The most anticipated gi tournament of the year returns to the iconic Walter Pyramid in just a few days time, and it is no exaggeration to say that this is one of the most competitive editions of the tournament in its rich 25-year history.

Below I’ve compiled all the key information you need to know for each division: who are the favorites, the biggest matches we can expect to see, and when to watch them in action. 

When to watch

The blackbelt divisions (both male and female) go across Saturday and Sunday, with qualifiers through to quarterfinals on Saturday and the semifinals and finals on Sunday. 

Competitors have until 5pm on Friday afternoon to register for the absolute division. Once registration is complete the bracket usually comes out a couple of hours later, with the first absolute matches taking place 9:30am on Saturday morning.

The male and female absolute divisions will start on Saturday morning and continue through to the semifinals – the absolute finals will take place on Sunday afternoon after all the weight division finals are completed. 

After the completion of the semifinals on Sunday afternoon there will be a break when the IBJJF will host a ceremony inducting a number of people into the Hall of Fame. The finals will begin once the ceremony is complete. 

Schedule:

Note that all start times are Pacific Time and subject to change. 

MALE

• Adult / Male / BLACK / Rooster 11:04 AM, Sat June 4
• Adult / Male / BLACK / Light Feather 11:04 AM, Sat June 4
• Adult / Male / BLACK / Feather 11:40 AM, Sat June 4
• Adult / Male / BLACK / Light 12:04 PM, Sat June 4
• Adult / Male / BLACK / Middle 02:28 PM, Sat June 4
• Adult / Male / BLACK / Medium Heavy 01:52 PM, Sat June 4
• Adult / Male / BLACK / Heavy 04:16 PM, Sat June 4
• Adult / Male / BLACK / Super Heavy 04:28 PM, Sat June 4
• Adult / Male / BLACK / Ultra Heavy 05:04 PM, Sat June 4

Female

• Adult / Female / BLACK / Rooster 11:04 AM, Sat June 4
• Adult / Female / BLACK / Light Feather 11:16 AM, Sat June 4
• Adult / Female / BLACK / Feather 12:16 PM, Sat June 4
• Adult / Female / BLACK / Light 01:16 PM, Sat June 4
• Adult / Female / BLACK / Middle 02:16 PM, Sat June 4
• Adult / Female / BLACK / Medium Heavy 03:16 PM, Sat June 4
• Adult / Female / BLACK / Heavy 04:40 PM, Sat June 4
• Adult / Female / BLACK / Super Heavy 04:52 PM, Sat June 4

Prize money: 

The IBJJF awards prize money to all black belt champions based on the number of competitors per division. Prize money is equal for men and women. 

No of competitors: 

• 2-8: $5,000
• 9-16: $6,000
• 17-32: $7,000
• +33: $8,000 

The prize money for the absolute division is a fixed $12,000. 

Note: Closeouts in finals will result in the forfeiture of prize money and team points. 

Thalison Soares training at AOJ 

Roosterweight 

Returning champion: n/a 

Number of competitors: 15 

Prize money: $6,000

Highest seeds: 

1. Thalison Soares, Art of Jiu Jitsu

2. Rodnei Barbosa Gabriel Jr., Qatar BJJ / Vision Brasil

3. Carlos Alberto Oliveira, GF Team

4. Rodrigo Otavio Ferreira de Oliveira, Dream Art

Rookie black belts:

Matheus Azancot, Ares (2021 brown belt World champion) 

Top non-Brazilians to watch:

Tomoyuki Hashimoto (JPN)

Prediction:

Thalison Soares will capture his first IBJJF World Championship gold medal as a black belt. The division has been dominated for years by the likes of Mikey Musumeci and Bruno Malfacine, and as neither signed up this opens the way for a new champion. It’s a competitive line-up, but Thalison is the favorite and his recent switch to AOJ will likely only add to his chances of getting gold. 

