The Master 1 black belt divisions are always filled with talent at the IBJJF World Master Jiu-Jitsu Championship. 

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Most of the brackets are 50 to 60 competitors deep and contain athletes still very active and successful in the adult division. With so many names it will be tough to mention everyone who will contend, but here is a look at some of the favorites in Las Vegas:

Middleweight

Vitor Oliveira (GFTeam) has won the medium-heavyweight division three years in a row at Master Worlds and is registered at middle this year. Two former Master World champs are also in the division in Clark Gracie (Gracie Allegiance) and Marcelo Mafra (Checkmat). DJ Jackson (Lloyd Irvin) finished with two bronze medals at Master Worlds a year ago. Sandro Vieira (Cantagalo), Gabriel Procopio (BTT), Oliver Geddes (Gracie Elite), and Caio Almeida (Atos) are also registered in an insane Master Worlds division.

Medium-Heavyweight

Marcos Tinoco (Alliance) has medaled three times at Worlds in the adult division and is currently fourth in the FloGrappling rankings. This year Tinoco will make his first attempt at a Master Worlds title. With that said, Tinoco might not even be the favorite in the division with 2011 World champ and UFC vet Gilbert “Durinho” Burns (Zenith) registered as well. Abmar Barbosa (Abmar Barbosa Association), Rodrigo Caporal (Atos), Sergio Rios (Brasa CTA), and Nathan Mendelsohn (Coaliton 95) are also registered at medium-heavyweight.

Light-Featherweight

Returning silver medalist Rene Lopes (Brasa CTA) is the highest-placing athlete returning in this bracket. Gabriel Moraes (Alliance) was a World champ two times at the adult level and won Brasileiro at Master 1 this year. 2017 Master Worlds champ Milton Bastos (Ares) should also contend for the title at light-featherweight.

Featherweight

The 2018 Master Worlds champ at light-featherweight Thiago Barros (Cicero Costha) is up at featherweight this year, where he took third at Euros this year. Returning lightweight runner-up Osvaldo “Queixinho” Moizinho (Ares) has dropped down to featherweight, a weight he routinely competes at in the adult division. Both Pan finalists in champion Kim Terra (Brasa CTA) and Silvio Duran (Nova Uniao) have to be considered among the favorites at featherweight.

Lightweight

The 2018 Master World champion at lightweight Jake Mackenzie (GFTeam) is back and looking to repeat this week in Las Vegas. The 2019 Master 1 Euro and Brasileiro champ Rodrigo Barbosa (Qatar BJJ) should challenge Mackenzie at lightweight. Regular adult competitors Breno Bittencourt (Ares) and Kevin Mahecha (Winners Training Center) should be expected to go far in the bracket.

Roosterweight

Juan Lopes (Carlson Gracie) is currently ranked ninth at adult by FloGrappling and took second in this division a year ago. 2019 Master 1 Pan champion Justin Ordinario (Lead BJJ) should provide some competition for Juan at rooster.

Ultra-Heavyweight

Abraham Marte (GFTeam) is a two-time bronze medalist at adult Worlds and took double gold at Master Worlds 2014. Gustavo Dias (Ribeiro) is another recent adult Worlds medalist in this bracket. Marcelo Nunes (Zenith) is the returning World champ at ultra-heavy Master 1. Jeferson Conceicao (Checkmat) finished with two bronze medals at Master Worlds 2017.

Super-Heavyweight

Igor Silva (GFTeam) is a European champion and World medalist at adult and finished second at Master Worlds in the ultra-heavyweight division a year ago. Elliot Kelly (Yemaso) is a two-time runner-up and beat Xande Ribeiro here in 2017. Vitor Schlosser (Schlosser BJJ) took second and third at Master Worlds a year ago, and Guybson Sa (SAS) was the runner-up in this division in 2018.

Heavyweight

Nivaldo Oliveira (Checkmat) returns to defend his title in the heavyweight division. Oliveira defeated Roberto “Tussa” Alencar in the final at Master Worlds a year ago. Giovanne Guedes (Alliance) took third in this division in 2017, and masters newcomer Nick Shrock (Ribeiro) is a name to watch out for in Vegas.