At FloGrappling, we’re always searching for the athletes who represent the future of jiu-jitsu, people that fans should get excited about as the next vanguard of greatness in this martial art & sport. That’s the goal of our “Prospect of the Month” series, where we highlight one rising star you should know before the rest of the world catches on.

We haven't profiled anyone quite like Hazel Rose Butcher-Salazar yet because there really aren't many grapplers who have come along with a story quite like hers. She's only been training for five years now and she's already established herself as one of the best colored belts on the planet, winning four world gold medals already at blue & purple and a dominant Grand Slam campaign on track at brown belt.

The Alliance brown belt began training in 2021 at the Alliance gym in Madison, Wisconsin and since she began her competitive career she has been finding incredible success against girls who have much more experience. She has not only closed that gap, she has widened it and in 2024 (only three years into beginning jiu-jitsu) she won double gold at the Worlds at juvenile 2 blue belt. The juvenile blue belt ranks are often packed with athletes who have been training their whole lives and are considered a great indicator of future success; to win double gold after only a few years of active experience is nearly unheard of.

Hazel would follow that up the next year by graduating to the adult ranks and winning double gold at both the Pans and Worlds. After getting her brown belt, the momentum has only picked up with heavyweight gold at Euros followed by double gold at Pans & the Brasileiro. 

Hazel brings a no-nonsense pressuring style to the competition mats that wilts people like the proverbial flower whose name she bears. Over and over she has shown the ability to melt good opponents over time with patience, power, and position that belies her experience level. As she has continued to mature her style, we are seeing more and more submission finishes as well.

She will certainly have a tough division at Worlds, May 28th on FloGrappling, with Greta Notaro, Danielle Olafson, and Anna Vyrginnia da Silva Rocha entered at heavyweight brown belt - but Hazel enters as the favorite not just in that division but also the open class.