Watch: 

• Thalison Soares Employs Crushing Top Game

Diego "Pato" winning 2021 Worlds 

Light-featherweight 

Returning champion: Diego "Pato" Oliveira (2021)

Number of competitors: 19 

Prize money: $$7,000

Highest seeds: 

1. Diego "Pato" Oliveira, Dream Art

2. Meyram Maquine, Dream Art 

3. Hiago George, Cicero Costa  

4. Diogo Reis, Fight Sports 

Keep an eye on: Lucas Pinheiro 

Rookie black belts:

Sebastian Serpa, Outer Heaven (2021 brown belt World and Pan Champion) 

Top non-Brazilians to watch: 

Malachi Edmond (USA), Huthayfah Penney (NOR), Yuta Shimada (JPN) 

Biggest first round matches: 

• Malachi Edmond (no.5 seed) vs Jordan Vaisman (no.9 seed), Match 6: Mat 2, Sat 6/4 at 11:40AM 
• Lucas Pinheiro (no.6 seed) vs Roiter Lima (no.10 seed), Match 6: Mat 1, Sat 6/4 at 11:40AM

Prediction: 

Pato and Meyram were on different teams at the last World Championships, with Maquiné going down to Pato 6-4 in the semifinal. There’s a question whether they would close out now that Pato has joined Dream Art and they’re on opposite sides of the bracket. That’s overlooking the fact that both of them have to get there in the first place. Pato has Diogo Reis on his side of the bracket, and Reis handled him at the ADCC Trials earlier this year. Hiago George is often forgotten about but is incredibly consistent and almost guaranteed to hit the podium. If Pato and Meyram hit the final I wouldn’t be surprised to see Oliveira gift the gold to his teammate. 

Fabricio Andrey aka "Hokage"

Featherweight 

Returning champions: Fabricio Andrey (2021), Shane Jamil Hill-Taylor (2018) 

Number of competitors: 25

Prize money: $7,000

Highest seeds: 

1. Fabricio Andrey, Fight Sports 

2. Shane Jamil Hill-Taylor, Team Lloyd Irvin 

3. Diego Sodre, Nova União 

4. Isaac Doederlein, Alliance 

Keep an eye on: Joshua Cisneros, Samuel Nagai, Kennedy Maciel 

Rookie black belts: 

Ismael Santos, GF Team (2021 Brown Belt Pan Champion) 

Top Non-Brazilians To Watch:  

Isaac Doederlein (USA), Sam McNally (IRE), Jun Yong Cho (KOR)

Biggest first round matches: 

• Gabriel Sousa (no.8 seed) vs AJ Agazarm (no.25 seed), Match 6: Mat 9, Sat 6/4 at 11:40 AM 
• Josh Cisneros (no.9 seed) vs Matheus Onda (no.17 seed), Match 10: Mat 10, Sat 6/4 at 12:28 PM

Prediction:

The bracket has not fallen in Hokage’s favor this year, and he’s got a tough road to get into a probable semifinal with Isaac Doederlein– he’s nearly guaranteed a showdown with either Sam Nagai of Checkmat or Gabriel Sousa of ZR Team in the quarterfinal. Jamil should emerge from the other side of the bracket, which sets up a rematch from the 2021 final where Andrey was able to submit Hill-Taylor. With the momentum coming off a powerful gold medal-winning performance at Brasileiros, Andrey should emerge the winner of this division. 

Watch: 

• Hollywood vs The Hokage: Michael Sears vs Fabricio Andrey
• Jamil Hill-Taylor Excited For Worlds Rematch With Fabricio Andrey

Johnatha Alves of AOJ

Lightweight 

Returning champion: N/A 

Number of competitors: 27 

Prize money: $7,000

Highest seeds: 

1. Johnatha Alves, Art of Jiu-Jitsu 

2. Matheus Gabriel, Checkmat 

3. Espen Mathiesen, Nova União 

4. Pablo Lavaselli, Nova União 

Keep an eye on: Mica Galvao, Tye Ruotolo, Lucas Valente 

Rookie black belts:

Tye Ruotolo, Atos (2021 brown belt World champion), Mica Galvao, Fight Sports, (2022 Brazilian National champion)

Top non-Brazilians to watch:

Espen Mathiesen (NOR), Pablo Lavaselli (ARG), Levi Jones-Leary (AUS), Johnny Tama (ECU)

Biggest first round matches: 

• Natan Chueng (no.12 seed) vs Guilherme Rocha (no.20 seed), Match 9: Mat 1, Sat 06/04 at 12:16 PM
• Tye Ruotolo (no.15 seed) vs Hugo Marques (no.24 seed), Match 10: Mat 1, Sat 06/04 at 12:28 PM 
• Mica Galvao (no.7 seed) vs Paulo Gabriel (no.25 seed), Match 9: Mat 2, Sat 06/04 at 12:16 PM

Prediction:

This bracket is full of landmines, there’s no easy path to the final for the higher-seeded names and they’re going to have to fight tooth and nail to make it into the later rounds. Look at no.1 seed Johnatha Alves, for example: he’s got Tye Ruotolo, Hugo Marques, and Levi Jones-Leary on his side before he even hits a likely semifinal against Brazilian champ Pablo Lavaselli or world silver medalist Lucas Valente. Matheus Gabriel is set for a quarterfinal clash with Mica Galvao, and the winner will likely get European champ Espen Mathiesen in the semi. Alves is favorite to win but not guaranteed – much of how this division plays out will depend on the matches, but thankfully this is one of the few divisions where we’re unlikely to see any closeouts. 

