IBJJF Worlds 2019: Here’s the top talent signed up at black belt

Bruno Malfacine. Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG

It’s time for the Walter Pyramid to shake! The 2019 IBJJF World Championship, set to take place between May 30 and June 2, is a historic one even before the first pair of fighters steps on the mat. For the first time since the inception of the federation, the biggest BJJ event worldwide will be offering cash prizes to its main stars.

And, as expected, all of the strongest fighters of the current generation, plus some relentless veterans, will be in the running for prizes up to ten thousand dollars. Men’s and women’s divisions have never been this packed with talent, so we gave the sign-up sheets a good look to bring you the names to watch.

Our opinion is that the men’s roosterweight division will be exceptionally competitive, with Bruno Malfacine, a ten-time world champion, having chosen to unretire, and Michael Musumeci, a two-time light featherweight champion, crashing Bruno’s division at the last minute. And that’s before we mention two-time champions Caio Terra and Omar Salum, and Felipe Costa, who is also a world champion. Whew.

Elsewhere, world champions like Paulo Miyao, Shane Hill-Taylor, Lucas Lepri, Michael Langhi, Isaque Bahiense, Claudio Calasans, Gabriel Arges, Otávio Sousa, Felipe Preguiça, Leandro Lo, Nicholas Meregali, Mahamed Aly, Rodrigo Cavaca and Marcus Buchecha, as well as Rikako Yuasa, Talita Alencar, Gezary Matuda, Amanda Monteiro, Karen Antunes, Ana Carolina Schmitt, Bia Mesquita, Ana Carolina Vieira, Luanna Alzuguir, Talita Treta, Nathiely de Jesus Fernanda Mazzelli and Claudia Do Val, will be vying for more gold in California. And, of course, there are throngs of brilliant athletes seeking to claim the biggest glory in BJJ for the first time in their lives.

Below is our complete list of standouts. Be sure to let us know who you think can win in the weight divisions and in the absolute.

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