The next generation of black belt contenders showcased phenomenal ability at the 2026 Pans. Elite brown belt prospects delivered astounding performances under the bright lights of a grand slam event, further heightening anticipation for the forthcoming wave of young black belts poised to capture recognition at the highest echelon of the sport. Standout performances from division champions highlighted the depth of talent across both the male and female brown belt categories.

 

Hazel Salazar

Hazel Salazar of Alliance entered Pans with high expectations as a reigning European gold and bronze medalist. Through six matches in the heavyweight and open class divisions, Hazel proved her elite prospect status with a resounding statement. Commencing her weight division run in the second round, Hazel secured a mounted americana finish after accumulating nine unanswered points. In an action-packed finals match, Hazel outmaneuvered Gabriella Fernandes en route to capturing a lapel choke finish from the back while up eight points. Hazel’s dominant weight class performance led to immense anticipation for her open class title contention amongst fellow elite athletes. Entering the bracket as the #3 seed, Hazel confronted Giovanna Rangel in the opening round, resulting in a mounted wristlock finish for the Alliance standout. Hazel went on to deliver her most dominant performance in the quarterfinals, amassing twenty points before finishing the match with a mounted americana. In the semifinals, Hazel secured another astounding submission finish via lapel choke over Eliza Nascimento. A highly touted open class finals match featured two of the most promising prospects at the brown belt level, Nikolett Kis and Hazel Salazar. Hazel ultimately secured the win in a commanding performance that underscored her full arsenal of technique. The Alliance athlete secured a sweep, guard pass, knee-on-belly, and back-take to capture the open class title with an emphatic performance. Hazel has now secured three gold medals in major competition in 2026, with a Brasileiro title on her to-do list.

 

Dominic Manno

The male brown belt middleweight division entered the 2026 Pans as one of the most stacked brackets of the event. Top prospects such as Dominic Manno, Rafael Gamba, Emerson Feitosa, Luan Veras, Caleb Nascimento, and Jesiah Tubby contended for the prestigious Pans title in a category where each match from the quarterfinals onward hosted superfight-worthy duels. Ultimately, it was the #8 seed Dom Manno who claimed the title and well-deserved recognition as Pan Champion. The AOJ product initiated his run with a lapel choke finish over Emilio Antonio in the second round. A quarterfinal clash between two promising prospects drew distinctive attention, as top-seed and European Champion Rafael Gamba squared off with Dom. The AOJ standout showcased his deep understanding of strategy and tactics, claiming an early lead from a well-timed takedown on Rafael’s guard pull. His positional awareness was on display throughout the remainder of the match as he thwarted any potential attacks with intricate technique and commanding control. Dom’s points victory propelled him into a rematch with Luan Veras in the semifinals. Led by his formidable guard attacks, Dom was able to outscore his opponent 6-0 to advance into the middleweight finals. In another tightly contested duel between rising talents, Dom was able to secure the lead via sweep and continuously stifle Emerson Feitosa’s offense en route to a decisive points victory. The Pan title signifies Dom’s breakthrough moment at the brown belt level, capturing his first major title amongst a collection of supremely talented athletes.

 

Nikolett Kis

The reigning double-gold champion from the 2026 European Championships rejoined major title contention at Pans. Nikolett Kis represented Sigma Jiu-Jitsu in the lightweight division, garnering the top-seed among fourteen competitors. The shining prospect began her Pans journey with an arm triangle finish over Mayara Ramos in the second round. The semifinals offered Nikolett a formidable challenge in the form of Eliza Nascimento, culminating in an exciting full-duration match. Eliza secured a pair of beautiful takedowns before passing Eliza’s guard with mere seconds remaining, ultimately earning a seven point victory and a finals placement. The gold medal match featured dominant top pressure from the Sigma athlete, as Nikolett secured her guard pass before amassing knee-on-belly and mount points. A nine point victory signified her third major title of the 2026 season, reaffirming her status as one of the top prospects at the brown belt level. Unsatisfied with a single gold medal, Nikolett applied for the female brown belt open class division amongst fifteen skilled competitors. Showcasing her balanced attack, Nikolett secured a sweep and guard pass to capture a second round points victory over Giovanna Amaral. A pair of champions met in the semifinals with Nikolett securing an advantage victory in a hard-fought battle. Falling just short to Hazel Salazar in the open class finals, Nikolett secured the silver medal alongside her weight division title. The Sigma Jiu-Jitsu athlete showcased her immense talent at the 2026 Pans, furthering anticipation for future grand slam event outings from the top prospect.