Watch: 

• Tainan Dalpra & Jonatha Alaves Drill Sweep For Sweep

Tainan Dalpra sinking in the choke 

Middleweight 

Returning champion: Tainan Dalpra (2021) 

Number of competitors: 25

Prize money: $7,000

Highest seeds: 

1. Tainan Dalpra, Art of Jiu-Jtsu 

2. Tommy Langaker, Nova União 

3. Leo Lara, Atos 

4. Ronaldo Junior, Atos 

Keep an eye on: Andy Murasaki, Jaime Canuto, Alexandre Jesus, Jeferson Guaresi, Servio Tulio 

Rookie black belts: 

Tarik Hopstock, Frontline Academy

Top non-Brazilians to watch: 

Tommy Langaker (NOR), Tarik Hopstock (NOR)

Biggest first round matches: 

• Alexandre Jesus (no.13 seed) vs Felipe Cesar Silva (no.20 seed), Match 22: Mat 2, Sat 06/04 at 02:52 PM
• Yan Paiva (no.14 seed) vs Lucas Gualberto (no.23 seed), Match 20: Mat 2, Sat 06/04 at 02:28 PM

Prediction:

Once again this is Tainan’s division to lose. There’s little doubt that he’ll be in the final, and even less doubt he’ll take anything less than gold. The real battle here will be how the rest of the podium shapes up. There’s a good chance we’ll see a rematch between Tainan and Tommy Langaker, they most recently met in the European final but Tainan is 2-0 with two submissions against the Viking so few people believe we’ll see a different result this time around. 

Watch: 

• Tainan Dalpra Isn't Just Looking For A Second World Title; He's Building A Legacy
• Tainan Dalpra Shows Off Passing Flair In Training Round At AOJ

Gustavo Batista of Atos

Medium-heavyweight

Returning champions: Gustavo Batista (2021), Leandro Lo (2016)

Number of competitors: 29

Prize money: $7,000

Highest seeds: 

1. Gustavo Batista, Atos 

2. Leandro Lo, NS Brotherhood 

3. Bruno Lima, AMA Jiu-Jitsu Team

4. Matheus Spirandeli, Alliance 

Keep an eye on: Isaque Bahiense, Andre Porfirio, Pedro Marinho, Roberto Jimenez, Rafael Paganini 

Rookie black belts:

Mateus Rodrigues, Art Of Jiu-Jitsu (2021 brown belt World champ), Jansen Gomes, Checkmat (2021 brown belt World champ). 

Top non-Brazilians to watch:

Bruno Lima (POR), Roberto Jimenez (ECU), Sebastian Rodriguez (COS), Taylor Pearman (GBR) 

Biggest first round matches: 

• Isaque Bahiense (no.6 seed) vs Roberto Jimenez (no.26 seed), Match 19: Mat 9, Sat 06/04 at 02:16 PM
• Andre Porfirio (no.7 seed) vs Joseph Watson (no.27 seed), Match 17: Mat 10, Sat 06/04 at 01:52 PM

Prediction: 

This division is one of the most balanced brackets of the entire tournament but Gustavo Batista is the clear favorite even with the murderers’ row of opponents. He and Leandro are the top-seeded competitors in this bracket followed by the European champ Bruno Lima and the Brazilian national champ Matheus Spirandelli. I would argue that Batista’s side of the bracket poses more challenges. While his style may not be the most exciting, he certainly knows how to win and my money is on him taking his second world championship gold medal in a row. With no teammate to close out with, he’ll truly earn it instead of taking it via agreement. 

