The IBJJF No-Gi Pan Championships are just one week away, and will attract decorated, well-known and rising black belt talents from across the world of no-gi grappling. But many of the year’s newest stars won't be competing on Saturday and Sunday with the black belts; instead, they’ll be competing on Friday, in a sea of talented brown belts looking to break into the top ranks.

The 2021 IBJJF Pan Championship is shaping up to be the most star-studded gi event of the last 18 months. Returning Pans champions, rookie black belts, and some of Brazil’s finest up and coming competitors are all in the mix.

With Leandro Lo, Lucas "Hulk" Barbosa, Micael Galvao, Rousimar Palhares and William Tackett, BJJBet’s middleweight no-gi Grand Prix was one of the most anticipated events of the summer. The show also featured a number of IBJJF World champions in gi superfights, with Matheus Gabriel, Tayane Porfirio and Nicholas Meregali all stepping onto the mat.

Major events such as No-Gi Pans always offer huge lessons about the top competitors, and the major developments in jiu-jitsu at large. This edition was no different. While the cream of the crop reminded us why they have remained dominant over the years, several new black belts could soon be on the rise.