BJJ Stars is set to return in Brazil and on FloGrappling on Friday, October 21 for a lightweight grand prix. The eight-man gi bracket, dedicated to the memory of Leandro Lo, will feature two IBJJF world champions, and a battery of top contenders hungry to make their mark on the division.

Matheus Gabriel the 2019 IBJJF featherweight world champ, and Meyram Maquine Alves, who won that title earlier this year, will be the top two seeds in the bracket, but the rest are anyone’s guess.

They could run into AJP World Pro champions Israel Almeida and Argentinian Pablo Lavaselli, who recently joined Art Of Jiu-Jitsu. Also named to the bracket, Luiz Paulo of Fight Sports Manaus, Darlan Casaca of Atos, Pedro Maia of Six Blades and Walisson Oliveira, a BJJ Stars vet representing Guigo.

The winner of the GP will earn R$100,000 — equivalent to $19,000

BJJ Stars 9 will also feature nine premiere superfights in both gi and no-gi formats. Gi matches will use modified IBJJF rules, while no-gi matches will use ADCC rules.

In the feature bout, Mica Galvao will take on former teammate Isaque Bahiense in a no-gi match between ADCC veterans, both of whom won the South American Trials in 2022. 

In the co-main superfight, Samuel Nagai will face Fabricio Andrey in a rematch from one of the best matches of the year at IBJJF Worlds. This time, “Samurai” and “Hokage” will square up in a no-gi match, a potential fight of the night.

Earlier on the card, Paulo Miyao will return to action to take on Alexandre Vieira, Viktor Doria will face Roberto Godoi in a masters gi matchup.

Dream Art’s Thalyta Silva will have her hands full in a no-gi match against ADCC 2017 champ and 2022 bronze medalist Bia Mesquita. Jansen Gomes will face Marcos Petcho in a battle of grappling reality show veterans. Pedro Machado and Rider Zuchi will put their BJJ Stars experience to the test in a gi matchup.

Three time world champ Anna Rodrigues will welcome Maria Claudia, the rookie black belt from Infight, to the top level of grappling.

And two of the top heavyweight women from Brazil, Ingirdd Alves and Sabatha Lais will finally come head to head.

BJJ Stars 9 will be streamed live and on demand on FloGrappling for viewers outside of Brazil. Audiences watching from Brazil will need to visit bjjstars.tv to access the pay-per-view stream.