News

 

2026 Euro No-Gi Announcement

The thirteenth edition of the European No-Gi Championships projects to deliver intense action. The year’s third major No-Gi event has attracted nearly 3,000 competitors from across the globe. Rome, Italy prepares to witness memorable action across the prestigious five day event.

 

Within the busy week of Euro No-Gi lies a remarkable collection of elite black belt athletes. The nineteen black belt weight divisions provide ample opportunity for the jiu-jitsu community to enjoy intense action under the Grand Slam event spotlight. Let’s take a look at some of the highlight athletes you do not want to miss.

 

Tune in to IBJJF News and the official 2026 European No-Gi Event Guide for further athlete and bracket details. Head over to FloGrappling for the exclusive live stream from October 28th through November 1st. 

 

2026 Euro No-Gi - Highlight Black Belts

Pawel Jaworski

• 2025 World No-Gi Champion
• 2025 European No-Gi Double-Gold
• 3x Pan No-Gi Champion
• 2026 Brasileiro No-Gi Double-Gold

The #1 globally ranked No-Gi athlete returns to the major event spotlight. Pawel is widely considered to be one of the most dangerous pound-for-pound athletes in the sport. The Polish athlete has secured double-gold at both major events in 2026. A third European title would make Pawel the sport’s first No-Gi Grand Slam Champion.

 

Tarik Hopstock

• 2025 World No-Gi Champion
• 2025 European No-Gi Champion
• 2026 Brasileiro No-Gi Champion

Tarik Hopstock enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2025. The Frontline Academy athlete earned two major event triumphs before continuing his successful run with a Brasileiro No-Gi title in 2026. Tarik is favored in a stacked middleweight division.

 

Shay Montague

• 2025 World No-Gi Champion
• 2x European No-Gi Champion

Shay Montague competes out of ECJJA and represents the elite-tier of the roosterweight division. Shay’s fantastic guardplay and submission ability make him the favorite to repeat as European No-Gi Champion.

 

Edwin ‘Junny’ Ocasio

• 2023 World No-Gi Champion
• 2x European No-Gi Champion
• 2024 Pan No-Gi Champion

Junny represents Unity Jiu-Jitsu as one of the top light-featherweight competitors in the world. His submission-oriented style is exciting and his technique is precise. Junny’s leg attacks and guard play highlight a very refined and complete game.

 

Julian Espinosa

• 3x European No-Gi Champion
• 2x Brasileiro No-Gi Champion
• 2025 Pan No-Gi Champion

Julian Espinosa is one of the premiere No-Gi athletes in the world. The #4 globally ranked male No-Gi competitor steps back onto the major event stage with hopes of securing his seventh No-Gi Grand Slam event title. Julian is an exciting athlete with dynamic finishing ability and a well-rounded attack, he enters the lightweight division as an early favorite to capture gold.

 

Faris Benlamkadem

• 2025 European No-Gi Champion
• 2x World No-Gi Runner-Up

The Los Banditos standout delivers exciting performances on the sport’s brightest stages. Faris weaponizes a high-pace and forward-pressure style to overwhelm his opponents. Faris has bumped up into the super-heavyweight division as the favorite to secure his second consecutive European No-Gi title.

 

Marcelo Fausto

• 2025 Pan No-Gi Champion
• 2025 World No-Gi Runner-Up

Marcelo Fausto is a well-balanced athlete who consistently supplies thrilling action. The CheckMat athlete is a submission hunter who possesses the ability to beat the world’s top athletes. Marcelo sets his sights on his first European No-Gi title in a stacked middleweight division.

 

Pierre-Olivier Leclerc

• 2026 Pan No-Gi Champion
• 2024 European No-Gi Runner-Up

Tri-Star Montreal’s Pierre Leclerc is back on the major event circuit after earning the Pan No-Gi title just a few weeks ago. Pierre presents a well-rounded game and a strong work rate. The former middleweight has found success in the lightweight division, where he returns with major event title aspirations.

 

Thais Loureiro

• 2025 World No-Gi Champion
• 2025 European No-Gi Champion
• 2x Brasileiro No-Gi Champion
• 2024 Pan No-Gi Champion

Thais Loureiro is a proven veteran on the major event stage. Her five No-Gi Grand Slam event titles represent her world-class ability as both a technician and tactician. Thais enters as the favorite to secure her second European No-Gi title.

 

Salla Simola

• 2024 World No-Gi Champion
• 2025 European No-Gi Champion
• 2025 Pan No-Gi Champion

Salla is experienced and talented. The Hilit BJJ athlete has extensive Grand Slam experience that has led to fantastic performances over the past two years specifically. Salla aims to capture her second Euro No-Gi title and first major event triumph of 2026.

 

Martyna Kapuscinska

• 2026 Pan No-Gi Champion
• 2026 Brasileiro No-Gi Champion

Martyna is one of the most exciting black belt rookies in the sport. Her 2025 brown belt World No-Gi double-gold performance put her on the map. Since then, Martyna has captured back-to-back major event titles and projects to secure another in Rome. The Academia Gorila standout continues to improve and impress with each outing.

 

Amanda Bruse

• 2x Pan No-Gi Champion
• 2x World No-Gi Runner-Up

Amanda Bruse is a major event veteran with extensive experience against the sport’s top lightweights. The Corvus Grappling Collective standout enters the event as the #8 ranked female No-Gi athlete in the world, and projects to capture the first European No-Gi title of her career.

 

Injana Goodman

• 2025 European No-Gi Champion
• 2x Pan No-Gi Runner-Up

Injana has earned eight major event medals in her career, and has consistently delivered exciting performances. The Grapple Collective representative is experienced, skilled, and confident as the division’s returning champion. Injana hopes to earn her first major event title in the 2026 season.

 

Caroline Brunacio

• 2025 Pan No-Gi Champion

Caroline is an exciting athlete who consistently showcases exciting jiu-jitsu. Her well-balanced attack and strong submission skills make her a significant threat in the lightweight division. Caroline is in the stacked lightweight division, as she intends to capture her first European No-Gi title.

 

Notable Rookie Black Belts

• Sebastian Sonntag
• Chazz Canas
• Luan Veras
• Amit Burshtein
• Jakub Bonkowski
• Valentina Pena
• Michal Baly
• Claudiane Costa

 

For further athlete and bracket information, stay tuned to IBJJF News and the 2026 Euro No-Gi Event Guide. Be sure to login to FloGrappling for the exclusive Euro No-Gi livestream running from October 28th through November 1st.