We’re just days out from the IBJJF 2018 No-Gi Pan Championships, and this year's edition has generated more buzz than we can remember in recent years.

Why? The answer is simple: the black belt registration is more robust than ever before, including sign-ups from superstars like Gordon Ryan, Jackson Sousa, and more. Hit the jump below to see the six matches we are dreaming of.

The 2018 IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship runs on Sep 15-16. Watch every mat and every match LIVE or On Demand ONLY on FloGrappling.

Gordon Ryan (No. 2 P4P) vs Kaynan Duarate – Ultra Heavy 

Like it or not, the grappling world hangs on Gordon Ryan’s every move, and any time the Renzo Gracie / Danaher Death Squad athlete steps on the mats for competition, it’s big news. No-Gi Pans marks the first time Ryan has competed in an IBJJF event since he was a purple belt, and the format absolutely hinders some of his most devastating tools, including leg reaping entanglements and heel hooks. Though it's true that Gordon has gone out of his way to prove he is a well-rounded athlete, deliberately ignoring leg attacks at SUG and EBI on occasion, there remain those who doubt his success will transfer to IBJJF competition. 

Gordon's disadvantage could be Duarate's opportunity to add a quite the feather to his cap; the ATOS standout and brown belt world champion has already qualified and competed at ADCC as a purple belt (a performance which included a win over veteran Pablo Popovitch). Duarte has all the talent in the world, and the IBJJF format could be the format for success for him this weekend.  

Given the fact there are only five athletes in the ultra-heavyweight division, it's almost a guarantee these two will meet at some point. Get your popcorn ready.

Pati Fontes vs Mayssa Bastos – Light-Feather

Mayssa Bastos' black belt debut at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tokyo was a resounding success – she finished both of her opponents on her path to gold, and the GF Team representative has been dominating her division for years in the colored ranks.  

We’re thrilled to see her make the jump to the most elite division, and who better to welcome her than three-time no-gi world champion and ADCC qualifier Pati Fontes?

Dante Leon (No. 14 88kg) vs Enrico Cocco – Middleweight

Styles make fights is a tried but true maxim, and this potential matchup pits two of the most diverse athletes in the division against one another. Enrico Cocco’s slinky, tricky approach sees him finishing the fights from just about anywhere. One of the first athletes to popularize the cartwheel pass and embrace heelhooks, Cocco has been a force in the no-gi competition scene since 2009 when he won ADCC trials for the first time in 2009, (he went on to win in 2011 and 2014 as well). 

Meanwhile, Dante Leon has just begun to hit is stride as a young black belt. A monster of an athlete, Leon brings a level of physicality that few other middleweights can match and generally sets and keeps an unbelievable pace throughout the match. 

Will Cocco’s elusive, sneaky style be able to redirect Leon’s bombastic energy? Or will Leon smash his way to victory? Hopefully, we get to find out.  

Jackson Sousa (No. 7 100kg) vs Aaron ‘Tex’ Johnson (No. 16 100kg) – Super-Heavy

Jackson Sousa has a chance for a three-peat performance this weekend in New York, having won weight and absolute two times in a row at No-Gi Pans. The Checkmat representative has one of the most well-rounded styles in the game, possessing solid wrestling and takedowns, an excellent guard, and endless pathways to his opponents back. 

A match with Unity bruiser Tex Johnson would certainly make Sousa work for the glory though. Even if Johnson doesn't call himself a specialist, his leglocks — specifically the straight footlock — have captured many victories and could be the key for a big upset of the reigning champion.

Jackson Sousa vs Dustin Akbari – 2017 Pan No-Gi Championships

Jeremiah Vance vs AJ Agazarm (No. 5 66kg) - Lightweight

Jeremiah Vance is truly a savage — the man routinely hits submissions that are illegial in 48 states — and he just got his black belt earlier this year. We figured what better challenge for the man to creates new subs on the fly than to face the athelte who simply cannot be submitted, namely, AJ Agazarm.

Agazarm’s talents certainly exceed his toughness — he’s an ADCC silver medalist for a reason — and the Grace Barra representative is the owner of a tricky sit-up guard that lures his opponents into overcommitting and making mistakes; Agazarm's aggressive wrestling is also always a factor that his opponents must respect or give up the two points. 

Catherine Perret vs Aarae Alexander – Lightweight

This potential matchup features two young black belts who are hungry to make their mark. A Checkmat black belt, Perret has also spent time training under wrestling coach Jacbob Harman in an effort to improve upon her already very solid standup game. Aarae is more likely to pull guard in this scenario, but her attacks from bottom and agile guard should be considered some of her best weapons.

Watch Aarae Train With World Champion Jamil-Hill Taylor