Kaynan upon winning the 2021 World Championship gold meal

Heavyweight

Returning champions: Kaynan Duarte (2021), Xande Ribeiro (2015)

Number of competitors: 20

Prize money: $7,000

Highest seeds: 

1. Kaynan Duarte, Atos 

2. Dimitrius Souza, Alliance 

3. Adam Wardzinski, Checkmat  

4. Rider Zuchi, NS Brotherhood 

Keep an eye on: 

Matheus Diniz, Harryson Pereira, Fellipe Trovo, Pedro Machado 

Rookie black belts: 

Pedro Machado, Atos (2021 brown belt World champ) 

Top non-Brazilians to watch:

Adam Wardzinski (POL), Nathan Mendelsohn (USA), Thomas Bracher (GBR) 

Biggest first round matches:

• Matheus Diniz (no.6 seed) vs Nathan Mendelsohn (no.10 seed), Match 32: Mat 10, Sat 06/04 at 04:52 PM
• Fellipe Trovo (no.8 seed) vs Arnaldo Maidana (no.11 seed), Match 31: Mat 10, Sat 06/04 at 04:40 PM
• Bruno Matias (no.14 seed) vs Diego Ramalho (no.19 seed), Match 30: Mat 10, Sat 06/04 at 04:28 PM
• Harryson Pereira (no.7 seed) vs Xande Ribeiro (no.12 seed), Match 32: Mat 9, Sat 06/04 at 04:52 PM

Prediction:

Kaynan is simply head and shoulders above everybody else in this bracket. His gold-medal winning performance at last year‘s edition didn’t get much attention because, truth be told, he made it look easy. There are few true challenges to his number one spot – Rider Zuchi has been tearing up the Brazilian scene and will likely be his opponent in the semi-final, and any one of a number of tough names could emerge from the other side of the bracket (Dimitrius, Wardzinski, Xande). This should be another gold medal for Atos. 

Watch: 

• How No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Has Changed Kaynan's Approach To Gi Competition
• Kaynan Duarte Shows Off Technical Back Attacks In Rolling
• Xande Ribeiro: "I'm Ready To Die On The Mat" In Final Attempt At Worlds

Super-heavyweight 

Returning champions: Erich Munis (2021), Nicholas Meregali (2017, 2019)

Number of competitors: 19

Prize money: $7,000

Highest seeds: 

1. Erich Munis, Dream Art 

2. Nicholas Meregali, Dream Art 

3. Fellipe Andrew, Alliance 

4. Marcus Vinicius Ribeiro, Alliance  

Keep an eye on: Vinicius Ferreira, Davi Cabral 

Rookie black belts: 

Paulo André Lanzillotti, Checkmat (2021 World championship silver medalist ultra-heavyweight), Renan Cruz (2021 IBJJF World championship silver medalist super-heavyweight) 

Top non-Brazilians to watch: 

Devhonte Johnson (USA), Eric Bergmann (GER), Jae McIntosh (USA) 

Biggest first round matches: 

• Vinicius Ferreira (no.5 seed) vs Anderson Munis (no.9 seed), Match 33: Mat 2, Sat 06/04 at 05:04 PM

Prediction:

If Nicholas Meregali doesn’t take his third world championship gold medal I would be very surprised. The biggest question for me is how that will take place. Meregali is the no.2 seed in this bracket with 2021 champion Eric Munis the number one. As both are representatives of Dream Art you would expect them to close out in the final, but that’s not Meregali‘s style. While I’m sure he would have no problem in competing against his teammate I am less confident that Munis feels the same way, leading me to think that he will likely forfeit the final match against Meregali thereby giving him default gold. That could screw up Dream Art’s plans to win the team trophy though, potentially making it the second all DA final that could end with no match (and therefore no team points). 

Watch: 

• Nonstop PRESSURE and ARMBARS from Nicholas Meregali

2021 World champ Victor Hugo

Ultra-heavyweight 

Returning champion: Victor Hugo (2021), Rafael Lovato Jr (2007) 

Number of competitors: 15

Prize money: $6,000 

Highest seeds: 

1. Victor Hugo, Six Blades 

2. Gutemberg Pereira, GF Team

3. Rafael Lovato Jr., Six Blades 

4. Igor Schneider, Dream Art 

Keep an eye on: Erberth Santos, Pedro Alex Pimenta, Roosevelt Souza 

Rookie black belts: 

Guilherme Bacha, Checkmat (2021 brown belt World champ)

Top non-Brazilians to watch: 

Rafael Lovato Jr. (USA), Seif-Eddine Houmine (FRA)

Biggest first round matches: 

• Rafael Lovato Jr. (no.3 seed) vs Erberth Santos (no.13 seed), Match 35: Mat 8, Sat 06/04 at 05:28 PM
• Guilherme Augusto (no.5 seed) vs Roosevelt Souza (no.9 seed), Match 36: Mat 8, Sat 06/04 at 05:40 PM 

Prediction:

My money is on Victor Hugo to take this division. I feel he has both the technical and physical edge in this land of the giants. The ultra heavyweight division has suddenly become a lot less predictable now Buchecha is no longer in the mix, and there is no name more unpredictable than Erberth Santos. It’s going to be interesting to see which version of him turns up, especially as his first match is against the veteran Lovato Jr. GF Team have loaded this bracket with no less than five representatives although four of them will face off in first round matches.

