2026 IBJJF No-Gi Pan Championship: Black Belt Brackets Feature Elite Talent Across 17 Divisions
The 2026 IBJJF No-Gi Pan Championship brought together some of the sport’s most exciting competitors, with stacked black belt brackets and major championship opportunities on the line.
The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) released the official adult black belt brackets for the 2026 No-Gi Pan Championship ahead of the tournament, which took place October 2–4 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey.
One of the premier competitions on the no-gi calendar, the tournament attracted established world champions, returning titleholders, and emerging black belt talent competing for Pan-American gold.
Black Belt Divisions Bring Championship-Level Competition
The official brackets featured nine men’s and eight women’s adult black belt weight classes, offering competitors opportunities to establish themselves among the sport’s elite.
Men’s Black Belt Divisions
- Roosterweight
- Light-Featherweight
- Featherweight
- Lightweight
- Middleweight
- Medium-Heavyweight
- Heavyweight
- Super-Heavyweight
- Ultra-Heavyweight
Women’s Black Belt Divisions
- Roosterweight
- Light-Featherweight
- Featherweight
- Lightweight
- Middleweight
- Medium-Heavyweight
- Heavyweight
- Super-Heavyweight
The brackets provided a look at potential matchups and championship paths across the tournament’s adult black belt divisions.
Notable Athletes Headline the Competition
Among the recognizable competitors associated with the 2026 tournament were Pawel Jaworski, Helena Crevar, Tarik Hopstock, and Sarah Galvão.
The men’s light-featherweight division was particularly intriguing, featuring decorated competitors such as Edwin “Junny” Ocasio, Vinicius Inacio, Carlos “Bebeto” Oliveira, and John Stapleton.
Ocasio entered as the top seed, while defending Pan No-Gi champion Inacio occupied the second seed. With former world champions and proven international competitors in the field, the division offered one of the event’s most competitive championship paths.
Across the tournament, the presence of accomplished veterans and emerging talent highlighted the depth of the modern no-gi competitive landscape.
A Major Stop on the No-Gi Calendar
The Pan No-Gi Championship has developed into one of the IBJJF’s most significant annual events, providing competitors with an opportunity to earn prestigious titles and build momentum toward future international competitions.
The 2026 edition arrived shortly after the ADCC World Championships, giving fans another opportunity to watch high-level submission grappling under the IBJJF ruleset.
Unlike ADCC competition, IBJJF no-gi matches operate under a points-and-advantages scoring system with their own restrictions and match structure, creating different tactical considerations for athletes.
Where to Find the Full Brackets and Match Replays
The championship took place October 2–4, 2026, with matches broadcast on FloGrappling.
Fans can review the original black belt bracket announcement and access available archived event footage through FloGrappling.
Full brackets: https://www.flograppling.com/articles/16217923-ibjjf-no-gi-pan-championship-black-belt-brackets-are-out
Official event information: https://ibjjf.com/news/2026-pan-no-gi-event-details-guide
With another major no-gi tournament in the books, the 2026 Pan Championship further demonstrated the depth of international Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition and the growing number of athletes capable of challenging for major titles.
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