The 2021 IBJJF Pan Championship is shaping up to be the most star-studded gi event of the last 18 months. Returning Pans champions, rookie black belts, and some of Brazil’s finest up and coming competitors are all in the mix.

While Pans will be a great opportunity to watch some of the most competitive black belts square off for a coveted title, it’s also a chance to look toward the future. Some of the brown belts registered for Pans show promise to be future black belt champions. They have the precision, the athleticism, the star power; these are the brown belts to watch at the 2021 IBJJF Pan Championships on September 1-5.

Male Roosterweight | 13-man division

The favorites:

• Osamah Almarwai
• Pierre Pires
• Eric Naples
• Tadiyah Danforth
• Chris Tran

Male Light Featherweight | 13-man division

The favorites:

• Thalys Pontes*
• Ermeson Rogerio
• Aidan Collins

Thalys Pontes earned his brown belt in 2020, a few months after earning a Pans title. During his Pans run, he won each of his four matches via submission. Pontes is best known for his vicious loop choke, and his perpetually dangerous closed guard. He’s the man to beat in this division. Currently 17-0 as a brown belt, Pontes will be the top dog in this division.

Male Featherweight | 25-man division

The favorites:

• Ismael Santos*
• Zach Kaina’alili*
• Vinicius Silva
• Richard Bukovcsan
• Edward Lucero Jr.
• Rohan Patel

Ismael dos Santos is one of the top prospects at featherweight. He’s fresh off a gold medal performance at American Nationals, and has been piling up medals in the weight class — not to mention the absolute division — all year.

Art Of Jiu-Jitsu’s newest brown belt, Zach Kaina has had the purple belt featherweight division under lock and key for the last two years. Now he’s prepared to try his skills at the next level. Kaina is technical, strategically savvy, and keeps a high pace, which makes him one to keep an eye on in this division.

Male Lightweight | 28-man division

The favorites:

• Eduardo Roque*
• Daniel Sathler
• Anthony Ortiz

Eduardo Roque seems to have spent every weekend this year atop a podium. Roque knows when to turn up the pace, and when he does, he generally keeps the scramble alive until he finds a submission. He took bronze at Pans in 2020, and will have his eyes set a few levels higher this time around.

Male Middleweight | 26-man division

The favorites:

• Austin Oranday*
• Jonathan Fennell
• Benjamin Kunzle
• Dante Muschamp

Austin Oranday has been stockpiling hardware in the middleweight division since early 2020. He has a finisher’s spirit, and is particularly dangerous with his leg locks. This may be his division to take.

Male Medium Heavyweight | 19-man division

The favorites:

• Mateus Rodrigues*
• Jansen Gomes
• Aaron Tiegs
• Jorge Valladares

The heaviest top prospect out of AOJ, Matheus Rodrigues regularly submits any and all opponents set before him. He should be considered the favorite to win this division, and to reach the absolute podium as well.

Male Heavyweight | 18-man division

The favorites:

• Elder Cruz*
• Jacob Couch*
• Felipe Costa*
• Ramiro Leon

The heavyweight division may be the most exciting of the brown belt tournament. “El Monstro,” Elder Cruz looked stellar in his brown belt debut at American Nationals. “The Hillbilly Hammer,” Jacob Couch, will be a fan favorite in this division. But the unsung hero is “Laranjinha,” Felipe Costa, who has demonstrated a better gi pedigree than his division cohorts. He’s the next big star out of Six Blades, and this could be his coming out party.

Male Super Heavyweight | 9-man division

The favorites:

• Javier Zaruski*
• Renan Cruz

Javier Zaruski of Atos has been one of the toughest draws in the heavy weight classes all year. He has a pressure oriented style, with which he wears down his oppoents, and usually grinds out a late arm triangle submission.

Male Ultra Heavyweight | 13-man division

The favorites:

• Taylor Kettler
• Guilherme Bacha
• Matheus Menezes

Female Roosterweight | 7-woman Division

The Favorite

• Jhenifer Aquino

Female Light Featherweight | 8-woman division

The favorites:

• Jessie Crane*
• Abbi Pontes*

Jessica Crane has been dominant all year on the IBJJF circuit. Without a doubt, she’ll be the one to beat here. But new brown belt Abbi Pontes could pose a substantial threat to Crane. She recently defeated the decorated black belt Brenda Larissa at AJP Miami. Last time Pontes and Crane met, Pontes won a decision victory for gold at 2020 Pans when both women were purple belts.

Female Featherweight | 11-woman division

The favorites:

• Priscilla Eckhardt
• Fernanda Figueira

Female Lightweight | 8-woman division

The favorite:

• Thamires Monteiro

Female Middleweight | 5-woman division

The favorite:

• Deise Leonanjo

Deise Leonanjo has been atop nearly every podium at purple belt, and has remained successful since earning her brown belt in July. Pans gold in her first try would be a huge feather in her cap, and she's the favorite to win it here.

Female medium heavyweight | 5-woman division

The favorite:

• Larisa Dias

Female heavyweight | 5-woman division

The favorites:

• Leticia Cardozo
• Luciana Mota

Female Super Heavyweight | 3-woman division

The favorite:

• Maryanna Cardoso

Full 2021 IBJJF Pans Brown Belt Roster:

Adult / Male / Rooster

TOTAL: 13

Adult / Male / Light-Feather

TOTAL: 13

Adult / Male / Feather

TOTAL: 24

Adult / Male / Light

TOTAL: 28

Adult / Male / Middle

TOTAL: 26

Adult / Male / Medium-Heavy

TOTAL: 19

Adult / Male / Heavy

TOTAL: 18

Adult / Male / Super-Heavy

TOTAL: 9

Adult / Male / Ultra-Heavy

TOTAL: 13

Adult / Female / Rooster

TOTAL: 7

Adult / Female / Light-Feather

TOTAL: 8

Adult / Female / Feather

TOTAL: 11

Adult / Female / Light

TOTAL: 8

Adult / Female / Middle

TOTAL: 5

Adult / Female / Medium-Heavy

TOTAL: 5

Adult / Female / Heavy

TOTAL: 5

Adult / Female / Super-Heavy

TOTAL: 3