Gabi Pessanha has not lost a Worlds final since 2021, the year she first won double gold at the competition as a black belt. At this year’s IBJJF World Championship, the event’s 30th anniversary edition, the Cidade de Deus black belt reached twelve world titles, a historic record among the biggest stars of women’s Jiu-Jitsu. With the open class gold medals she has won over the years, Pessanha reached her sixth open class title, a number that puts her on the same level as Marcus ‘Buchecha’, one of the most dominant athletes competitive Jiu-Jitsu has ever seen.
Just like at last year’s Worlds, Gabi faced Tayane Porfírio in two finals, in the super-heavyweight and open class deciders. With a more dominant strategy, Gabi scored nine points to take division gold. In the open class final, Gabrieli also came out ahead on the scoreboard, but by a much narrower margin: two points to zero.
The men’s open class final was marked by exciting action between Erich Munis and Marcus ‘Scooby’. More effective at scoring points, Erich managed to impose his game on ‘Scooby’. Munis’s win this season, after taking silver in his weight division, marks the athlete’s seventh world title. Open class champion since 2024, Erich Munis now has three open class golds.
Seif Houmine became an IBJJF world champion by facing Gutemberg Pereira in the ultra-heavyweight final. Playing on top and applying pressure the whole time, Seif completely shut down Berg’s game, who still tried to react from bottom. Inside his opponent’s guard, Seif won with a choke from the closed guard, the ‘amassa pão’. Leaving his belt in the center of the mat at the Pyramid, the champion announced his farewell from IBJJF competition.
MORE EMOTION ON WORLDS FINALS DAY: RIDER ZUCHI WINS THE TITLE FOR THE FIRST TIME AND HONORS LEANDRO LO’S MEMORY
Rider Zuchi’s arrival at the top of the Worlds podium was symbolic. A student of Leandro Lo, the black belt carries and passes on the teachings and principles of one of the sport’s greatest legends. Rider faced Nico Maglicic in the heavyweight final with a world title at stake. With a 4-0 score, Rider sealed his place at the top of the podium. It is the first time he has won Worlds at adult black belt. After completing his mission at the Pyramid, instead of an excited celebration, Rider asked the crowd for a minute of silence in memory of Lo, his mentor.
It took a year for Jansen Gomes to compete in the gi again. The last time was at last year’s Worlds, when he won his second title at the competition. Back in action at light heavyweight at the Pyramid, the Checkmat star faced Enderson Dias, the reigning Pans champion, in the final. Jansen fell behind by an advantage, but once he recovered, he managed to beat his opponent with a choke.
MIDDLEWEIGHT GOLD HAD A CLEAR DESTINATION: TAINAN DALPRA REMAINS UNTOUCHED AND A MULTIPLE-TIME CHAMPION ON THE IBJJF’S MAJOR CIRCUIT
Now a four-time champion after a Worlds run with four submissions, Tainan Dalpra stays untouched at middleweight with a historic path already paved in the division. At this season’s Worlds, in California, Tainan faced Natan Chueng for the top of the podium. The favorite in the matchup, Tainan found the submission in less than a minute. Tainan’s entire Worlds run lasted exactly six minutes and fifteen seconds, the shortest time ever recorded at the competition from the first round to the end of the final.
Matheus Gabriel got the better of Jackson Nagai in the last lightweight fight at the IBJJF Worlds. In a matchup between Checkmat teammates, Matheus showed more energy and submitted Jackson with an armbar early in the fight. It is Matheus Gabriel’s fourth world title at the elite level.
Cole Abate and Samuel Nagai repeated the Pans final and met again for gold at an IBJJF Grand Slam tournament. In the featherweight final at Worlds, in California, Cole and Samuel showed equal hunger in one of the most electric matches of finals day. The AOJ black belt won 4-2 on points. It is Cole’s first gi world title at the elite level.
RETIRED AT HIS PEAK: FIVE-TIME GI JIU-JITSU WORLD CHAMPION DIEGO ‘PATO’ SAYS GOODBYE TO THE IBJJF
Diego ‘Pato’ won his fifth Jiu-Jitsu world title at the Pyramid, the sport’s most iconic stage. In the light featherweight final, Diego took control against Khaled Alshehhi, winning nine points to zero. After the emotion of his fifth career gi world title, ‘Pato’ left his belt on the mat, signaling the end of his brilliant journey in IBJJF competition.
Jalen Fonacier is an IBJJF world champion for the second year in a row. In the roosterweight final, the Rubens ‘Cobrinha’ black belt faced Thalison Soares, world champion in 2022. In a high-level match, with full attention to every move, Jalen took gold by a single advantage.
Vinicius Liberati was the one who took super-heavyweight gold in a matchup with Erich Munis. In a rematch of the Brazilian Nationals final, Liberati faced his coach and walked away with his hand raised. On the scoreboard, six points to six, with one advantage for Vinícius. It is the Soldiers athlete’s first world title at the elite level.
Brazil’s Larissa Dias keeps shining in her IBJJF Worlds campaigns. Against Atos’s Raniele Alencar, the Elementum Jiu-Jitsu black belt won by submission in the heavyweight final. With the win, Larissa becomes a three-time world champion at the Pyramid, repeating her titles from 2022 and 2025.
Thamara Ferreira kept her reign in the women’s light heavyweight division. The athlete faced Ingridd Alves in the Worlds final and came out on top on advantages. In the closing stretch, she threatened with a choke. With this year’s title, Thamara becomes a three-time champion of the tournament, winning consecutively since 2024.
Canadian Lillian Marchand beat the experience of Elisabeth Clay to take Worlds gold at middleweight. Lillian, representing Atos, took the lead because of a penalty on Clay. In another close final, it was that penalty that decided the win for the black belt, who was promoted at last year’s Worlds.
AFTER LOSSES TO SARAH GALVÃO, JANAÍNA LEBRE TAKES THE MOST COVETED GOLD OF ALL, AT WORLDS
Janaína Lebre defended her lightweight title by beating Sarah Galvão in an extremely close match on the last day of Worlds. Last year’s world champion, Janaína was coming off losses to Sarah in recent matches, in the finals of The Crown and the Pans. With the win, Janaína once again sits at the top of the Pyramid and ends the Atos athlete’s chance at a Super Grand Slam.
Sabrina Gondim advanced with authority at featherweight and reached her long-awaited IBJJF Worlds final. Competing for Fight Sports, the black belt faced Gabi McComb, passed the guard early in the match and kept the lead with initiative to secure her first IBJJF world title.
Ashlee Funegra joined her sister, Mia Funegra, as an IBJJF gi world champion. A talent forged on the AOJ mats, Ashlee faced Vitória Assis in the light featherweight final. Building advantages throughout the match, Ashlee went ahead and sealed the world title with a sweep in the closing stretch.
Mayssa Bastos has not lost a Worlds final since 2019. At this season’s event, the AOJ black belt won her seventh world title at the Pyramid by submitting Brazil’s Jessica Caroline. Spectacular dominance, over the years, from an athlete no one can dethrone.
This article was originally published in Portuguese: read the original version.
