Here is a rundown of all the black belt finals that will take place on Sunday November 18 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Rio de Janeiro. 

Saturday November 17, 2018 was all about the brown and black belts. Every black belt division ran up through to the semifinals, with the finals saved for the final day of the tournament where they will feature on the huge center mat and be broadcast live on FloGrappling. 

There are five returning champions looking to repeat last year’s successes, with Hiago George (62kg) Hugo Marques (77kg, pictured top), Isaque Bahiense (85kg), Mayssa Bastos (49kg) and Amanda Nogueira (55kg) all through to the finals. 

Favorites strong-arm way into finals 

Erberth Santos had a fine performance today, beating three opponents including Igor Schneider to arrive in the final of the 100kg division where he will face Fernando Reis of Alliance. 

Bianca Basilio took silver here in Rio last year. A gold medal at the 2018 Abu Dhabi World Pro saw her crowned champion and she will look to continue her success here in Rio against Michelle Oliveira of Nova Uniao. 

Kaynan Duarte took out two big names on his way into the final, beating Adam Wardzinski of Poland and fellow Brazilian Rudson Mateus. Duarte has been making a name for himself as an elite black belt over the last five months since his promotion and appears nearly unstoppable. 

Up-and-coming talent shines in Rio 

Joao Mendes of Atos took out 2018 Brazilian national champion Rafael Mansur in the semifinal and will meet the veteran Isaque Paiva in the 69kg final. 

Julia Boscher and Thamara Silva are two very capable brown belts and beat out a number of tough black belts including Samantha Cook of the UK, Jessica Swanson of the USA and Brazil’s Renata Moreira. Boscher and Silva will dispute the 70kg gold. 

Gabrielle Pessanha used her home turf advantage to good effect to fight into the 90kg final. Based just 15 mins drive away from the venue, Pessanha’s great talents put her into the final vs Francisca Flores of Chile. 

Male finals

Male 56kg final: Felippe Melo vs Bebeto Oliveira (see bracket)

Male 62kg final: Gabriel Sousa vs Hiago George (see bracket)

Male 69kg final: Joao Mendes vs Isaque Paiva (see bracket)

Male 77kg final: Hugo Marques vs Yan Lucas (see bracket)

Male 85kg final: Isaque Bahiense vs Diego Ramalho (see bracket)

Male 94kg final: Kaynan Duarte vs Helton Jr (see bracket)

Male 110kg final: Erberth Santos vs Fernando Reis (see bracket)

Female finals

Female 49kg final: Rita Reis vs Mayssa Bastos (see bracket)

Female 55kg final: Talita Alencar vs Amanda Nogueira (see bracket)

Female 62kg final: Bianca Basilio vs Michelle Oliveira (see bracket)

Female 70kg final:  Julia Boscher vs Thamara Silva (see bracket)

Female 90kg final: Gabrielle Pessanha vs Francisca Floras (see bracket)

Click here for information and to watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Rio de Janeiro