Will the gold medalists from 2015 be able to repeat the success at the 2016 IBJJF World Championships? We analyze the odds of last year’s black belt male division winners based on recent performances and the list of competitors they’ll be up against this year. Will they be able to claim gold once again? Read on for a run through the chances of last year's champs. 

Don’t forget you’ll be able to watch all of the action live or on replay ONLY here on FloGrappling. 

Roosterweight

Last Year’s Winner: Bruno Malfacine

Alliance’s roosterweight king Bruno Malfacine is one of the most dominant world champs in any weight category. With black belt world titles in seven of the last nine years, Malfacine is the heavy favorite whenever his name is on the list. There are few black belts who can hang with Malfacine – even super technical geniuses like Caio Terra struggle in the face of his dynamic and physical game, and Joao Miyao lost to him last year. 

Who else is in?

Caio Terra – Brasa CTA 
Joao Miyao – PSLPB Cicero Costha
Lucas Pinheiro – Checkmat 
Jose Tiago – PSLPB Cicero Costha 
Koji Shibamoto – Tri-Force 

Chances of winning again: -250 

Last Year’s Results

BLACK / Adult / Male / Rooster
First - Bruno da Silva Malfacine - Alliance
Second - João Ricardo Bordignon Miyao - PSLPB Cicero Costha
Third - Rafael Freitas - Gracie Barra
Third - Ivaniel Cavalcante de Oliveira - CheckMat 
_______

Light Featherweight

Last Year’s Winner: Paulo Miyao

No longer just a berimbolo specialist, Miyao has matured into a well-rounded and very tough competitor with a great passing game and insane top pressure for someone of his size. He took gold last year in his first outing at black belt light featherweight, and silver in 2014 losing only to Gui Mendes (now retired). The division is insanely stacked though, with some very tough guys who all have a shot at winning. Miyao’s driven nature and absolute hunger for success puts him slightly above the pack though, making him a slight favorite. 

Who else is in?

Gianni Grippo – Marcelo Garcia / Alliance 
Ary Farias – Atos 
Milton Bastos – Ares BJJ 
Michael Musumeci Jr – Atos 
Hiago George – PSLPB Cicero Costha
Gabriel Moraes – Checkmat 
Isaac Doederlein – Alliance 
Rafael Freitas – Gracie Barra 
Daniel Beleza – SAS Team 

Chances of winning again: -125

Last Year’s Results

BLACK / Adult / Male / Light Feather
First - Paulo Miyao - PSLPB Cicero Costha
Second - Daniel Beleza G. de Andrade - SAS Team USA
Third - Kim Terra - Brasa / CTA / RT
Third - José Tiago da Silva Barros - PSLPB Cicero Costha
_______

Featherweight

Last Year’s Winner: Rafa Mendes

2016 is the year Rafa Mendes goes for his sixth World title. The smart money is on him doing exactly the same thing this year with his trademark precision and focus on the mats. Sure, he’s been almost absent from competition since last year, only returning for a few warm-ups tournaments in the last few weeks, but that won’t stop him from taking it up a gear at Worlds like he always does. Expect an insanely well-prepared and focussed athlete ready to take on the best in the world. Sure, he’s right there in the mix with guys like Cobrinha, Marcio Andre, Queixinho and more, but who honestly thinks Rafa is going to lose? 

Who else is in?

Cobrinha – Alliance
Queixinho – Ares BJJ 
Bruno Frazatto – Atos 
Jorge Nakamura – GF Team 
Marcio Andre – Nova Uniao 
Isaque Paiva – Saikoo 

Chances of winning again: -250

Last Year’s Results

BLACK / Adult / Male / Feather
First - Rafael Mendes Godoy - Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Second - Rubens Charles Maciel - Alliance
Third - Mario Sergio Names Reis - Alliance
Third - Gianni Paul Grippo - Alliance International 
_______

Lightweight

Last Year’s Winner: Michael Langhi

Alliance’s Michael Langhi – he of the impassable guard – is a three-time world champ having closed out last year’s lightweight division with teammate Lucas Lepri. This year the stacked brackets are a lot more challenging and there is a real chance that neither of them may make it past the quarter-finals, although the smart money would wager at least one of them getting through to the semis. The division is one of the deepest in the entire tournament, making it less of a certainty either Langhi or Lepri could take gold this time around – although either one of them on the podium wouldn’t be a surprise. 

Who else is in?

Lucas Lepri – Alliance
Mansher Khera – Alliance
Francisco ‘Sinistro’ – Alliance
JT Torres – Atos 
Michael Liera Jr – Atos 
Alex Cabanes – Atos 
Roberto Satoshi – Atos 
Gabriel Rollo – Checkmat 
AJ Agazarm – Gracie Barra 
Edwin Najmi – Gracie Barra 
Lachlan Giles – Maromba 
Luan Carvalho  – Nova Uniao 

Chances of winning again: +125

Last Year’s Results

BLACK / Adult / Male / Light
First - Michael Alexandre Langhi - Alliance
Second - Lucas Alves Lepri - Alliance
Third - Jonathan Torres - Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Third - Gabriel Rollo da Silva Pontes - CheckMat 
_______

Middleweight

Last Year’s Winner: Claudio Calasans

Middleweight is the deepest division this year with 35 guys all vying for that gold medal. 2015 champ Claudio Calasans had his best career year to date last year in winning Worlds, World Pro and ADCC all in the space of 6 months. He’s coming off a strong performance at the World Pro (where he kneebarred Romulo Barral, no less) but the sheer depth of talent in this division lessens his chances of a repeat feat. Also, Calasans is notoriously hot and cold, and it really depends which Calasans turns up. If it’s the aggressive submission hunter we’ve seen in the past, the gold could be his. If he gets sucked into battling for advantages instead of decisive wins (as he sometimes can be guilty of) then he may go home disappointed. 

