2016 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu ChampionshipJun 4, 2016 by Hywel Teague
Can 2015's Winners Repeat Their Success At IBJJF 2016 World Championships?
Can 2015's Winners Repeat Their Success At IBJJF 2016 World Championships?
Will the gold medalists from 2015 be able to repeat the success at the 2016 IBJJF World Championships? We analyze the odds of last year’s black belt male di
Will the gold medalists from 2015 be able to repeat the success at the 2016 IBJJF World Championships? We analyze the odds of last year’s black belt male division winners based on recent performances and the list of competitors they’ll be up against this year. Will they be able to claim gold once again? Read on for a run through the chances of last year's champs.
Don’t forget you’ll be able to watch all of the action live or on replay ONLY here on FloGrappling.
Joao Miyao – PSLPB Cicero Costha
Lucas Pinheiro – Checkmat
Jose Tiago – PSLPB Cicero Costha
Koji Shibamoto – Tri-Force
Chances of winning again: -250
First - Bruno da Silva Malfacine - Alliance
Second - João Ricardo Bordignon Miyao - PSLPB Cicero Costha
Third - Rafael Freitas - Gracie Barra
Third - Ivaniel Cavalcante de Oliveira - CheckMat
_______
Ary Farias – Atos
Milton Bastos – Ares BJJ
Michael Musumeci Jr – Atos
Hiago George – PSLPB Cicero Costha
Gabriel Moraes – Checkmat
Isaac Doederlein – Alliance
Rafael Freitas – Gracie Barra
Daniel Beleza – SAS Team
First - Paulo Miyao - PSLPB Cicero Costha
Second - Daniel Beleza G. de Andrade - SAS Team USA
Third - Kim Terra - Brasa / CTA / RT
Third - José Tiago da Silva Barros - PSLPB Cicero Costha
_______
Queixinho – Ares BJJ
Bruno Frazatto – Atos
Jorge Nakamura – GF Team
Marcio Andre – Nova Uniao
Isaque Paiva – Saikoo
First - Rafael Mendes Godoy - Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Second - Rubens Charles Maciel - Alliance
Third - Mario Sergio Names Reis - Alliance
Third - Gianni Paul Grippo - Alliance International
_______
Mansher Khera – Alliance
Francisco ‘Sinistro’ – Alliance
JT Torres – Atos
Michael Liera Jr – Atos
Alex Cabanes – Atos
Roberto Satoshi – Atos
Gabriel Rollo – Checkmat
AJ Agazarm – Gracie Barra
Edwin Najmi – Gracie Barra
Lachlan Giles – Maromba
Luan Carvalho – Nova Uniao
First - Michael Alexandre Langhi - Alliance
Second - Lucas Alves Lepri - Alliance
Third - Jonathan Torres - Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Third - Gabriel Rollo da Silva Pontes - CheckMat
_______
Jon Satava – Alliance
Dillon Danis – Alliance
Marcos Tinoco – Alliance
Gutu Campos – Atos
Alan Finfou – Checkmat
Lucas Leite – Checkmat
Vitor Oliveira – GF Team
Jaime Canuto – GF Team
Victor Silverio – GF Team
AJ Sousa – GF Team
Otavio Sousa – Gracie Barra
Victor Estima – Gracie Barra
Gabriel Arges – Gracie Barra
Magid Haje – Gracie Barra
Yago de Souza – NS Brotherhood
First - Claudio Calasans Camargo Júnior - Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Second - Vitor Henrique Silva Oliveira - GF Team
Third - Victor de Oliveira Estima - Gracie Barra
Third - Otavio Ferreira de Sousa - Gracie Barra
_______
Matheus Diniz – Alliance
Keenan Cornelius – Atos
Lucas Hulk Barbosa – Atos
Murilo Santana – Barbosa
Thiago Sa – Checkmat
Patrick Gaudio – GF Team
Romulo Barral – Gracie Barra
Tanner Rice – Soul Fighters
First - Leandro Lo Pereira do Nascimento - PSLPB Cicero Costha
Second - Tarsis Carvalho Humphreys - Alliance
Third - Gustavo Ramos Campos - Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Third - Renato Guimaraes Cardoso - Alliance
_______
Andre Galvao – Atos
Jackson Sousa – Checkmat
Felipe Pena – Gracie Barra
Erberth Santos – Gracie Elite
