Another chapter of the Gabi Pessanha vs. Sarah Galvão rivalry was written at this season’s Brazilian Nationals, held from April 24 to May 3. Once again, the adult black belt finals on the last day were headlined by the healthy rivalry between two of the most prominent athletes of competitive Jiu-Jitsu’s new generation.
Their open class finals have been stealing the show since the Europeans in Lisbon, at the start of the 2026 season. Gabi won that one. At Pans, in Florida, it was Sarah’s turn. The lightweight newcomer pushed queen Gabi out of territory she knew so well, the throne of open class champion, and sent fans into a frenzy.
With one win apiece, it was Gabi who took gold in Barueri. With a lopsided score and total control, the Cidade de Deus black belt put up twelve points. Sarah, gritty as always, fought to the final second. At Worlds, in California, the two could meet again in another open class final.
In the first final of the day, which always starts with the women, Mayssa Bastos beat Jessica Caroline in the biggest roosterweight matchup. Mayssa set the pace the entire match, piling up points from top position. Before finishing with a choke, the AOJ black belt, now a four-time Brazilian National champion, built a 17-0 lead.
FUNEGRA SISTERS ON TOP: ASHLEE AND MIA WIN BACK TO BACK, ADDING EVEN MORE VALUE TO THE METHOD USED AT AOJ
Both Ashlee Funegra and Maria Luiza Nunes badly wanted the light-featherweight title at this season’s Brazilian Nationals. Tied 6-6 on points and even on advantages, the decision fell to the referees. They named the AOJ athlete the light-featherweight champion. It was the second straight win for the Mendes brothers’ school.
Mia Funegra watched her sister win the light-featherweight final, then stepped on the mat right after for the featherweight final. The AOJ black belt, already an IBJJF world champion, has now won Brazilian Nationals competing at the sport’s elite level. In the division’s last match, Mia beat Gabriela Pereira by submission, extending AOJ’s brilliant run in the adult black belt finals.
Sarah Galvão was the lightweight champion at the CBJJ’s most anticipated tournament. In a tough match against GFTeam’s Vitória Vieira, the Atos representative showed the more effective game and racked up four advantages. On points, the score stayed 0-0. It is Sarah’s first Brazilian Nationals title at black belt.
TWO-TIME CHAMPION IN BRAZIL: ELISABETH CLAY BOUNCES BACK FLAWLESS AFTER HER SETBACK AT PANS IN THE U.S.
Elisabeth Clay almost seems more inspired fighting on Brazilian soil. In the middleweight final at Brazilian Nationals, the American faced Atos’ Lillian Marchand. Clay’s win meant a second Brazilian Nationals title. It was also a chance at revenge. In the middleweight final at Pans, Elisabeth faced Marchand and came up short. This time, the Six Blades black belt prevailed. She attacked the legs and feet and found her way to the submission.
Maca Vicentini was the medium-heavyweight champion on finals day. The AOJ athlete faced Ingridd Alves in a close match. Two points from a sweep, scored by Maca, made the AOJ black belt the division champion. It is Maca’s second Brazilian Nationals title since being promoted to black belt.
Yara Soares is shining at heavyweight. After gold at the Europeans, the Fratres black belt came to Brazilian Nationals hunting another title. With a flawless game plan against Tamiris Silva, Yara won 11-0, never faced danger and took home another title.
Gabi Pessanha settled the super-heavyweight final at Brazilian Nationals with stunning speed. Against Mikaela Barros, the multiple-time champion was in a hurry to add another Brazilian Nationals title to her vast collection of gold medals. In under a minute of action, Gabi beat Mikaela with a choke.
The men’s ultra-heavyweight final featured student and coach, both representing Soldiers. Vinicius Liberati and Erich Munis took the mat to deliver action on finals day at the CBJJ’s Brazilian Nationals. With the score tied 6-6, Liberati won by one advantage. After gold at the Europeans, this is Vinícius’ second Grand Slam title at the elite level.