Who else is in?

Jhonny Loureiro – Alliance
Jon Satava – Alliance 
Dillon Danis – Alliance 
Marcos Tinoco – Alliance 
Gutu Campos – Atos 
Alan Finfou – Checkmat 
Lucas Leite – Checkmat 
Vitor Oliveira – GF Team
Jaime Canuto – GF Team
Victor Silverio – GF Team
AJ Sousa – GF Team
Otavio Sousa – Gracie Barra 
Victor Estima – Gracie Barra 
Gabriel Arges – Gracie Barra 
Magid Haje – Gracie Barra 
Yago de Souza – NS Brotherhood 

Chances of winning again: +150

Last Year’s Results

BLACK / Adult / Male / Middle
First - Claudio Calasans Camargo Júnior - Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Second - Vitor Henrique Silva Oliveira - GF Team
Third - Victor de Oliveira Estima - Gracie Barra
Third - Otavio Ferreira de Sousa - Gracie Barra
_______

Medium Heavyweight

Last Year’s Winner: Leandro Lo

With stunning performances at Copa Podia, Pans and World Pro, Leandro Lo looks in fine form to repeat the feat at Worlds, even in the face of a killer line-up of very tough opponents. There aren’t many men in the division that he hasn’t beaten before, and he has the tools to take out anybody in his way. But his path to the gold is by no means secure, such is the danger presented by the ranks that stand in his way. 

Who else is in?

Renato Cardoso – Alliance 
Matheus Diniz – Alliance 
Keenan Cornelius – Atos 
Lucas Hulk Barbosa – Atos 
Murilo Santana – Barbosa 
Thiago Sa – Checkmat 
Patrick Gaudio – GF Team 
Romulo Barral – Gracie Barra 
Tanner Rice – Soul Fighters 

Chances of winning again: -150

Last Year’s Results

 BLACK / Adult / Male / Medium Heavy
First - Leandro Lo Pereira do Nascimento - PSLPB Cicero Costha
Second - Tarsis Carvalho Humphreys - Alliance
Third - Gustavo Ramos Campos - Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Third - Renato Guimaraes Cardoso - Alliance 
_______

Heavyweight

Last Year’s Winner: Xande Ribeiro

Xande is one of the few champions who won’t return for another shot at gold. The veteran competed in the masters division of the 2016 Pans and will return later this year for Masters Worlds in Las Vegas. In his place, the path is open for a number of competitors to take gold. Felipe Pena and Jackson Sousa are slated for an early showdown in the brackets and the winner will likely face Erberth Santos, with Andre Galvao an-almost guaranteed presence in the final on the opposite side of the brackets. This one is wide open. 

Who else is in?

Dimitrius Souza – Alliance
Andre Galvao – Atos 
Jackson Sousa – Checkmat 
Felipe Pena – Gracie Barra 
Erberth Santos – Gracie Elite 

Chances of winning again: n/a

Last Year’s Results

BLACK / Adult / Male / Heavy
First - Alexandre Couceiro Ribeiro - Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu
Second - Lucas Joas Gomes Leite - CheckMat
Third - Jackson Sousa dos Santos - CheckMat
Third - Timothy-Michael Spriggs - Team Lloyd Irvin
_______

Super Heavyweight

Last Year’s Winner: Bernardo Faria

Even in a competitive division such as this, Bernardo Faria is in the kind of form that puts him as a square favorite. Faria’s riding the wave of his best career year to date, and his recent performances suggest he’s settled into an unstoppable rhythm few opponents are able to resist. 

Who else is in?

Leo Noguera – Alliance 
Felipe Bueno – Alliance 
Alexandro Ceconi – Ceconi Team 
Luiz Panza – Checkmat 
Igor Silva – GF Team 
Lucio Rodrigues – Gracie Barra 
Guybson Sa – SAS Team 
Rodrigo Cavaca – Zenith  

Chances of winning again: -120

* UPDATE, Sat Jun 3, 3pm PST. Bernardo tore his pec in his absolute semi-final with Erberth Santos and is out! 

Last Year’s Results

BLACK / Adult / Male / Super Heavy
First - Bernardo Augusto Rocha de Faria - Alliance
Second - João Gabriel de Oliveira e S. Rocha - Soul Fighters BJJ
Third - Igor Silva - GF Team
Third - Yuri Costa Simões M. da Silva - Brasa CTA
_______

Ultra Heavyweight

Last Year’s Winner: Gabriel Lucas

When Buchecha blew out his knee at last year’s Worlds, this opened the way for Checkmat teammate to advance to the top of the podium. It was a career-best performance for the young Brazilian and marked him out as a heavyweight to watch, but with Buchecha back it’s hard to imagine how Lucas can win again. Even if he makes it to the final, Buchecha is the more senior team member and as such has priority to take gold. 

Chances of winning again: +250

Who else is in?

Last Year’s Results 

BLACK / Adult / Male / Ultra Heavy
First - Gabriel Lyrio Lucas - CheckMat
Second - Ricardo Ferreira Evangelista - GF Team
Third - Abraham J. Marte Messina - GF Team California
Third - Alexander Riis Hilligsoe Trans - UAE Jiu-jitsu Team