First - Alexandre Couceiro Ribeiro - Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu
Second - Lucas Joas Gomes Leite - CheckMat
Third - Jackson Sousa dos Santos - CheckMat
Third - Timothy-Michael Spriggs - Team Lloyd Irvin
_______
Felipe Bueno – Alliance
Alexandro Ceconi – Ceconi Team
Luiz Panza – Checkmat
Igor Silva – GF Team
Lucio Rodrigues – Gracie Barra
Guybson Sa – SAS Team
Rodrigo Cavaca – Zenith
First - Bernardo Augusto Rocha de Faria - Alliance
Second - João Gabriel de Oliveira e S. Rocha - Soul Fighters BJJ
Third - Igor Silva - GF Team
Third - Yuri Costa Simões M. da Silva - Brasa CTA
_______
First - Gabriel Lyrio Lucas - CheckMat
Second - Ricardo Ferreira Evangelista - GF Team
Third - Abraham J. Marte Messina - GF Team California
Third - Alexander Riis Hilligsoe Trans - UAE Jiu-jitsu Team
Don’t forget you’ll be able to watch all of the action live or on replay ONLY here on FloGrappling.
Roosterweight
Last Year’s Winner: Bruno Malfacine
Alliance’s roosterweight king Bruno Malfacine is one of the most dominant world champs in any weight category. With black belt world titles in seven of the last nine years, Malfacine is the heavy favorite whenever his name is on the list. There are few black belts who can hang with Malfacine – even super technical geniuses like Caio Terra struggle in the face of his dynamic and physical game, and Joao Miyao lost to him last year.Who else is in?
Caio Terra – Brasa CTAJoao Miyao – PSLPB Cicero Costha
Lucas Pinheiro – Checkmat
Jose Tiago – PSLPB Cicero Costha
Koji Shibamoto – Tri-Force
Chances of winning again: -250
Last Year’s Results
BLACK / Adult / Male / RoosterFirst - Bruno da Silva Malfacine - Alliance
Second - João Ricardo Bordignon Miyao - PSLPB Cicero Costha
Third - Rafael Freitas - Gracie Barra
Third - Ivaniel Cavalcante de Oliveira - CheckMat
Light Featherweight
Last Year’s Winner: Paulo Miyao
No longer just a berimbolo specialist, Miyao has matured into a well-rounded and very tough competitor with a great passing game and insane top pressure for someone of his size. He took gold last year in his first outing at black belt light featherweight, and silver in 2014 losing only to Gui Mendes (now retired). The division is insanely stacked though, with some very tough guys who all have a shot at winning. Miyao’s driven nature and absolute hunger for success puts him slightly above the pack though, making him a slight favorite.Who else is in?
Gianni Grippo – Marcelo Garcia / AllianceAry Farias – Atos
Milton Bastos – Ares BJJ
Michael Musumeci Jr – Atos
Hiago George – PSLPB Cicero Costha
Gabriel Moraes – Checkmat
Isaac Doederlein – Alliance
Rafael Freitas – Gracie Barra
Daniel Beleza – SAS Team
Chances of winning again: -125
Last Year’s Results
BLACK / Adult / Male / Light FeatherFirst - Paulo Miyao - PSLPB Cicero Costha
Second - Daniel Beleza G. de Andrade - SAS Team USA
Third - Kim Terra - Brasa / CTA / RT
Third - José Tiago da Silva Barros - PSLPB Cicero Costha
Featherweight
Last Year’s Winner: Rafa Mendes
2016 is the year Rafa Mendes goes for his sixth World title. The smart money is on him doing exactly the same thing this year with his trademark precision and focus on the mats. Sure, he’s been almost absent from competition since last year, only returning for a few warm-ups tournaments in the last few weeks, but that won’t stop him from taking it up a gear at Worlds like he always does. Expect an insanely well-prepared and focussed athlete ready to take on the best in the world. Sure, he’s right there in the mix with guys like Cobrinha, Marcio Andre, Queixinho and more, but who honestly thinks Rafa is going to lose?Who else is in?
