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2026 IBJJF Crown Announcement

The 2026 Crown is building a phenomenal list of athletes for its fourth edition. Forty-eight world-class competitors will converge inside the famous Long Beach Pyramid on November 8th with hopes of securing one of the most sought after trophies in the sport, as well as the $20,000 cash prize.

Nolan Stuart has officially been announced as the eighth and final heavyweight Crown contender. Nolan will enter with distinct confidence following his phenomenal 2025 Crown title run.

Nolan Stuart - Chasing Crown History

The Crown heavyweight division has not had a repeat winner through three years of the event. Nolan Stuart enters the 2026 edition with the chance to make history by becoming a two-time Crown heavyweight Champion. 

Nolan has showcased his strong guard play and world-class submission arsenal on the biggest stages. This season has certainly had some ups-and-downs for the Brea Jiu-Jitsu athlete, however, his second consecutive Pan title reminded everyone of his elite level. The entire division is undoubtedly aware of Nolan’s omoplata, which is widely regarded as the most dominant omoplata system in the world. 

Nolan has acknowledged the specialist label that many attach to him, yet he remains generally unphased. When asked about the topic and his opponents' understanding of his favorite system Nolan responded, “I don’t care, try and stop it.”

That is exactly what the rest of the heavyweight field must do if they plan on preventing a consecutive heavyweight champion. The bracket is absolutely stacked with names such as Fellipe Andrew, Davi Vetoraci, Nico Maglicic, Vinicius Liberati, Omar Nada, Leo Ferreira, and Windson Torres.

The event is scheduled for November 8th from the prestigious Pyramid in Long Beach, California. Stay tuned to official IBJJF channels for continued updates surrounding the 2026 IBJJF Crown.