The 19-man featherweight division at the 2021 No-Gi Pan Championships has more wildcards than outright favorites, as leg lock specialists have flocked to the tournament in droves following the new IBJJF rules sanctioning heel hooks and reaping attacks.

The elite competitors of the lightest weight divisions are often revered for their impassible guards and their abilities to take their opponents’ backs from anywhere. Roosterweights, light featherweights, and featherweights like Mikey Musumeci, Paulo Miyao, and Mayssa Bastos are back attack artists who rely on intricate guards and techniques to get behind their opponents.