Cobrinha – AllianceQueixinho – Ares BJJ
Bruno Frazatto – Atos
Jorge Nakamura – GF Team
Marcio Andre – Nova Uniao
Isaque Paiva – Saikoo
Chances of winning again: -250
Last Year’s Results
BLACK / Adult / Male / FeatherFirst - Rafael Mendes Godoy - Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Second - Rubens Charles Maciel - Alliance
Third - Mario Sergio Names Reis - Alliance
Third - Gianni Paul Grippo - Alliance International
Lightweight
Last Year’s Winner: Michael Langhi
Alliance’s Michael Langhi – he of the impassable guard – is a three-time world champ having closed out last year’s lightweight division with teammate Lucas Lepri. This year the stacked brackets are a lot more challenging and there is a real chance that neither of them may make it past the quarter-finals, although the smart money would wager at least one of them getting through to the semis. The division is one of the deepest in the entire tournament, making it less of a certainty either Langhi or Lepri could take gold this time around – although either one of them on the podium wouldn’t be a surprise.Who else is in?
Lucas Lepri – AllianceMansher Khera – Alliance
Francisco ‘Sinistro’ – Alliance
JT Torres – Atos
Michael Liera Jr – Atos
Alex Cabanes – Atos
Roberto Satoshi – Atos
Gabriel Rollo – Checkmat
AJ Agazarm – Gracie Barra
Edwin Najmi – Gracie Barra
Lachlan Giles – Maromba
Luan Carvalho – Nova Uniao
Chances of winning again: +125
Last Year’s Results
BLACK / Adult / Male / LightFirst - Michael Alexandre Langhi - Alliance
Second - Lucas Alves Lepri - Alliance
Third - Jonathan Torres - Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Third - Gabriel Rollo da Silva Pontes - CheckMat
Middleweight
Last Year’s Winner: Claudio Calasans
Middleweight is the deepest division this year with 35 guys all vying for that gold medal. 2015 champ Claudio Calasans had his best career year to date last year in winning Worlds, World Pro and ADCC all in the space of 6 months. He’s coming off a strong performance at the World Pro (where he kneebarred Romulo Barral, no less) but the sheer depth of talent in this division lessens his chances of a repeat feat. Also, Calasans is notoriously hot and cold, and it really depends which Calasans turns up. If it’s the aggressive submission hunter we’ve seen in the past, the gold could be his. If he gets sucked into battling for advantages instead of decisive wins (as he sometimes can be guilty of) then he may go home disappointed.Who else is in?
Jhonny Loureiro – AllianceJon Satava – Alliance
Dillon Danis – Alliance
Marcos Tinoco – Alliance
Gutu Campos – Atos
Alan Finfou – Checkmat
Lucas Leite – Checkmat
Vitor Oliveira – GF Team
Jaime Canuto – GF Team
Victor Silverio – GF Team
AJ Sousa – GF Team
Otavio Sousa – Gracie Barra
Victor Estima – Gracie Barra
Gabriel Arges – Gracie Barra
Magid Haje – Gracie Barra
Yago de Souza – NS Brotherhood
Chances of winning again: +150
Last Year’s Results
BLACK / Adult / Male / MiddleFirst - Claudio Calasans Camargo Júnior - Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Second - Vitor Henrique Silva Oliveira - GF Team
Third - Victor de Oliveira Estima - Gracie Barra
Third - Otavio Ferreira de Sousa - Gracie Barra
Medium Heavyweight
Last Year’s Winner: Leandro Lo
With stunning performances at Copa Podia, Pans and World Pro, Leandro Lo looks in fine form to repeat the feat at Worlds, even in the face of a killer line-up of very tough opponents. There aren’t many men in the division that he hasn’t beaten before, and he has the tools to take out anybody in his way. But his path to the gold is by no means secure, such is the danger presented by the ranks that stand in his way.Who else is in?
