The future of women’s brazilian jiu-jitsu just could be the 16-year-old dynamo Helena Crevar.

At 15, Crevar reached the 2022 ADCC West Coast Trials quarterfinals before losing to Elisabeth Clay. Later that year, she nearly beat the ADCC Trials finalist Nathalie Riberio at the ADCC Las Vegas Open. 

Yes, she was just 15.

Crevar’s rise over the last year has been swift and at just 16 she’s on the card for Tezos Who’s Number One: Meregali vs. Duarte on Thursday, Aug. 10. The event is streaming live on FloGrappling and the FloSports app. 

WNO: Meregali vs. Duarte features a stacked card along with one-half its co-main event, Nicholas Meregali facing Kaynan Duarte in a heavyweight bout.

Meregali made quick work of Pedro Marinho in the last WNO event in May, but now faces Duarte, the 2022 ADCC World Champion in the light heavyweight division. Duarte won gold in the super-heavyweight division at the 2023 IBJJF European Championships.

But the undercard features several anticipated fights, including Crevar’s WNO debut against Healy Dayan. Here’s what to know about Helena Crevar.

Subscribe To FloGrappling To Watch Tezos WNO: Meregali vs. Durarte

The Rise of Rene Sousa: How The 10th Planet Star Became More Than The Buggy

What Belt Is Helena Crevar?

Crevar is a blue belt. 

Because Crevar is just 16 as of July 2023, she is not eligible for a brown (17-years-old minimum age) or black belt (19). The IBJJF requires athletes to spend a mandatory minimum at each belt level.

IBJJF has a minimum of two years for blue belts. According to the IBJJF: “The periods mentioned are not fixed, but demanded minimums. Each professor determines how long each practitioner should remain in each belt.” The only exception is for world champions at a belt level, who immediately become eligible for promotion regardless of time spent at that belt.

Tickets are on sale now to watch Tezos WNO 19: Meregali vs Duarte presented live by Fat Tire!

Helena Crevar Trains With Gordon Ryan, John Danaher At New Wave Jiu-Jitsu

In December 2022, Crevar moved to Austin, Texas to train with New Wave Jiu-Jitsu under John Danaher. The legendary coach works with Gordon Ryan and Garry Tonon as well as WNO headliner Nicholas Meregali. 

"I've always admired the way Mr. Danaher teaches, and I've learned a lot from watching his instructionals," Crevar told FloGrappling in December. "When I got the chance to visit and train, they were all very welcoming at Roka (New Wave's training facility). I also got the chance to go to one of Gordon Ryan's seminars, and he is one of the athletes I look up to."

Where is Helena Crevar ranked in her BJJ weight class?

The FloGrappling rankings have Crevar ranked No.10 in the world in the women’s 145 pound class, the youngest athlete currently appearing in our senior-level rankings.

Meet Carlos Henrique: The Dream Art Star Ready To Shine At WNO 19

Felipe Pena Excited To Face An Aggressive, Dangerous Haisam Rida At WNO

Concrete, Steel And Hard Work: A Taste Of Pro Training At Essential

WNO: Meregali vs. Duarte Full Card

• Main Event: Nicholas Meregali vs Kaynan Duarte | Heavyweight bout
• Co-Main Event: Ffion Davies (c) vs Jasmine Rocha | Flyweight title bout

Main Card:

• Dante Leon vs Ethan Crelinsten | Lightweight title bout
• Felipe Pena vs Haisam Rida | Heavyweight bout
• Nicky Ryan vs Rene Sousa | Welterweight bout
• Andrew Tackett vs Troy Russell | Welterweight Bout

Undercard:

• Sebastian Rodriguez vs Hunter Colvin | Middleweight bout
• Ben Eddy vs Carlos Henrique | Featherweight bout
• Helena Crevar vs Healy Dayan | Featherweight bout
• Achilles Rocha vs JB Bechtloff | Middleweight bout

How To Watch WNO: Nicholas Meregali vs. Kanyan Durate On FloGrappling

The next Tezos WNO event is Aug. 10 in Austin, Texas at the Palmer Events Center. 

The co-main event of Nicholas Meregali vs. Kanan Durate is a no-gi match. The card also includes Felipe Pena, Nicky Ryan and more. Tezos WNO: Meregali vs. Durate will stream on FloGrappling and the FloSports app. 

Replays of the matches will be available on both platforms.