2026 Crown | Bisnaga is Back
Former World Champion to Contend for Crown Title
The 2026 Crown featherweight division has announced its first contender. João ‘Bisnaga’ Mendes is slated to return to the Crown in an attempt to secure his first title at the prestigious event.
The 2025 featherweight World Champion has showcased his remarkable skillset on the sport’s biggest stages in recent years. Bisnaga will rely on elite guard play and strong tactical awareness to outduel his opponents. His extensive experience against the world’s best featherweight athletes gives Bisnaga a substantial advantage in high-intensity competition.
The Alliance representative joins a historically difficult featherweight division that consistently supplies elite talent. Bisnaga remains one of the fiercest featherweight contenders in the world, and represents a proven champion in the Crown featherweight division. The highly-anticipated eight-man division projects to deliver memorable action with the 2026 Crown hanging in the balance.
Bisnaga sets his sights on earning his first Crown title. The former World Champion has steadily accumulated major titles, though the premier invitation-only gi competition has evaded him thus far. Bisnaga undoubtedly boasts the ability and experience to reign supreme on November 8th.
The Pyramid in Long Beach, California remains the battleground for the prestigious event. Stay tuned to official IBJJF channels for continued updates on the 2026 IBJJF Crown.
