It was brown belt day for the women at the 2021 IBJJF Pan Championships, an opportunity for the top prospects to put their jiu-jitsu on display in hopes of winning gold. 

After falling short in the heavyweight division, Maria Ruffatto dominated the open class, scoring three submissions in four matches. In the absolute final she defeated the lightweight bronze medalist, Rachel Ranschau, with an ezekiel choke from the back.

EL1: MARIA VITÓRIA GONÇALVES RUFFATTO vs DEISE DOS SANTOS LEONANJO

QF: AKEELA JOVON AL-HAMEED vs MARIA VITÓRIA GONÇALVES RUFFATTO

SF: BETINA CHAVES PENEDO PEREIRA vs MARIA VITÓRIA GONÇALVES RUFFATTO

Final: MARIA VITÓRIA GONÇALVES RUFFATTO vs RACHEL CLAIRE RANSCHAU

Watch: Maria Ruffato Wins First Ever Open Class Gold At Pans

Checkmat’s brown belts have been collecting gold all week, and Thamires Monteiro added another one to the pile, winning the lightweight division. Monteiro scored 31 unanswered points in three matches on her way to gold.

QF: MELISSA A. UBAL CORTES vs THAMIRES ARRUDA MONTEIRO

SF: THAMIRES ARRUDA MONTEIRO vs MORGAN LEIGH BLACK

Final: THAMIRES ARRUDA MONTEIRO vs JOANNA CHRISTINE TRINDADE

Jhenifer Aquino of Atos submitted both of her opponents to win gold in the roosterweight division, hitting a tight leglock in the final. 

SF: JHENIFER AQUINO GONZAGA vs ANA LUIZA OLIVEIRA

Final: JHENIFER AQUINO GONZAGA vs GIULIA GUIMARAES GREGORUT

Watch: Tight Leglock Wins Jhenifer Aquino Pan Gold

Aquino’s teammate Elizabeth Liera scored a submission and put up a total of 22 points across three matches to win featherweight gold. 

QF: JESSIE JANE GRACE vs ELIZABETH JOY LIERA

SF: ELIZABETH JOY LIERA vs ANA MAYORDOMO GARCIA

Final: GABRIELA AMERICO vs ELIZABETH JOY LIERA

Art Of Jiu-Jitsu’s Iasmim Casser locked up gold in the middleweight division, winning a decision in her opening round before cinching a bread-cutter choke in the final.

SF: DEISE DOS SANTOS LEONANJO vs IASMIM CASSER DA SILVA

Final: IASMIM CASSER DA SILVA vs BETINA CHAVEZ PENEDO PEREIRA

One month into her brown belt career, Abbi Pontes was victorious in the light featherweight division, defeating rival Jessica Crane in the opening round, and winning the semi-final 9-0. Pontes secured a mounted triangle in the final to win gold. 

QF: JESSICA MALLELY CRANE vs ABBIGAYLE PONTES

SF: MARA ANANDA KELLY vs ABBIGAYLE PONTES

Final: MELISSA BRITEZ COSTA vs ABBIGAYLE PONTES

Watch: Abbi Pontes Scores Mounted Triangle In Pans Final 

Watch: One Month As A Brown Belt, Abbi Pontes Is A Pan Champion

In other action:

• Eleftheria Christodoulou won two matches to take gold in the heavyweight division.

• Larissa Dias won medium heavyweight gold.

• Savannah Ellis hit the top of the podium in the super heavyweight division.