The fourth Grand Slam event of the season delivered incredible action to the Ginásio Poliesportivo José Correa in São Paulo, Brazil. Elite black belt competitors put their skills on display as they entered Brasileiro title contention amidst world-class opposition. Division champions captured the jiu-jitsu spotlight and distinct momentum ahead of the prestigious World Championships.

 

Roosterweight

Ítalo Almeida stormed the Brasileiro roosterweight division as the #12 seed in a field of thirteen elite competitors. The Alliance representative launched his gold medal campaign with a commanding seven-point victory over Jorge Arthur. Ítalo was then pushed to the limit by top-seed Yuri Silva in an electrifying quarterfinal clash. Both elite athletes traded sweeps until the final buzzer with the score deadlocked at six, leaving Ítalo’s advantage lead as the decisive factor. With the favorite eliminated, the Alliance phenom dispatched Andrew Soares to set up a high-stakes final against #2 seed Wellerson Gonçalves. After seizing an early lead through tactical guard pulls, which he displayed throughout his run, Ítalo maintained relentless pressure. Outpointing his veteran foe 10-6, Ítalo captured his first major black belt title just five months into his black belt career. This stunning achievement signals the arrival of a special talent in the Alliance ranks.

 

Light-Featherweight

The light-featherweight bracket delivered a fascinating storyline between two of the world’s premier 141lb athletes. Rerisson Gabriel of Alliance and Diego Pato of AOJ collided in a highly anticipated final. Pato carved a path through Sueru Okaizumi and Junior Righetti to reach the finals. Meanwhile, Rerisson fought through a gauntlet of top contenders, besting Israel Neves, Gustavo Ogawa, and Shoya Ishiguro. Notably, Rerisson secured a thrilling redemption victory over Ishiguro via three advantages, avenging a recent semifinal loss at Pans.

As Rerisson and Pato stepped onto the mats, the atmosphere inside the Ginásio Poliesportivo José Correa intensified. Rerisson captured an early lead by scoring on a perfectly timed takedown, though he quickly found himself entangled in Pato’s lethal X-guard. Despite surrendering a match-tying sweep at the midway point, Rerisson responded beautifully. After reclaiming the lead with a sweep of his own, he threatened a submission while falling to his back, earning a critical advantage. The Alliance standout displayed incredible grit in the final minute, securing another advantage via near-sweep and neutralizing Pato’s final onslaught of attacks. Rerisson clinches his second major black belt title, surging into the World Championships with the momentum of his finals victory over one of the top pound-for-pound athletes globally.

 

Featherweight

Meyram Maquiné made a remarkable return to the podium at the 2026 Brasileiro, making an electric season debut following a silver medal performance at the 2025 Worlds. The Soldiers Jiu-Jitsu standout entered as the #2 seed in a dangerous 154lb bracket. Meyram began his run in the second round by decisively securing a lapel choke from the back against Guilherme Lopes, before defeating Leonardo Santos by two points. An intense semifinal war against Diego Sodre resulted in a hard-fought victory for the Soldiers athlete. In the final, Maquiné met Alliance’s Cleison Santos. The tension broke at the seven-minute mark when Meyram executed a dynamic back-step pass to seize a three-point lead. After a fierce exchange of sweeps, the match concluded 5-2 in Meyram’s favor. This second Brasileiro crown, his first since 2021, proves that the sensational featherweight is in peak form for the upcoming World Championships.

 

Lightweight

The 2026 Brasileiro was undoubtedly a memorable event for Andy Murasaki. He completed his AOJ debut while competing at Brasileiro for the first time as a black belt. Andy returned to the lightweight division following his latest IBJJF competition, which witnessed him defend his middleweight throne at The Crown in December. As the top seed among twenty competitors, Andy provided a thrilling preview of his gold medal intentions in the opening round, passing the guard and taking the back for a three-minute lapel choke finish. He followed this with one of the most remarkable submissions of the event: an Ezekiel choke from the back, executed through the standing position and back down to the mats for a two-minute finish. Murasaki’s semifinal was again one-sided, as he racked up ten unanswered points before securing yet another choke from the back. Andy then clashed with Luis Felipe with the lightweight title hanging in the balance. The AOJ athlete again asserted his dominance through sweeping, guard passing, and finishing mechanics that ended with an eight point lead and an armbar finish. Andy secured submissions in each of his four matches and showcased phenomenal technique, highlighted by his strong guard passing pressure. Andy’s flawless performance makes him a terrifying contender as he sets his sights on the 2026 lightweight World title.

 

Middleweight

Tainan Dalpra arrived in São Paulo riding an incredible streak of six consecutive Grand Slam triumphs. The AOJ superstar continued his legendary run by dismantling the middleweight division to secure his third career Brasileiro title. His campaign commenced against Darlan Casaca with an astounding gator roll pass directly into a lightning-fast armbar. In the quarterfinals Dalpra’s surgical guard passing was on full display as he racked up five points before finishing with a lapel choke in just over three minutes. The semifinals saw Tainan overwhelm Gabriel Avila with eleven unanswered points before forcing the tap with a collar choke. The middleweight finals pit Tainan against José Steve in a high-stakes rematch from the European Championship finals. The AOJ icon secured an early sweep before ending the contest with a devastating toehold from the fifty-fifty position. Boasting a 100% submission rate across four matches, Dalpra’s performance was nothing short of a masterpiece. Tainan’s legendary run continues through Brasileiro, earning his seventh consecutive Grand Slam title as he looks ahead to a potential fourth World Championship this month.