Watch:

• Victor Hugo Has A Score To Settle At Worlds
• Victor Hugo: Big Man Flow in the Gi

Mayssa Bastos

Roosterweight 

Returning champion: Mayssa Bastos (2019, 2021) 

Number of competitors: 10 

Prize money: $6,000

Highest seeds: 

1. Mayssa Bastos, Unity JJ

2. Mariana Rolszt, Gracie Humaita 

3. Lavinia Barbosa, Checkmat 

4. Serena Gabrielli, Flow

Keep an eye on: Brenda Larissa, Jhenifer Aquino

Rookie black belts: 

Jhenifer Aquino, Atos (2021 brown belt World champ) 

Top non-Brazilians to watch:

Serena Gabrielli (ITA), Kaori Hernandez (USA), Vicky Hoang (CAN)

Biggest first round matches:

• Lavinia Barbosa (no.3 seed) vs Brenda Larissa (no.5 seed), Match 5: Mat 8, Sat 06/04 at 11:28 AM

Prediction:

Mayssa Bastos is one of the top pound-for-pound competitors in the entire sport. I don’t think much needs to be said about this division except that it would be a shock if she didn’t win her third IBJJF World Championship gold medal. 

Ana Rodrigues of Dream Art

Light-featherweight

Returning champions: Ana Rodrigues (2021), Tammi Musumeci (2019)

Number of competitors: 10 

Prize money: $6,000

Highest seeds: 

1. Ana Rodrigues, Dream Art

2. Tammi Musumeci, Pedigo Submission Fighting 

3. Jessa Khan, Art of Jiu-Jitsu 

4. Rose-Marie El Sharouni, Checkmat

Keep an eye on: Thamires Aquino 

Top non-Brazilians to watch:

Tammi Musumeci (USA), Rose-Marie El Sharouni (NED) 

Biggest first round matches: 

• Jessa Khan (no.3 seed) vs Thamires Aquino (no.5 seed), Match 7: Mat 3, Sat 06/04 at 11:52 AM

Prediction:

It’s been some time since we’ve seen Ana Rodrigues challenged in this division, the presence of Tammi Musumeci may finally offer her a real opponent. Rodrigues is the more active of the two, but Musumeci has a track record of coming out of nowhere and spoiling people’s plans. Rodrigues is still the favorite but anticipate Musumeci making life difficult for her in the final. 

Bianca Basilio

Featherweight

Returning champion: Amanda Monteiro Canuto (2018)

Number of competitors: 8 

Prize money: $5,000 

Highest seeds: 

1. Bianca Basilio, Atos 

2. Amanda Monteiro Canuto, GF Team

3. Larissa Campos, Gracie Humaita 

4. Gabriela Fechter, Checkmat

Rookie black belts: Gabriela Pereira, Qatar BJJ / Vision Brasil (2021 brown belt World champ) 

Top non-Brazilians to watch:  

Sophia Marie Dalpra (USA), Alexa Yanes (USA) 

Biggest first round matches: 

• Bianca Basilio (no.1 seed) vs Alexa Yanes (no.7 seed), Match 9: Mat 3, Sat 06/04 at 12:16 PM

Prediction: 

This may be the year that Bianca Basilio finally wins an IBJJF World Championship. The only two real threats are Amanda Canuto, champion in 2018, and Larissa Campos. Basilio has taken silver twice and I’m sure this will be the motivation she needs to finally get that gold medal. 

Ribeiro v Davies, 2021 IBJJF Pans

Lightweight 

Returning champion: n/a 

Number of competitors: 18 

Prize money: $7,000 

Highest seeds: 

1. Nathalie Ribeiro, Checkmat 

2. Ffion Davies, Atos 

3. Gabi McComb, Atos

4. Luciane dos Santos Silva. Checkmat

Keep an eye on: Margot Ciccarelli, Janaina Maia 

Rookie black belts:

Vitoria Vieira, GF Team (2021 brown belt World champ), Thamires Monteiro, Checkmat (2021 IBJJF World championship silver medalist)  

Top non-Brazilians to watch: 

Ffion Davies (GBR), Margot Ciccarelli (ITA), Claire North (USA), Hope Douglass (AUS)

Prediction:

The largest of all women’s divisions, expect it to also be one of the most competitive. The biggest names are of course Nathalie Ribeiro and Ffionn Davies but don’t be surprised if Gabi McComb comes through from her side of the bracket into the final. She took gold last year at featherweight and is aiming for her second gold medal in a new weight class. My prediction is that Ffion will face either Nathalie or Gabi in the final with which ever Brazilian emerges from that side of the bracket taking the gold medal. 

