The standout brown belt at the 2018 No-Gi Pans was middleweight Matheus Lutes of Alliance-Marcelo Garcia, who won eight matches– five by submission– to conquer his weight and the open class. 

Lutes won the middleweight final 3-0, and submitted his opponent in the open class final with a rear naked choke while leading 6-0. 

A New York resident that has been dominant at No-Gi Pans throughout his career, his two gold medals on Saturday were the sixth and seventh he has won at this tournament. Incredibly, Lutes has won the open class at blue, purple and now brown belt.

“I used a lot of subs I learned from my coach Marcelo Garcia,” said Lutes. “One guillotine, a north south choke and a rear naked choke. Also two knee bars I’ve been working on with Marcos Tinoco.”

Italo Moura and Wilson Moreira

The core group of Cicero Costha brown belts who are based out of Unity Jiu-Jitsu in Manhattan picked up where they left off in 2017, when they dominated the IBJJF No-Gi scene at purple belt. Thalison Soares and Jonas Andrade took home gold in the brown belt rooster and light-featherweight divisions, meanwhile Italo Moura and Wilson Moreira closed out at lightweight.

Soares, a three-time No-Gi World champion, won two matches to take gold at roosterweight. After winning on points in the opening round, a footlock in the final prompted a tap by scream for the victory. Soares completed the IBJJF Grand Slam earlier this year in the gi and now has his sights set on the same achievement in No-Gi.

“I’d like to be the only athlete this year in the IBJJF to Grand Slam in both gi and no-gi,” said Soares. “I’ve already won the Pan and Euro No-Gi, I’m planning on competing at No-GI Worlds and Brasileiro No-Gi as well.”

Andrade won No-Gi Pans for a third straight year. After a 2-0 win in his first match, a footlock in the semifinal and then a toe hold in the final sealed the victory. Moura also won No-Gi Pans a third time, him and Moreira needed three and four wins each to make the final and close out their division.

Ronaldo Junior of Atos won maybe the most stacked brown belt weight class at medium-heavyweight. Ronaldo fought his way to the finals after submitting his first two opponents by rear naked choke. Matched up in the final with Gabriel Almeida of Checkmat, Ronaldo fought his way to a close victory by advantage.

“I’m so happy about my performance and everything that I sacrificed to be there in the first place. I just gave everything I had on the mat and thank god it was enough to accomplish this title, I can’t wait to compete at No-Gi Worlds.”

Click here to watch match videos from the 2018 IBJJF Pan No-Gi