ALLIANCE RIO DE JANEIRO MADE A STRONG SHOWING AT BRAZILIAN NATIONALS WITH THE RUNS OF ÍTALO ALMEIDA AND RERISSON GABRIEL
The roosterweight final in São Paulo was electric. Ítalo Almeida and Welerson Gonçalves gave everything in a match that was anything but dull. The Nova União black belt fought hard to come back, but Ítalo worked to keep the lead and stretch it even further. In the end, he won 10-6.
Rerisson Gabriel did it again! In the light-featherweight final at Brazilian Nationals, the Alliance Rio de Janeiro athlete upset Diego ‘Pato’, the division favorite, by two advantages. With cool-headed strategy to protect his lead, Rerisson sent the crowd in São Paulo into a frenzy, shining once again against a big name in the sport. At last year’s Pans, Rerisson did the same to Diogo Reis, winning that time by referee decision.
Meyram Maquiné and Cleison Gabriel kept the crowd on its feet on finals day at the Brazilian Nationals of Jiu-Jitsu. Cleison, another finalist from Alliance Rio de Janeiro, made Meyram earn every bit of the win. The ever-skillful Meyram had to push a higher work rate to stay in front. It is Meyram’s first Brazilian Nationals title at black belt.
ONCE RIVALS, NOW TEAMMATES: ANDY MURASAKI AND TAINAN DALPRA SHINE, NOW FLYING THE SAME FLAG
Andy Murasaki showed he is more than polished at the CBJJ’s Brazilian Nationals, a competition that ran for 10 straight days in São Paulo. He had four matches at lightweight, a 100% submission rate and not a single point conceded on his way to gold. That is getting through the IBJJF calendar’s toughest tournament completely unscathed. In the division final, Andy submitted Almeida JJ’s Luis Felipe Ribas with a classic armbar, executed with technical perfection.
Tainan Dalpra keeps putting together a perfect season, with Brazilian Nationals gold as his latest title. In another middleweight final against José Steve, whom he also faced in the Europeans final, the AOJ athlete once again submitted the Dream Art talent. As is tradition, Tainan displayed the Brazilian flag as the home crowd cheered.
The team led by Erich Munis and Meyram Maquiné once again produced an all-team final at this season’s Brazilian Nationals of Jiu-Jitsu. In the medium-heavyweight final, Gabriel Galvão and Alex Munis agreed to fight it out for the division’s gold medal. Alex Munis, Erich’s brother, came out ahead on points and won 2-0.
Leonardo Ferreira came into the elite level as a prospect and keeps proving the hype was justified. On the last day of Brazilian Nationals, Mário Reis’ black belt won his second IBJJF Grand Slam title. In January, at the Europeans, he also took gold. The heavyweight final in Brazil was against Rider Zuchi. In an evenly matched bout, Leo took the title by a single advantage.
BERG HAS ARRIVED: FIGHTING FOR CHECKMAT, GUTEMBERG PEREIRA SHOWS INSPIRED JIU-JITSU AT BRAZILIAN NATIONALS
Gutemberg Pereira is back in full force at the big CBJJ/IBJJF events. In the ultra-heavyweight final, Guto faced Pedro Alex ‘Bombom’ in a more measured match, with more feeling out and fewer explosions. With no points or advantages on the board, the referees named Gutemberg the winner. It is the athlete’s first Brazilian Nationals title at black belt, now representing Checkmat.
Erich Munis beat his student Gabriel Veloso in the open class final, the closing match of the adult black belt division. Three elite-level finals featured Soldiers athletes facing each other, none of them closed out. A feat worth noting. Erich Munis took silver at super-heavyweight against Vinicius Liberati. In the open class, the multiple-time champion settled matters early, submitting Gabriel Veloso with a quick strike to the armbar.
This article was originally published in Portuguese: read the original version.