2021 champ Andressa Cintra of Gracie Barra 

Middleweight 

Returning champion: Andressa Cintra (2021) 

Number of competitors: 14 

Prize money: $6,000 

Highest seeds: 

1. Andressa Cintra, Gracie Barra 

2. Thamara Ferreira, Guigo JJ

3. Thalyta Stefhane Lima Silva, Qatar BJJ / Vision

4. Chloe McNally, Unity JJ

Keep an eye on: Elisabeth Clay, Raquel Canuto 

Rookie black belts:

Iasmim Casser, Art of Jiu-Jitsu (2021 brown belt World champ)

Top non-Brazilians to watch: 

Chloé McNally (USA), Kira Sung (KOR) 

Biggest first round matches: 

• Elisabeth Clay (no.5 seed) vs Fernanda Figueira (no.9 seed), Match 20: Mat 8, Sat 06/04 at 02:28 PM
• Raquel Canuto (no.6 seed) vs Iasmim Casser (no.10 seed), Match 20: Mat 3, Sat 06/04 at 02:28 PM

Prediction:

Andressa Cintra looked so dominant at last year‘s Worlds, and while she is the favorite in this bracket there are a handful of names who could make life very difficult for her. Look for Thamara Ferreira, the number two seed and her opponent in last year’s final, to give Cintra her toughest match. 

Ana Carolina Vieira

Medium-heavyweight

Returning champion: Ana Carolina Vieira (2021) 

Number of competitors: 9 

Prize money: $6,000 

Highest seeds: 

1. Ana Carolina Vieira, Aviv Jiu-Jitsu

2. Maria Malyjasiak, Abmar Barbosa Association

3. Izadora Cristina Silva, Dream Art 

4. Fernanda Cristo, Evox BJJ

Keep an eye on: Ingridd Alves (Guigo JJ), Amy Campo (Zenith) 

Rookie black belts: 

Amy Campo (2021 brown belt World champ)

Top non-Brazilians to watch: 

Maria Malyjasiak (POL), Amy Campo (USA)

Biggest first round matches: 

• Izadora Silva (no.3 seed) vs Ingridd Alves (no.5 seed), match 27: Mat 8, Sat 06/04 at 03:52 PM

Prediction: 

Ana Carolina Vieira is a four-time world champion and by far the favorite in this division. Little more needs to be said about this bracket other than it would be one of the biggest upsets of the entire tournament if Vieira did not win gold.

Melissa Cueto 

Heavyweight 

Returning champions: Melissa Cueto (2021), Fernanda Mazzelli (2016) 

Number of competitors: 6

Prize money: $5,000

Highest seeds: 

1. Melissa Cueto, Alliance 

2. Fernanda Mazzelli, Striker JJ

3. Maggie Grindatti, Fight Sports 

4. Rafaela Guedes, Atos

Keep an eye on: Rafaela Guedes (Atos) 

Biggest first round matches: 

• Rafaela Guedes (no.4 seed) vs Tara White (no.6 seed), Match 31: Mat 8, Sat 06/04 at 04:40 PM

Prediction: 

Returning world champion Melissa Cueto will face her toughest challenge in her first match, a semifinal most likely against Rafaela Guedes. We haven’t seen the Atos blackbelt compete at all in 2022, and I can’t remember the last time I saw her in the gi (of course I can, it was the 2020 Pan championship). Whoever wins that semifinal match will likely win the whole thing. 

2021 double gold champ Gabi Pessanha 

Super-heavyweight

Returning champion: Gabrieli Pessanha (2021)

Number of competitors: 5

Prize money: $5,000

Highest seeds: 

1. Gabrieli Pessanha. Infight JJ

2. Yara Soares, Dream Art

3. Claire-France Thevenon, Panda Supa Crew

4. Mayara Monteiro Custódio, Checkmat 

Top non-Brazilians to watch: 

Claire-France Thevenon (FRA), Alison Tremblay (CAN)

Prediction: 

I expect to see Gabi Pessanha against Yara soares in the final once again, I lean towards Pessanha taking the gold medal but really the result of this match is always a coin toss.