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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 athletes 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.

Rafael Gamba earned his black belt promotion following a dominant World Championship title run. The Alliance standout secured European, Brasileiro, and World Championship titles in a remarkable 2026 campaign.

Top Prospect Accepts Tremendous Challenge

Throughout his incredible season, Rafael displayed a strong submission arsenal headlined by a fantastic triangle system. His guard play is defined by constant threats and seamless retention. The young black belt has drawn immense recognition as he commences his highly-anticipated black belt debut. 

Rafael joins a stacked middleweight division that already boasts rising star Tarcisio Santos. Together the two budding phenoms create the foundation for a fantastic middleweight bracket.

Bursting with confidence and momentum, Rafael projects to square-off with more experienced middleweight contenders. The jiu-jitsu community awaits for the highly-anticipated middleweight division that features rising stars tested by formidable championship-pedigree veterans. 

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