Renato Cardoso – AllianceMatheus Diniz – Alliance
Keenan Cornelius – Atos
Lucas Hulk Barbosa – Atos
Murilo Santana – Barbosa
Thiago Sa – Checkmat
Patrick Gaudio – GF Team
Romulo Barral – Gracie Barra
Tanner Rice – Soul Fighters
Chances of winning again: -150
Last Year’s Results
BLACK / Adult / Male / Medium HeavyFirst - Leandro Lo Pereira do Nascimento - PSLPB Cicero Costha
Second - Tarsis Carvalho Humphreys - Alliance
Third - Gustavo Ramos Campos - Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Third - Renato Guimaraes Cardoso - Alliance
Heavyweight
Last Year’s Winner: Xande Ribeiro
Xande is one of the few champions who won’t return for another shot at gold. The veteran competed in the masters division of the 2016 Pans and will return later this year for Masters Worlds in Las Vegas. In his place, the path is open for a number of competitors to take gold. Felipe Pena and Jackson Sousa are slated for an early showdown in the brackets and the winner will likely face Erberth Santos, with Andre Galvao an-almost guaranteed presence in the final on the opposite side of the brackets. This one is wide open.Who else is in?
Dimitrius Souza – AllianceAndre Galvao – Atos
Jackson Sousa – Checkmat
Felipe Pena – Gracie Barra
Erberth Santos – Gracie Elite
Chances of winning again: n/a
Last Year’s Results
BLACK / Adult / Male / HeavyFirst - Alexandre Couceiro Ribeiro - Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu
Second - Lucas Joas Gomes Leite - CheckMat
Third - Jackson Sousa dos Santos - CheckMat
Third - Timothy-Michael Spriggs - Team Lloyd Irvin
Super Heavyweight
Last Year’s Winner: Bernardo Faria
Even in a competitive division such as this, Bernardo Faria is in the kind of form that puts him as a square favorite. Faria’s riding the wave of his best career year to date, and his recent performances suggest he’s settled into an unstoppable rhythm few opponents are able to resist.Who else is in?
Leo Noguera – AllianceFelipe Bueno – Alliance
Alexandro Ceconi – Ceconi Team
Luiz Panza – Checkmat
Igor Silva – GF Team
Lucio Rodrigues – Gracie Barra
Guybson Sa – SAS Team
Rodrigo Cavaca – Zenith
Chances of winning again: -120
* UPDATE, Sat Jun 3, 3pm PST. Bernardo tore his pec in his absolute semi-final with Erberth Santos and is out!Last Year’s Results
BLACK / Adult / Male / Super HeavyFirst - Bernardo Augusto Rocha de Faria - Alliance
Second - João Gabriel de Oliveira e S. Rocha - Soul Fighters BJJ
Third - Igor Silva - GF Team
Third - Yuri Costa Simões M. da Silva - Brasa CTA
Ultra Heavyweight
Last Year’s Winner: Gabriel Lucas
When Buchecha blew out his knee at last year’s Worlds, this opened the way for Checkmat teammate to advance to the top of the podium. It was a career-best performance for the young Brazilian and marked him out as a heavyweight to watch, but with Buchecha back it’s hard to imagine how Lucas can win again. Even if he makes it to the final, Buchecha is the more senior team member and as such has priority to take gold.Chances of winning again: +250
Who else is in?
Last Year’s Results
BLACK / Adult / Male / Ultra HeavyFirst - Gabriel Lyrio Lucas - CheckMat
Second - Ricardo Ferreira Evangelista - GF Team
Third - Abraham J. Marte Messina - GF Team California
Third - Alexander Riis Hilligsoe Trans - UAE Jiu-jitsu Team