The IBJJF Crown draw is out for Nov. 8 in Long Beach: Pessanha opens against Maria Ruffato, defending champion Nolan Stuart meets Davi Vetoraci and Sam Nagai faces Keven Carrasco.
From 4 reports by 3 outletsLatest IBJJF releases Crown brackets: Pessanha faces Ruffato, Stuart meets Vetoraci 3 outlets
What we know
- The fourth IBJJF Crown is on Nov. 8 at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid in Long Beach, California, with six divisions of eight athletes and a $20,000 prize per division.
- The event streams exclusively on FloGrappling.
- Gabi Pessanha won the women's super-heavyweight Crown at each of the first three editions and is seeking a fourth.
- Sam Nagai won the first Crown featherweight title in 2023 and would be the division's first two-time champion with a win.
Reported, not confirmed
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Natan Chueng replaced Jackson Nagai in the middleweight bracket after Nagai's illness forced him out, according to the federation's October 21 update.
MiddleEasy
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Anderson Kauan takes the place that Helder Rodrigues held on the federation's earlier contender list in the ultra-heavyweight bracket.
MiddleEasy
The Crown draw is set, and the paths are now clear for the fourth edition. Six divisions of eight invited athletes turn into 24 first-round matches, with a $20,000 prize for each division winner. The later-round meetings are only possible matchups, not guaranteed ones.
Gabi Pessanha has the clearest record to defend. She won the super-heavyweight division at each of the first three Crowns and now opens against Maria Ruffato. Larissa Dias, Yara Soares, Maria Alencar, Hazel Rose and Anabel Lopez fill out the bracket. According to the organizers, Pessanha has added more guard passing and top play this year to a game long built on guard and standing leg locks.
In the featherweight bracket, Sam Nagai starts against Keven Carrasco. Nagai won the first Crown featherweight title in 2023 and lost both major finals this season to Cole Abate, at the Pan Championship and at Worlds. In a written interview with the federation he described his plan for the Crown as "Aggressive, focused on submissions, and no stalling." A win in Long Beach would make him the division's first two-time champion. The draw keeps a possible Nagai-Joao Mendes meeting for the final. Mendes opens against Jun Yong Cho.
Defending heavyweight champion Nolan Stuart draws Davi Vetoraci, with Fellipe Andrew against Windson Torres in the next quarterfinal, so Stuart and Andrew could meet in the semifinals. In the middleweight bracket, two-time champion Andy Murasaki faces Rafael Gamba and is chasing a third straight title. Mica Galvao, in his first Crown, opens against Leleo Souza and could meet Murasaki only in the final.
In women's lightweight, Sarah Galvao starts against Giovanah Oliveira and Janaina Lebre meets Nikolett Kis. Three-time champion Erich Munis opens the ultra-heavyweight bracket against Francisco Papasidero. The event streams on FloGrappling. Watch for the quarterfinals, where Stuart-Andrew and a Nagai run toward Mendes would first take shape.
Gabi Pessanha has the clearest record to defend. She won the super-heavyweight division at each of the first three Crowns and now opens against Maria Ruffato. Larissa Dias, Yara Soares, Maria Alencar, Hazel Rose and Anabel Lopez fill out the bracket. According to the organizers, Pessanha has added more guard passing and top play this year to a game long built on guard and standing leg locks.
In the featherweight bracket, Sam Nagai starts against Keven Carrasco. Nagai won the first Crown featherweight title in 2023 and lost both major finals this season to Cole Abate, at the Pan Championship and at Worlds. In a written interview with the federation he described his plan for the Crown as "Aggressive, focused on submissions, and no stalling." A win in Long Beach would make him the division's first two-time champion. The draw keeps a possible Nagai-Joao Mendes meeting for the final. Mendes opens against Jun Yong Cho.
Defending heavyweight champion Nolan Stuart draws Davi Vetoraci, with Fellipe Andrew against Windson Torres in the next quarterfinal, so Stuart and Andrew could meet in the semifinals. In the middleweight bracket, two-time champion Andy Murasaki faces Rafael Gamba and is chasing a third straight title. Mica Galvao, in his first Crown, opens against Leleo Souza and could meet Murasaki only in the final.
In women's lightweight, Sarah Galvao starts against Giovanah Oliveira and Janaina Lebre meets Nikolett Kis. Three-time champion Erich Munis opens the ultra-heavyweight bracket against Francisco Papasidero. The event streams on FloGrappling. Watch for the quarterfinals, where Stuart-Andrew and a Nagai run toward Mendes would first take shape.
- Summary
- The IBJJF Crown draw is out for Nov. 8 in Long Beach: Pessanha opens against Maria Ruffato, defending champion Nolan Stuart meets Davi Vetoraci and Sam Nagai faces Keven Carrasco.
- Key points (one per line)
- All six IBJJF Crown brackets are out, giving 24 opening-round matches for Nov. 8 in Long Beach.
Gabi Pessanha, winner of all three Crowns, opens her bid for a fourth title against Maria Ruffato.
Sam Nagai starts against Keven Carrasco; a Nagai-Joao Mendes final is possible in the featherweight bracket.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- MiddleEasy | https://middleeasy.com/brazilian-jiu-jitsu/sam-nagai-aggressive-crown-return-two-major-finals/
Pos-Luta | https://posluta.com/crown-da-ibjjf-reune-48-feras-do-jiu-jitsu-em-long-beach-com-gabi-pessanha-mirando-o-tetra/
Recorte da Luta | https://recortedaluta.com.br/2026/10/27/ibjj-the-crown-2026-divulga-chaves-e-prepara-duelos-entre-campeoes-mundiais-confira-os-confrontos-definidos/
MiddleEasy | https://middleeasy.com/brazilian-jiu-jitsu/ibjjf-crown-2026-brackets-first-round-matchups-november8/
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Pos-LutaSummarized with AI from the sources above. Read the originals for the full story.
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