The World's Best Colored Belts In For IBJJF No-Gi Pans
The World's Best Colored Belts In For IBJJF No-Gi Pans
Some of the world's best purple and brown belts will be in action at No-Gi Pans– here is who to watch.
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A number of elite colored belts have signed up for this weekends IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship in New York. There are brown belts who are set to compete at ADCC in just a couple weeks and various world champions at blue, purple and brown belt. The brown belts will fight on Saturday the 14th and the purple belts on Sunday the 15th.
Brown belts doing Pans and then ADCC
The two previously mentioned ADCC competitors registered at brown belt will both be competing in the 66kg division later this month at ADCC. Sao Paulo trials winner Ruan Alvarenga (Alliance) and the invited Keith Krikorian (10th Planet) are registered in the featherweight and lightweight divisions respectively this week for No-Gi Pans.
Watch: Keith Krikorian ADCC trials highlight
Steele vs Wiltse sure to be a war
Two of the more exciting brown belts on the scene look set to clash in the middleweight division in Kody Steele (Checkmat) and Andrew Wiltse (Pedigo). Steele is currently ranked no.4 in the FloGrappling No-Gi rankings at 88kg after a win over DJ Jackson. Wiltse is a No-Gi World champion at blue and purple belt already. Both athletes love to scrap and thrive in scrambles, this match might be one of the best of the tournament if it goes down.
Jimenez vs Marinho rematch
Roberto Jimenez (Alliance) will be looking for revenge if he meets up with Pedro Marinho (Gracie Barra) in the heavyweight division. Jimenez is considered one of the best prospects in the sport, but Marinho holds a submission victory over him from earlier this year.
Monster Roosevelt Sousa coming for double gold
One of the favorites in the ultra-heavyweight division and the open class is Roosevelt Sousa (Fight Sports, pictured top). Sousa will not have an easy route though. Although a small bracket, the ultra-heavyweight division contains athletes like Levi Moura, Diego Almeida and Taylor Kettler.
Watch: The New Guard: Roberto Jimenez
Who to watch at purple
The purple belt divisions contain a number of ranked athletes. A showdown between Rico 'The Flash' Staton (Lloyd Irvin) and Robin Bohlin (Atos) is certain to be high paced and features two of the best purple belts in the world at light-feather. Normally also at light-feather, Thalys Pontes (Cicero Costha) might be considered the favorite in a 24-man featherweight division. There are many athletes to keep an eye on at purple, but Izaak Michell (Absolute MMA) at light, Felipe Porto (Fight Sports) at middle and Dante Cano (Alliance) at heavy are good picks to go far in their brackets.
Watch The 2019 IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship Live or On Demand