 

Medium-Heavyweight

Alex Munis seized his breakthrough moment with a sensational performance at the 2026 Brasileiro. Fresh off a silver medal at Pans, the Soldiers Jiu-Jitsu standout entered as the #3 seed in the medium-heavyweight category. Alex ignited his gold medal run with a clinical second-round collar choke from the back, following it up with a tactical 4-2 victory over Vital Neto. The semifinals pit Munis against Rui Alves in a relentless battle of attrition. With only thirty seconds remaining on the clock, Alex created momentary back exposure and locked in a collar choke for the dramatic submission finish. The finals paired Alex with his teammate, Gabriel Galvao, for an opportunity to earn Brasileiro gold. Alex captured the match defining moment via sweep early in the match, as he went on to earn the medium-heavyweight title by a score of 2-0. This victory marks his first major title at the black belt level, achieved through a series of commanding performances against world-class opposition. Alex now looks forward with a massive surge of confidence as he aims to contend for the medium-heavyweight World Championship.

 

Heavyweight

The heavyweight division was defined by two gripping narratives that electrified the jiu-jitsu community. The return of former World Champion Fellipe Andrew brought immediate excitement, as he defeated his first two opponents before suffering an unfortunate back injury while up thirteen points in the semifinals. The global jiu-jitsu community certainly hopes to see his elite skillset back on the mats for the World Championships later this month. Simultaneously, European Champion Leo Ferreira made a triumphant return to the Grand Slam stage. Entering as the #2 seed, Leo displayed terrifying efficiency with a forty-second lapel choke in the quarterfinals. This set up a heavyweight showdown between Davi Vetoraci and Leo. After seven minutes of tactical battles, Leo found his opportunity to attack as Davi extended a far-side arm allowing Leo to step over the head and secure an armbar finish. The final against Rider Zuchi was a strategic chess match, where Leo’s masterful guard play proved to be the decisive factor. Now holding both European and Brasileiro titles, Leo remains undefeated in Grand Slam action this season and looks ready to upgrade last year’s silver to World Championship gold.

 

Super-Heavyweight

The super-heavyweight bracket was a collision of exceptional talents featuring Erich Munis, Vinicius Liberati, and Nolan Stuart. These elite athletes each secured a podium placement, culminating in an all Soldiers Jiu-Jitsu final. Vinicius Liberati delivered an opening round statement with a fifteen-point performance ending in a lapel choke, followed by a tactical eight-point win in the quarterfinals over Hygor Brito. In a Pans final rematch against Nolan Stuart, Liberati’s explosive takedowns and stifling top pressure proved to be the difference maker. Punching his ticket to the super-heavyweight finals, Vincius was set to square off with his teammate Erich Munis in an intriguing collision of elite athletes. The two standouts traded offense with high-level guard attacks and a flurry of sweeps that persisted until the final seconds. Ultimately, Vinicius Liberati emerged victorious by advantage, capturing his second major title of 2026. After his European crown earlier this season, Liberati has established himself as a top contender for the super-heavyweight World title.

 

Ultra-Heavyweight

The ultra-heavyweight division lived up to its projections as one of the most anticipated weight classes of the 2026 Brasileiro event. Gutemberg Pereira, Pedro Alex, Seif-Eddine, Gabriel Veloso, Luis Cantareira and other elite level competitors were slated to square off for the Grand Slam title. Through the dangerous field of athletes, it was Gutemberg Pereira who reigned supreme in São Paulo. The CheckMat athlete began his march with a tactical five-point win over Alliance rising star Guilherme Avelino. In the semifinals, Gutemberg showcased his versatility, scoring with a slick foot-trip before hunting the back for a spectacular one-handed rear-naked choke finish over Gabriel Veloso. The final was an intense showdown against Pedro ‘Bom Bom’ Alex. Opposing his previous strategy, Gutemberg chose to pull guard, fighting much of the match from his closed guard. The stalemate culminated in a referee decision victory for Gutemberg, who secured his fifth major black belt title. Following a pair of silver medals at the 2025 Worlds, this victory signals a motivated and dangerous Gutemberg heading into the season finale.

 

Open Class

Erich Munis returned to the open class competition at Brasileiro with the hopes of defending the absolute throne he captured in the last edition of the event. The Soldiers Jiu-Jitsu phenom secured a second-round armbar submission in three minutes to commence his absolute gold medal run. Erich then defeated Robson Gomes via armbar in about two minutes to progress into the semifinals against Harryson Pereira. Erich earned his finals placement via four point victory over Harryson utilizing his incredible guard play to secure a pair of sweeps. The finals paired Erich against his teammate and the reigning Pan and European Absolute Champion Gabriel Veloso. Erich wasted no time in this match, capturing an armbar victory in under one minute of competition. His open class finals performance was what many expected in the super-heavyweight finals, anticipating another double-gold performance from the top globally ranked athlete. Instead, Erich departs from Brasileiro with an open class title and lofty expectations for his World Championship outing. 

 

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