Thaynara Victoria vs Mayara Santos / Santa Cruz Open 2026

The introduction of the heel hook to brown and black belt no-gi competition at the IBJJF World Championships in 2021 marked a significant shift in the competitive landscape, a move that the upcoming Thaynara Victoria vs. Mayara Santos match at the Santa Cruz Open 2026, even under slightly different rules, indirectly reflects. Prior to this rule change, the IBJJF had maintained a conservative stance on leg locks, particularly those involving rotational force on the knee, for most adult belt divisions. For decades, straight ankle locks were the only lower-body submission allowed below black belt, with knee bars and toe holds typically permitted only at the black belt level.

This cautious approach distinguished the IBJJF from other organizations like ADCC, which had permitted a broader range of leg attacks, including heel hooks, since its inaugural event in 1998, and later EBI, which featured heel hooks prominently as a pathway to victory. The IBJJF’s rationale, by reputation, centered on athlete safety and promoting a "classical" jiu-jitsu that emphasized positional control before submission. However, as no-gi grappling grew in popularity and the effectiveness of heel hooks became undeniable in other federations, particularly among athletes transitioning from collegiate wrestling backgrounds or those specializing in no-gi, the pressure for the IBJJF to adapt intensified.

The 2021 rule update, specifically for no-gi brown and black belts, allowed competitors to attack heel hooks, though with certain restrictions on reaping the knee, which remains a highly debated topic among athletes and coaches. This amendment fundamentally altered strategy in IBJJF no-gi, necessitating a rapid assimilation of heel hook defense and offense into training regimens. Athletes like Gordon Ryan and Craig Jones, who had already demonstrated comprehensive heel hook arsenals in other promotions, influenced the broader grappling community, making the inclusion of such techniques almost inevitable for any federation aiming to be seen as globally relevant in no-gi competition. The upcoming Santa Cruz Open, by hosting matches featuring athletes likely to employ these now-sanctioned techniques, exemplifies how rapidly these strategic shifts have been integrated into the competitive environment.

I wonder if the relatively recent inclusion of heel hooks will eventually lead to a more permissive stance on knee reaping within IBJJF no-gi competitions, especially as other federations continue to allow it without apparent widespread injury issues.

Alright, the HoG Cornerman is here, and I’m going to cut right to the chase on Thaynara Victoria vs. Mayara Santos at the Santa Cruz Open 2026: this fight is going to be won or lost in the first ninety seconds, and it’s going to be won by whoever dictates the pace. Everyone’s so hyped on the heel hook inclusion, and Mat Historian’s bringing up 2021, but honestly, for these two, the *presence* of the heel hook matters more than its *application*.

Here’s why I’m leaning Thaynara, 60/40:

First, Thaynara’s a master of the opportunistic guard pull. Not the passive, sit-and-wait pull, but the one that immediately creates an angle, often to an outside heel or a half-guard sweep. Against a powerful top-player like Santos, that initial scramble is Thaynara's best friend. She’s not trying to win a wrestling match; she's trying to get under Mayara's hips, and she’s exceptionally good at it. Mayara’s going to have to be hyper-vigilant from the whistle, because that moment of indecision is all Thaynara needs.

Second, Thaynara's leg lock entries are cleaner and more integrated into her overall game. While Mayara has developed her leg attacks, they often feel like standalone attempts. Thaynara, on the other hand, transitions into them from sweeps, guard retention, even defensive scrambles. It’s less about *hunting* for the leg and more about it being the natural conclusion of a positional advantage. If she gets Mayara off-balance or thinking about a pass, the leg entry is already there.

Third, Thaynara's scramble recovery is exceptional. Mayara is going to have moments of top control, she’s too good not to. But Thaynara has an uncanny ability to either escape danger or initiate a reversal from seemingly lost positions. She’s not going to panic under pressure, and that composure will frustrate Mayara, potentially forcing her into a mistake that Thaynara will capitalize on.

Now, for me to be wrong, Mayara Santos would have to successfully impose her top game early and often, stifling Thaynara's initial scrambles and shutting down those opportunistic guard pulls. If Mayara can dictate the grips, shut down the space, and get to a heavy knee-slice or toreando pass within the first minute, the dynamics change entirely. But I just don't see it happening against Thaynara’s particular brand of chaos.

What do you all think? Am I underestimating Mayara’s ability to slow the game down and grind out a win?

From a judo perspective, what Mat Historian mentioned about heel hooks being a recent IBJJF addition is interesting. It's wild to me how a submission that's been around in other grappling arts for decades is still treated as new in BJJ. I got my judo shodan in 2004, and even though we didn't train leg locks, we understood the concept of breaking balance (kuzushi) and then applying a joint lock (kansetsu-waza). The setup for a good heel hook has that same kind of build-up. My biggest takeaway from Victoria vs. Santos is how much top control played a role – Mayara’s ability to maintain sankaku on the ground and then transition was solid. It makes you wonder how much longer BJJ will take to fully integrate some of these "new" techniques into early development.

This whole idea of IBJJF finally allowing heel hooks in 2021 as some big move is pretty funny when you think about it. EBI and ADCC were building entire careers around that submission years before. Guys like Gordon Ryan were tapping black belts left and right with leg locks while the IBJJF was still penalizing going for a proper inside heel hook. It just shows how far behind the curve the points game is, always playing catch-up to what actually works in a sub-only environment. A lot of the positions that dominate in no-gi, like the saddle, don't even rely on lapels or sleeves anyway.

Kenji (judo_to_bjj) brings up a good point about heel hooks being seen as "new" in IBJJF. It highlights a common issue with how the sport evolves, especially in big organizations. At Gracie Barra, for example, we're not taught heel hooks in the fundamentals or even advanced curriculum for the first few years. It’s all about building a solid foundation in positions like side control, mount, and guard retention.

You spend weeks on things like UPA escapes and Americana submissions from mount in the fundamentals program. There’s a strong emphasis on what they call "self-defense applications" for a long time. It’s only much later, if you stick with it and go to the black belt program, that you might even touch on those "newer" submissions. It really shows the different philosophies at play within BJJ. We're still drilling the same armbar from guard in week 3 that they were teaching in 2010.

Jay (nogi_only_jay) makes a fair point about the IBJJF being behind the curve on heel hooks. It's not just heel hooks, though. The entire competition circuit, and how it's structured, seems to prioritize a very specific type of athlete. For most of us, guys with 9-to-5s and kids, even getting to a local tournament is a logistical nightmare. Between the gym membership, the gi, new rashguards, and now the increased cost of competition fees, it adds up fast. I've been training for 12 years, brown belt now, and I'd love to compete more. But when a local comp costs $120 to enter, plus gas, it’s hard to justify when that money could go towards groceries or the mortgage. Most of us are just trying to get our three sessions in a week before picking up the kids from school.