The 2026 IBJJF Grand Prix delivered memorable action across eighteen bouts at The Hangar in Costa Mesa, California. Compelling narratives unfolded leading up to this prestigious event, highlighting the immense breadth of jiu-jitsu ability, from juvenile blue belts to elite black belt World Champions. A trio of promising contenders inaugurated their no-gi black belt careers against seasoned, highly-credentialed veterans. The event featured continuous, action-packed matches, culminating in the crowning of the 2026 Absolute No-Gi Grand Prix Champion, Victor Hugo.

Standout color belt athletes capitalized on the opportunity to compete alongside a collection  of the world’s top black belts. Juvenile blue belt Mick Whelan launched the competition with a commanding submission triumph. Following this, Asafe Alves secured a redemption victory over his juvenile adversary, JP Tran. The adult contests commenced with a pair of European Champion blue belts, Johnny Anderson and Julio Cesar. After a rigorously contested six-minute match, Johnny emerged victorious. The sole female color belt contest of the evening saw Natalee Funegra maintain a phenomenal trajectory in her purple belt career. CheckMat’s Kellyson Carlos achieved a narrow victory over Evan Duncan in a purple belt showdown. Luan Veras and Dominic Manno concluded the color belt prelims, with Dominic Manno claiming his most significant win to date at the brown belt level.

This extraordinary opportunity for the sport's next generation stars fostered fierce competition on the preliminary card. Spectators were afforded a preview of some of the globe’s top color belt prospects, including five 2026 European Champions. The special event experience against high-caliber competition is certain to accelerate the development of each color belt prospect.

The five scheduled black belt superfights commanded well-deserved attention entering the Grand Prix tournament. Three athletes delivered dominant performances en route to their submission victories. Sarah Galvão triumphed over Maca Vicentini, maintaining control of her AOJ opponent with ceaseless passing pressure. Sarah ultimately forced Maca into a turtle position, exposing her arm, and executing a flawless armbar sequence. Ashlee Funegra faced Yasmyn Castro in a highly-anticipated rematch from the No-Gi World Championships. On this occasion, the two top-ranked light-featherweight women competed in a gi match that concluded similarly. Ashlee, demonstrating her proven ability, secured an early sweep and guard pass before promptly locking in an armbar finish. The third and final black belt superfight submission came courtesy of Helena Crevar. After expertly defending a barrage of attacks from Aghata Rabelo, Helena initiated an unconventional head-and-arm choke setup. Aghata was ultimately forced to concede the match, marking Helena Crevar’s first, and only, darce choke finish in her distinguished career.

The subsequent main event narrative centered on the Absolute No-Gi Grand Prix bracket, where three newly promoted black belts challenged an assembly of accomplished, World Champion veterans. Victor Hugo initiated the absolute no-gi bracket by welcoming Marlon Tajik into the quarterfinals. Marlon had concluded the 2025 season with an exceptional run, culminating in a double-gold No-Gi World Championship performance before earning his black belt promotion. It was Victor, however, who dictated the pace with superior passing pressure, securing a win by points. The next Absolute Grand Prix competitor making his no-gi black belt debut was Zenith BJJ product, Nick Hartman. Nick faced an immense obstacle in reigning heavyweight No-Gi World Champion Javier Barter. Nick appeared formidable early in the match, employing technical inversions in his guard to destabilize his opponent and access offensive positions. Although in the end,  Javier’s oppressive control proved overwhelming. Nick was forced to yield to a rear-naked-choke, concluding his debut showing. Finally, Michael Pixley faced a tough challenge in his black belt debut against three-time World Champion Gustavo Batista. Pixley struggled to establish comfortable positioning against Gustavo's guard play, eventually succumbing to Gustavo via points in a ten-minute tactical contest. The rookie black belts performed admirably, given the immense challenges posed by their renowned opponents. Ultimately, all three of the talented young black belts were eliminated in the quarterfinals; however, this experience will undoubtedly cultivate rapid progress as they enter their rookie black belt seasons.

The Absolute No-Gi Grand Prix unequivocally validated the status of one athlete in particular. Victor Hugo claimed victories over three formidable competitors, securing his second Grand Prix championship. Victor’s extensive experience competing at the sport’s highest echelon undoubtedly prepared him for three fiercely fought battles in the absolute bracket. Throughout his run, Victor displayed the well-rounded approach he terms ‘Big Man Flow,’ seamlessly blending intricate guard, passing, and standing techniques. Victor’s $50,000 prize check symbolizes his remarkable display of athleticism, skill, and mental fortitude.

The 2026 Absolute No-Gi Grand Prix showcased the full spectrum of competitive jiu-jitsu talent, featuring juvenile blue belts through elite black belts across both gi and no-gi competition. Stay tuned to the official IBJJF News feed for detailed analyses of every match from this illustrious event. For complete match replays from the Grand Prix, visit FloGrappling.