The wait is over. The IBJJF has released the brackets for all six GPs at The Crown, and Mica Galvão’s return to major competition already has an opponent. On November 8, at the iconic Pyramid in California, the Manaus native opens the middleweight GP against Leonardo Souza, last year’s European champion. Only one moves on, in a bracket that was already considered the toughest of the night before the draw.
The matchup pits two styles that promise fireworks. On one side, Mica’s unpredictability and ability to submit from any position. On the other, Leonardo’s high-paced game, which usually sets the tempo from the first second. It will be Mica’s first appearance at The Crown, the invitational the IBJJF created in 2023 to bring the black belt elite together on a single night.
MICA GALVÃO’S RETURN STARTS WITH A EUROPEAN CHAMPION ACROSS THE MAT
Mica’s comeback is one of the most talked-about storylines of the season. One of the most decorated black belts of his generation, he spent about two years away from major IBJJF events after a 2024 season in which he won the Brasileiro, Pans, Europeans and Worlds at lightweight and middleweight. In June of this year, he gave the first sign of a return by competing at the New Jersey Open in the gi and leaving with double gold.
Now the challenge is different. If he gets past Leonardo Souza, Mica could meet the winner of Uanderson Ferreira vs. José Steve in the semifinal, a matchup with huge potential between two athletes who bring the crowd to its feet. On the other side of the bracket are Andy Murasaki, who has held the middleweight crown for the last two editions and opens against Rafael Gamba, and Natan Chueng, a last-minute replacement for Jackson Nagai, who faces Tarcisio Santos.
SPARKS AT FEATHERWEIGHT AND A NEWCOMER CHALLENGING THE WOMEN’S LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION
At featherweight, the matchup that promises sparks is Rerisson Gabriel vs. Mateo Cardona. Rerisson, known for his fearless style, arrives as one of the most dangerous names among the elite after beating Diogo Reis and Diego ‘Pato’ at the IBJJF Pans and Brasileiro, as The Mat Nation reported in the story on the athlete who completed the list of eight featherweight invitees. In the same bracket, Samuel Nagai, the division’s first champion, faces Keven Carrasco, João ‘Bisnaga’ Mendes takes on Jun Yong Cho and Ademir Barreto goes up against Will Wilson, this season’s European champion.
In the women’s lightweight division, Sarah Galvão, last year’s champion in her tournament debut, faces newcomer Giovanah Oliveira, the 2025 brown belt world champion. Two-time world champion Janaina Lebre opens against Nikolett Kis, while Elisabeth Clay faces Sabrina Gondim and Aghata Rabelo takes on Keanna Klay.
HEAVYWEIGHTS AND WOMEN’S SUPER-HEAVYWEIGHTS: RETURNING CHAMPIONS AND A SHOT AT A FOURTH TITLE
At heavyweight, Fellipe Andrew, a former The Crown champion returning to the event, must get past Windson Torres to stay in the hunt for the crown. Reigning champion Nolan Stuart opens against Davi Vetoraci, while Vinicius Liberati faces Omar Nada and Australia’s Nicholas Maglicic takes on Leonardo Ferreira. At ultra-heavyweight, Erich Munis, unbeaten at the tournament, begins his quest for a fourth title against Francisco Papasidero.
Among the women’s super-heavyweights, Gabi Pessanha, winner of all three editions, opens her title defense against Maria Ruffatto-Gilpin. In its fourth edition, The Crown brings together 48 athletes in six divisions, always by invitation, and each champion takes home a $20,000 prize. The event will be streamed on FloGrappling.
ALL FIRST-ROUND MATCHUPS AT THE CROWN 2026:
FEATHERWEIGHT: Samuel Nagai vs. Keven Carrasco; Will Wilson vs. Ademir Barreto; João Mendes vs. Jun Yong Cho; Rerisson Gabriel vs. Mateo Cardona
MIDDLEWEIGHT: Mica Galvão vs. Leonardo Souza; Uanderson Ferreira vs. José Steve; Andy Murasaki vs. Rafael Gamba; Natan Chueng vs. Tarcisio Santos
HEAVYWEIGHT: Vinicius Liberati vs. Omar Nada; Nicholas Maglicic vs. Leonardo Ferreira; Nolan Stuart vs. Davi Vetoraci; Fellipe Andrew vs. Windson Torres
ULTRA-HEAVYWEIGHT: Erich Munis vs. Francisco Papasidero; Alexander Sak vs. Matheus Vetoraci; Seif-Eddine Houmine vs. Thierry Felipe; Pedro Machado vs. Anderson Kauan
WOMEN’S LIGHTWEIGHT: Janaina Lebre vs. Nikolett Kis; Sabrina Gondim vs. Elisabeth Clay; Sarah Galvão vs. Giovanah Oliveira; Aghata Rabelo vs. Keanna Klay
WOMEN’S SUPER-HEAVYWEIGHT: Gabi Pessanha vs. Maria Ruffatto-Gilpin; Hazel Butcher-Salazar vs. Anabel Lopez; Larissa Dias vs. Ingrid Alves; Yara Soares vs. Maria Alencar
This article was originally published in Portuguese: read the original version.
