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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.

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.