If you needed persuading Leandro Lo was one of the greatest grapplers to compete in the sport of jiu-jitsu, look no further than his incredible performance at the 2018 IBJJF Pans, which netted him two gold medals and furthered his record to an astounding eight Pan titles. 

With the two gold medals (for winning heavyweight and open class) he won last Sunday in Irvine, California, Lo nips at the heels of two icons of the sport for the record of most black belt championship titles at Pans.

Andre Galvao and Gabi Garcia both hold nine Pan gold medals, putting them tied for first in the list of all-time most winningest Pan champions. Only five men and four women have won more than five gold medals in the history of Pans (stay tuned for a breakdown of the women, coming soon).

Andre Galvao – 9 Pan titles

2005, 2006, 2008 (weight and open class), 2011, 2013, 2014 (weight and open class), 2016

Of his nine medals, Galvao competed in four different weight classes and the open class (absolute division). Galvao won two titles at middleweight, three at medium heavyweight, two at ultra heavyweight, and two open class. 

Galvao fought for seven of his nine Pan titles. He closed out the medium-heavyweight division in 2013 with teammate Gustavo Campos and closed out the ultra-heavyweight division in 2016 with then-teammate Joseph Moku Kahawai. 

• Gold in four weight divisions plus absolute
• Closed out twice 

Leandro Lo – 8 Pan titles 

2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 (weight and open class), 2018 (weight and open class)

Of his eight titles, Lo earned gold medals in four different weight classes and the absolute division. He won one title at lightweight, two at middleweight, one at medium heavyweight, two at heavyweight, and two in the absolute division. 

Lo has never closed out a division with a teammate. 

• Gold in four weight divisions plus absolute
• Never closed out 

Bernardo Faria – 6 Pan titles

2010 (weight and open class), 2012, 2015 (weight and open class), 2016 

Faria competed in the heavyweight, super heavyweight and absolute divisions. Bernardo only closed out once: the heavyweight division in 2015 with teammate Leo Nogueira. 

• Gold in two weight divisions plus absolute
• Closed out once

Bruno Malfacine – 6 Pan titles

2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2017 

Malfacine won five of his Pan titles as a rooster weight and one as a light-featherweight. 

In 2007 he only has one other competitor in his division, and in 2008 he won default gold as the only competitor. 

• Gold in two weight divisions 
• One default gold 

Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles – 5 Pan titles 

2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2017 

Cobrinha won all of his Pan titles as a featherweight. He never closed out a division with a teammate. 

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