around control and precision. At No-Gi Worlds, that patience could be the key to a long tournament run because this is a deep bracket full of potential champs. Cindy had a short run at East Coast Trials so I think the motivation will be high for her to get back on the right track.

Nick Hartmann - first match Thursday 1:20pm
Nick Hartmann really put himself on the map in 2025, with a submission-heavy run to the ADCC East Coast Trials finals, gold at IBJJF No-Gi Pans, and a strong double medal performance at the IBJJF No-Gi European Championship. He has a really atypical style for someone his size, with a focus on guard play that you usually see from much smaller grapplers. He makes it work beautifully though, and his leg locks are quickly becoming some of the best in the heavyweight divisions.

Enrico Said - first match Thursday 2:40pm
Enrico Said comes out of the VRMA gym and has all the tools to be a top guy in grappling. He's tough, he's technical, he submits tons of people, and carries himself with confidence. He's a guy who is going to stay dangerous until he finally breaks through, at least in my opinion. On the mat, he is known for his smooth transitions into submissions, especially variations of triangles (including arm triangles, lower body triangles, and buggy chokes). He is especially dangerous in scrambles where creativity becomes an advantage. Also in this bracket will be some very tough guys like Linus von Shrenk, Takeshito Tanino, Placido Santos, and Dylan Melton.

Natã Tenca - first match Thursday 11:30am CDT
Natã Tenca comes in as one of Atos's best colored belt big man, with his best skill being leg locking but he has a well-rounded skillset when he needs it. He has had some great matches against guys like Achilles Rocha before but is still looking for that big win to start building off of. That could come here as he brings a guard that can really trouble Michael Pixley if they both reach the finals.

Shye Lilly - first match Thursday 3:08pm
Shye Lilly brings a dynamic style and comes out of a really tough gym in 10th Planet Las Vegas, and I think she's a real dark horse at brown belt lightweight this week. She has solid wrestling, scrambling, and escapes but more than anything else she is just a very tough competitor who doesn't quit easily. I think if she hits the right groove in her bracket she can put together a run to gold. Her biggest early test will be against Baly of Nxtgen, who is moving up from light-feather.

Ian Daube - first match Thursday 12:10pm CDT
Ian Daube is one of the most physically imposing guys at any weight, with power that you just can't replicate. He's got a patient, technical style and works with great gyms like 10th Planet and Legion and is fresh off of a bronze medal run at the ADCC East Coast Trials. He lost in the semifinals there by heel hook to Nick Hartmann - who he will see second round if he wins his pigtail. Crazy draw but that's the way the brackets fall sometimes - I think it's reasonable to say whoever wins that rematch is the favorite for the bracket.

Libby Genge - first match Thursday 2:58pm CDT
Elizabeth Genge is a really interesting brown belt prospect from the UK. She won No-Gi Pans earlier this year at lightweight with an upset over Trinity Pun, but since then she dropped down a weight class to feather and lost an early match at No-Gi Euros. Now, she's back at feather for Worlds and has the two-seed in a really stacked bracket. I am really looking forward to getting another chance to see where she stacks up in the field.

Chazz Canas - First match Thursday 12:10pm CDT
Chazz Canas is a really talented grappler known for his fun, flow-heavy style. He thrives in fast exchanges where opponents are forced to make quick decisions, and has plenty of experience to take advantage of any mistakes. He won at IBJJF No-Gi Pans and will have an even deeper bracket here - including Little Jacob on the other side of the bracket as a potential final.

Trinity Pun - First match Thursday 3:10pm CDT
Trinity Pun enters the tournament with a calm, controlled approach that prioritizes control that leads to submission. The Kingsway brown belt has trained since she was very young with Professor John Danaher and continues to show impressive skills and toughness. She is difficult to rush and rarely overextends. That composure could carry her deep into the bracket.

Cholena Horne - First match Thursday 2:20pm
Cholena is a really under-appreciated talent out of Canada who has been slowly building her name on the regional circuit. She's had a few runs to the quarterfinals of North American Trials but no medal yet. No-Gi Worlds could be a major breakthrough moment for her. If she can get past her first one with Giovanna Chaves, look out for a tough semifinal with purple belt standout Eliza Nascimento.

Peyton Letcher
Peyton Letcher is a relentless competitor who is back after a silver medal in 2024 for another shot at brown belt medium-heavy gold. She had a great No-Gi Pans where she won gold and enters this bracket as the three seed. In her way will be one-seed Greta Notaro.

Hannah Griffith - first match Thursday 4:08pm CDT

The Griffith family is certainly riding high after Hannah's brother Luke won the WNO heavyweight championship - now she gets her chance to add an IBJJF brown belt heavyweight gold medal of her own. Hannah trains at Kingsway as well and has had great success so far this year, including gold at No-Gi Pans. She excels at working from top with tight pressure over time. At No-Gi Worlds, that measured style could be the formula for success.