New black belts have entered the rank following standout performances at the 2023 IBJJF Worlds. Some were promoted to black belts at the venue, while others were promoted at their home academies following the end of the world championships.

Atos and Dream Art promoted the most new black belts after Worlds, but they weren't the only teams to bring new athletes to the top rank.

Rafael Silveira | Atos Jiu-Jitsu | @rafaeltsilveira 

Rafael redeemed himself at the Walter Pyramid this year. At the 2022 IBJJF Worlds, he was disqualified in his first match after a controversial reaping. He began his 2023 season early, winning all the IBJJF opens at brown belt within the year, then the 2023 IBJJF Pan and the 2023 IBJJF Worlds. After winning the middleweight division at Worlds, he was promoted to black belt by Andre Galvao, concluding his brown belt career with a no.1 pound-for-pound IBJJF ranking.

Nicholas Maglicic | Atos Jiu-Jitsu | @nicomaglicic

Aussie super-heavyweight Nico Maglicic has been making noise since winning the open weight division and getting the silver medal in the super-heavyweight division at the IBJJF 2022 Pans, followed by the silver medal at the 2022 IBJJF Worlds. This year, Nico secured double gold at Pans and won the super-heavyweight division at Worlds, earning a promotion to black belt from Andre Galvao at Atos HQ. 

Luccas Lira | Atos Jiu-Jitsu | @lirabjj

In 2022, Luccas spent some time training and competing in Abu Dhabi. He also had an landmark year in the no-gi sphere, and was invited to join the ADCC main event after his performance in the ADCC Trials in Brazil, but due to visa issues, he wasn't able to travel to the ADCC World Championships. 

Lira went on to climb several mountains in the US. At the 2022 IBJJF No-Gi Worlds, he won a double bronze medal, then won a silver medal at the 2023 IBJJF Pans, and then became the 2023 IBJJF brown belt world champion in the heavyweight division. Atos’ new addition was promoted to black belt by Professor Leo D’Avila at Atos Miami.

Matheus “Teteu” Menezes | Atos Jiu-Jitsu | @teteubjj

Teteu has been training since the age of 19 and has now been promoted by Professor Andre Galvao to represent Atos in the black belt ultra-heavyweight division. During Teteu's colored belt career, he displayed impressive abilities. At brown belt, he won bronze at the IBJJF Pans and Worlds in 2021, then became a 2-time Pan champion in 2022 and 2023. He is now ready to rock at the highest level.

Maria Luiza Nunes | Almeida JJ | @marialuiza.j

Maria Luiza, a rising star of Almeida JJ, was promoted to black belt by Professor Caio Almeida and Bianca Basilio after winning the 2023 IBJJF Worlds in the featherweight division. Maria has been training under the Almeida brothers since the beginning of her career. This year she won a gold medal at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals, a silver medal at the IBJJF Pans, and a bronze medal at the IBJJF Euros as well. She finished her brown belt era ranked first in the featherweight division by IBJJF.

Marco Mendes | Dream Art | @marcomendesbjj

The Dream Art representative Marco Mendes spent only nine months in the brown belt. In the featherweight division, he performed well in the gi and no-gi, winning back-to-back IBJJF Opens and the 2023 IBJJF Pan and Worlds in the gi. After closing out the featherweight division with his teammate Guilherme Fernandes at the Worlds, he was promoted by his adoptive father Javier Gomez to black belt on the podium.

Guilherme Fernandes | Dream Art | @guifernandesbjj

Currently training and living in Brazil, Guilherme won each of the three majors that he competed in the season: the 2023 Pans, Brazilian Nationals, and Worlds. After closing out with his teammate Marco Mendes at the 2023 IBJJF Worlds, Guilherme was promoted to black belt by Isaque Bahiense on the podium. He recently won his first CBJJ Open as a black belt in Rio de Janeiro - the Rio Open.

Kevin Gabriel | Dream Art | @kevingabriel_jj

In the light featherweight division, Kevin Gabriel made noise throughout the colored belt ranks. In 2021, he won Brazilian Nationals and Pans; in 2022, he got the silver medal at the IBJJF Worlds and gold at Pans as a purple belt. As a brown belt, he won three of the four majors (Pans, Brasileiro, and Worlds) to receive his black belt right after winning the light featherweight final. Professor Lucas Gualberto threw the belt on the mat, then officially promoted him to the rank on the podium.

