With less than 48 hours to go until the 2015 No-Gi World Championships we got FloGrappling senior editor Hywel Teague and BJJ Heroes head honcho Andre Borges to break down the black belt divisions.

Agree or disagree with the picks? Leave a comment below and let us know who you’ve got!

ROOSTER

Hywel Teague: I think it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that this is Caio’s, right?

Andre Borges: Agreed, no one is quite at his level in the galos. The great thing about this division is the return of Yusuke Honma to a top IBJJF event, one of the most prestigious Japanese black belts to ever grace the mats. Looking forward to seeing how his awesome butterfly guard will fair against Terra’s all round game. He’s beaten the Japanese before, but they never matched up without the gi as far as I remember.

LIGHT FEATHER

HT: Only eight guys in the light featherweight division but man, they’re all tough as the come. Still, the favorite has got to be Joao Miyao. He’s so hard to beat and only a couple of guys, such as Chantre, can even score on him in my opinion.

AB: Very well balanced division, this edition of No-Gi Worlds is one of the toughest ever. Samir Chantre and Somalia have great chances of winning, but I totally agree that Miyao is the favorite.

FEATHER

AB: Man, this division is anybody’s guess, very evenly stacked. Moizinho, Grippo, Isaque Paiva, Kim Terra, too many good names. Tanquinho is the most accomplished on paper, he hasn’t lost to many, particularly in no-gi where his phenomenal base is such a factor, but I think my pick will be Paulo Miyao. The kid has been on an absolute tear lately.

HT: Yeah this division is stacked! It’s going to be tough even getting through to the semis, depending on the brackets. I think this could be a tough run for Miyao, Kim Terra’s been closing in on him lately and Queixinho has definitely got the smarts and the strategy to out-point him. However, my money is on Tanquinho - as you said, his base is insane and in no-gi he’s so tough to catch.

LIGHT

HT: I kind of feel like this is maybe too obvious, picking Michael Langhi to win, but he’s so experienced compared ot some of the other younger guys that I think that could carry him through to the gold here.

AB: I would pick Langhi for gold as well, but I can easily see a new star emerging from this division in Mansher Khera, Thiago Gaia or Garry Tonon.

MIDDLE

HT: OK, so I will admit that until recently Felipe Cesar wasn’t really on my radar. He made it to the finals of the ADCC trials in Sao Paulo, only losing to absolute winner Claudio Calasans, but it was his recent gold at the No-Gi Brazilian nationals that really impressed me. I think he could do it – or maybe I’m being wishful here.

AB: I see Felipe Cesar as one of the favorites too, but his style matches poorly against a strategic grappler like, say DJ Jackson, who in return matches poorly against Otavio Sousa. Would love to see the brackets before making a pick, but judging on well-roundedness I will go with Otavio.

MIDDLE HEAVY

AB: This division really shows how much new talent has been coming out of Brazil recently, Charles Negromonte, Patrick Gaudio, Marcos Tinoco, Thiago Sá, Matheus Dininz all have good chances to medal here. The gold will likely rest around Matheus’ chest, I agree.

HT: Yeah I think it’s his, too. I’ll be keeping a close eye on Lucas ‘Hulk’ Barbosa from ATOS, and I think Gaudio’s going to be really hungry after his knee problems, but Matheus is looking great recently. We all saw what he did at No-Gi Pans.

HEAVY

AB: Small division, but with some good match-ups ahead. Pena vs Spriggs in the final, advantage to Pena.

HT: I’m defnitely taking Preguica here too, although I think it’ll be him and Jackson Sousa in the final.

SUPER HEAVY

HT: He didn’t sparkle at ADCC in August but I think Joao Assis could take this. I’ll be keeping a close eye on Roberto Alencar, Guybson Sa and James Puopolo, but Assis is one of those crafty veterans.

AB: Joao Assis looks the strongest, or at least the most accomplished, but I think the big guys will struggle with the movement of Lucas Rocha, I’m picking him as the favorite.

ULTRA HEAVY

AB: This will be awesome, the debut of Mahamed Aly and Jared Dopp at black belt. Hard not to see Cyborg taking this, but boy does he have some challenges ahead of him.

HT: Yeah he does! And I’m with you, I’m excited to see Aly and Dopp at black belt now.

LIGHT FEATHER

HT: Kristina Barlaan is my pick here, she’s a prolific competitor and she’s been getting great results both gi and no-gi.

AB: I must admit I don’t know too much about Barlaan, apart from her being a Caio Terra black belt. I am going with Chelsea Leah as she seems to be the most experienced and accomplished in the division.

FEATHER

AB: Even if this is the biggest division in the female black belt tournament, gathering a staggering 4 athletes, there is not a lot to discuss when Dern is on the brackets. Dern meets Tammi in the final for a great show as always.

HT: I’m with you. Mackenzie is so sharp right now. Tammis is tough as they come but I think it’s too much to expect her to take out Dern.

LIGHT

HT: Karen’s got this if you ask me. She looked so solid at the FIVE Grappling super league back in August, even if she did lose to Mackenzie.

AB: Karen Antunes is fantastic to watch, picking her as well.

MIDDLE

AB: Megan will be a cool challenge for Galvao, but Angelica should get through this and come out the victor.

HT: Yeah I don’t see Angelica losing here.

MIDDLE HEAVY

HT: I think, based on her competition results, that Leanna Dittrich could take this. She’s a black belt under Cyborg, and she’s generally had more success at high levels that Correa.

AB: Going with Andressa Correa in this one, though Leanna could easily take it as well.


Watch the 2015 No-Gi Worlds EXCLUSIVELY here on FloGrappling.com – more info here.