2026 Brasileiro Black Belts Preview | Male Divisions

The IBJJF 2026 Brasileiro for black belt male divisions is scheduled to run May 2-3 in São Paulo, Brazil. Black belt action begins Saturday, May 2, with finals on Sunday, May 3.

The roosterweight division includes top seed Yuri Silva of Brothers Club, 21, in his second black belt season. Andrew Soares of Vision, 26, holds bronze medals from the European and World Championship events. Welerson Goncalves of Nova União, 29, is the #2 seed and has four consecutive Brasileiro silver medals from 2021 to 2024. Oziel Santos of Fratres BJJ is the #3 seed, holding bronze medals from the last two Brasileiros. Josue Braga and Welison Fernandes are also competing in the division.

Diego Pato headlines the 141lb light-featherweight division as a four-time World Champion and returning light-featherweight Brasileiro Champion. Pato secured the European title and won Pans with four victories and two submissions in 2026. Shoya Ishiguro, his Pan finals opponent, is the #2 seed, having earned a European bronze medal in 2026. Alliance's Rerisson Gabriel holds the #3 seed as a former Pan Champion and European bronze medalist. Anderson Duarte of Soldiers Jiu-Jitsu is the #4 seed, with silver medals in the last two Brasileiros. Yuri Hendrex, a former European Champion and Pan silver medalist, will also compete. Gustavo Ogawa and Matheus Onda are also in the bracket.

The featherweight division features top seed João Bisnaga, the reigning featherweight World Champion. Meyram Maquiné, a two-time World Champion and former Pan, European, and Brasileiro Champion, is the second seed. Diego Sodre takes the #3 seed, with his 2022 achievements including Pan silver and European gold. His brother Alex Sodre, a three-time Brasileiro silver medalist and former No-Gi World Champion, is the fourth seed. Sebastian Serpa and Giuliano Serpa hold the fifth and sixth seeds, respectively. Other competitors include Dudu Granzotto, Leonardo Ferreira, Thiago Ortiz, Danilo Moreira, Cleison Santos, and Kaua Gabriel.

Andy Murasaki headlines the lightweight division, competing for the first time since winning the middleweight Crown in December. This is his first performance since moving to AOJ. Murasaki is a four-time World silver medalist and former No-Gi World Champion. Luiz Paulo of Kvra Top Team is the #2 seed, with two Brasileiro silver medals and podium appearances in the last three Brasileiros. Julio Arantes of Vision is the third seed, with a 2025 Pans podium appearance. Ethan Major holds the #4 seed. Sandrey Silva, Rodrigo Mariani, Gilherme Rocha, Romulo Rocha, and Eduardo Roque are also scheduled to compete.

Tainan Dalpra of AOJ is scheduled to compete in the middleweight division. Per IBJJF Newsroom, Dalpra completed the Grand Slam sweep last season, including his second Brasileiro title. Jose Steve, who competed against Dalpra in the European finals, is also in the division. Steve is in his rookie black belt season and won a brown belt World Championship in 2025. He is slated for a match against Jonnatas Gracie of AOJ, who recently returned to IBJJF competition at the Los Angeles Open.