Maria Carolina “Maca” Vicentini | Dream Art | @macavicentini 

Training since the age of four, Maca was promoted to black belt after winning the medium-heavyweight division and getting third place in the open class at the 2023 IBJJF Worlds by Lucas Gualberto and Marcos Gabriel “Biro Biro” on the podium. Being a well-rounded athlete, she had an impressive her color belt career, utilizing her flexible guard, pressure pass, and sharp wrestling game. Maca trained under Professor Marco Barbosa until this year, but after Pan, she was signed by Dream Art.

Pedro Silva | Dream Art | @pedrosilvajj

Pedro received his black belt from Isaque Bahiense after the 2023 IBJJF Worlds. He didn’t place at the tournament but had an impressive performance through his brown belt journey, winning the 2022 IBJJF Pans and 2023 CBJJ Brazilian Nationals. Now he is ready to shine in the medium-heavyweight division, one of the most competitive weight categories at black belt.

Shelby Murphey | AOJ | @shelbymurpheyjj

Shelby Murphey was promoted to black belt by Professor Guilherme Mendes after winning the brown belt rooster weight division. More than that, she won three consecutive world titles in the colored belt. Having trained since age ten, the nineteen-year-old has spent only nine months in the brown belt and demonstrates a highly technical style. Besides being a promising name in competitions, she has also worked to help AOJ build the women's and kid's programs. 

Rayron Gracie | Renzo Gracie Academy | @rayrongracie 

Keeping Gracie’s legacy alive, Rayron won the brown belt open class at the 2023 IBJJF Worlds and got the silver medal in the super-heavyweight division. He was promoted to black belt by his cousin Kyra Gracie. After achieving the world title in all colored belts, Rayron is now preparing to continue his family legacy at the highest level since Roger and Kyra were the last Gracie's black belt World champions in 2010.

Brígida Carvalho | Qatar/Vision | @brigidacarvalhobjj

After an impressive brown belt journey, winning the 2023 IBJJF Euros, the 2023 CBJJ Brazilian Nationals, and the 2023 IBJJF Worlds in the middleweight division, Brigida Carvalho was promoted to black belt by Paulo “Paulão” Rezende. Currently, she lives in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where she teaches kids and beginners.

Kauane Ramos da Silva | Fight Sports | @kacheadabjj 

As a result of Kauane's impressive performance at the 2023 IBJJF Worlds, she was promoted to black belt by Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu and João Costa after winning double gold in the super-heavyweight division and open class. She also won the super-heavyweight division at this year's IBJJF Pans and finished third in open class. In addition, she won the 2022 IBJJF No-Gi Pans.

Vitória Assis | Double Five | @viassisjj

The light-featherweight Vitória Assis had amazing performances in her color belt career on both gi and no-gi. She spent one year on her brown belt, winning a few IBJJF Opens, No-Gi Worlds, Gi and No-Gi American Nationals, and the 2023 IBJJF Pans. She was the first female black belt to be promoted by Bruno Formiga after getting third place at the 2023 Worlds.

José Jurema | CheckMat | @josejuremabjj 

José Jurema was promoted to black belt by his professor from Brazil Sebastian Lalli. Currently living in Daphne, Alabama, he trains under Scott Miller. He made his way to the podium at the 2023 and 2022 IBJJF Worlds, got the gold at the 2022 Pans and is another great addition to the stacked black belt medium-heavy division.  

Eduardo “Dudu” Granzotto | CheckMat | @dudugranzottobjj 

With Dudu Granzotto's promotion, the black belt featherweight division is full of fresh, competitive blood. 

Professor Ricardo Vieira promoted Dudu to black belt a year and a half as a brown belt. CheckMat's representative has trained since the age of seven and is an IBJJF European Champion, IBJJF No-Gi Pans Champion, and bronze medalist at the 2022 IBJJF World Championships.

Abbigayle “Abbi” Pontes | LEAD JJ | @abbipontesbjj 

Abbi hit the beam two years in a row before winning the 2023 IBJJF Worlds in the brown belt light-featherweight division. After the title, she was promoted to black belt by his husband and professor Thalys Pontes on the podium.

Heloysa Oliveira | Gracie Barra | @helobjj

Training since the age of six, Heloysa Oliveira was promoted to black belt on the podium by her professor Rodrigo Augusto and her father Rafael Hipolito after winning the lightweight division at the 2023 IBJJF Worlds. She has been training for the past fourteen years and spent only four months at brown belt. Now she is ready to showcase her jiu-jitsu at the highest level.

Shay Montague | ECJJA | @shay_montague

European, Shay Montague is the newest addition to the rooster weight division. He had stunning performances during his color belt career, winning the 2023 IBJJF Worlds, 2022 Brasileiro, Pan, and Euros as well as the 2022 No-Gi Pans and No-Gi South American Championship. He was promoted by Darragh O'Conaill.