By Michael Sears

Some of the most exciting jiu-jitsu athletes from across the globe are converging on the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in London on March 10-11 to compete in the UAEJJF's last major event before the World Pro.

Here are a few athletes to look out for in the colored belt divisions.

Watch the 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam London LIVE on FloGrappling

Thalison Soares

Cicero Costha – purple belt 56kg

One of the most promising prospects in jiu-jitsu and part of an all-star roster of Cicero Costha purple belts, “Little Miyao” has not lost in his weight category since 2016 and is currently undefeated at purple belt. Soares enjoyed a monumental year in 2017, as he completed the IBJJF Grand Slam by winning Worlds, Pans, Europeans, and Brasileiros, as well as the UAEJJF World Pro. 

Photo: Michael Sears

Soares is currently the second-ranked purple belt for the 2017-18 season behind teammate Jonas Andrade with 1,060 points and gold medals at the Abu Dhabi, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo Grand Slams. The Cicero Costha team currently has four out of the top 10 purple belts in the UAEJJF and will send a large contingent to London that also includes Andrade and 2017 purple light-featherweight world champ Diego Batista.

Alexssandro Sodre 

Nova Uniao – brown belt 69kg

A 2017 brown belt world champion and representative of the champion factory that is Clube Feijao in southern Brazil, Sodre is currently the fourth-ranked brown belt in the UAEJJF. 

Photo: Michael Sears

This season Sodre has a 29-3 record and gold medals at both the Abu Dhabi and Los Angeles Grand Slams. Also be on the lookout for Sodre’s Clube Feijao teammate and 2017 world champ Victor Nithael at purple belt 77kg.

Matheus Felipe

Checkmat – brown belt 110kg

The 2017 IBJJF world champ at brown belt ultra-heavyweight has distanced himself from the pack with an incredible 2,100 points in this UAEJJF season. Felipe has already won the Grand Slams in Abu Dhabi, Los Angeles, and Tokyo along with several Continental and National Pro events. A win in London would make it unlikely that any brown belt can possibly catch him this year in the rankings. Felipe’s Checkmat teammate and 2017 brown belt world silver medalist Gabriel Almeida will also be competing in London in the 85kg division.

Carlos Oliveira

GF Team – brown belt 62kg (pictured above right) 

Roosterweight Carlos “Bebeto” Oliveira has been on a rampage in the brown belt lower weight divisions over the last few months. A product of the legendary GF Team headquarters in Meier, Rio de Janeiro, Bebeto has won the Los Angeles and Rio de Janeiro Grand Slams already this season. 

Photo: Michael Sears

Also a South American and Brasileiro champ, he recently submitted all of his opponents on his way to gold at the European Championships in Lisbon, Portugal.

The 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam London takes place March 10-11 and is streaming LIVE or On Demand on FloGrappling.