 

João Vitor

The top-seed in the light-featherweight division impressed throughout his gold medal run at the 2026 Pans. Alliance product, João Vitor, secured four decisive victories en route to claiming his second major title at the brown belt level. His Pans outing began with a 2-0 victory over Varun Mehrotra in the second round. João went on to submit Eesa Gonzalez via footlock in under thirty seconds. Facing Luan Martiniano in the semifinals, João again showcased his submission prowess with a devastating bow-and-arrow choke finish at the three minute mark. The Alliance prospect advanced into a finals match against Otavio Silva with the Pan title hanging in the balance. João delivered another thrilling finish when he methodically secured a triangle submission, earning him the light-featherweight title. Through four matches, the Alliance standout maintained a 75% submission rate, utilizing distinctive submission systems across each finish. João’s dynamic style and dangerous finishing ability make him one of the most thrilling prospects in the male category. With two grand slam event titles at the brown belt level, João Vitor has proven his ability is capable of transcending into the highest echelon of the sport.

 

Luiz Rigo

The reigning super-heavyweight champion from the last edition of Pans returned to defend his crown. Entering the event as the #5 globally ranked brown belt and top-seed in the super-heavyweight Pans bracket, Luiz retained well-deserved recognition and expectations. The DreamArt product commenced his run with an intricate lapel choke from the north-south position, placing him in the finals against a fierce competitor in Nata Tenca. In a fascinating display of skill, Luiz utilized his own lapel to secure a ninja choke finish over Nata, capturing the super-heavyweight title. The DreamArt prospect collected his second grand slam event title of 2026, as he sets his sights on a third at Brasileiros.

 

Luandra Barbosa

Gracie Barra boasts an exciting talent who captured Pan gold in the middleweight division. Luandra Barbosa entered the event following a silver medal at the European Championships, intent on securing her first major title at the brown belt level. A second round triangle choke with five seconds remaining advanced Luandra into the semifinals against Gabrielli Dourado. Relying upon her dangerous guard play again, Luandra secured a second triangle finish just two minutes into the duel. Her finals match against Iris Nascimento resulted in another beautiful exhibition of Luandra’s guard, as she locked in a tight triangle, this time finishing via armbar variation to earn the Pan title. Luandra certainly proved why she is considered a standout brown belt athlete, securing submissions over all three of her opponents in the middleweight division. For athletes interested in upgrading their triangle submission system, Luandra displayed a masterclass in both setup and finishing ability.  Notably, Luandra captured a bronze medal in the open class division following an impressive victory over fellow standout performer, Emily Leyva. The Gracie Barra product is slated to resume major title contention at Brasileiros, hoping to further the momentum she generated at Pans.

 

Lucas de Bonis

The 2025 Brasileiro champion, Lucas ‘Coruja’ De Bonis, entered Pans with immense momentum following his European Championship title in January. Lucas enlisted in the heavyweight division as the top-seed, and the #1 ranked male brown belt in the world. Commencing his weight division run in the second round against João Venancio, Lucas secured a toe hold finish in just over three minutes. The Alliance product then clashed with Matheus Paulo in the semifinals, resulting in a tightly contested duel with Lucas earning the victory via advantages. The finals showcased a pair of top Alliance prospects, as Lucas Coruja and Mauro Lucas battled for heavyweight supremacy. In a back-and-forth match between two highly skilled athletes, Lucas claimed the advantage victory and the Pans title. He went on to challenge for a second gold medal in the open class division amidst a horde of talented competitors. Lucas secured victories over a number of bright prospects including Enzo Marasciulo, Luan Veras, and Milo Ketterhagen. The stage was set for an intense rematch from the heavyweight finals between Coruja and Mauro Lucas, this time favoring the latter in a hard-fought match. Lucas Coruja ended his Pans run with a gold and silver medal, retaining elevated recognition as a three-time major champion at the brown belt level. The jiu-jitsu world’s next opportunity to watch the rising prospect is at Brasileiros at the end of April.

 

Kellen Arraes

Another top Alliance product in the female brown belt division, Kellen Arraes, enlisted in the featherweight division at the 2026 Pans. Kellen entered the bracket as the #9 seed out of thirteen formidable contenders. A first-round mounted triangle finish over Isabella Fortes immediately put the division on notice regarding the young prospects' dangerous submission ability. Gabrielle Baptista welcomed Kellen into the quarterfinals, resulting in a lapel choke finish from the Alliance athlete. Kellen then squared off with the division’s #2 seed, again showcasing her devastating submission systems by finishing Janette Gloger in three and a half minutes via triangle-armbar, propelling the talented prospect into the finals. The featherweight finals match showcased the depth of talent at the brown belt level, as Kellen clashed with the #12 seed Isadora Friedlander in a thrilling bout. The two up-and-coming champions traded potent attacks, while Kellen remained one step ahead of her opponent. Ultimately, Kellen earned a pair of sweeps and a near submission to capture a six point finals victory. The triumph marked Kellen’s first major title at the brown belt level, achieving this impressive feat with three submissions in four matches. Fans should maintain awareness of the Alliance competitor as she vies for a Brasileiro title later this month.

 

Alex Vazquez

Top AOJ prospect, Alex Vazques, rejoined major title contention following his dominant European Championship gold medal run in January. Alex entered a deep, twenty-seven competitor, featherweight bracket as the top-seed, carrying immense expectations. His opening round victory over Bailey Cohen came via kimura, highlighting the young talent’s extensive submission repertoire. A commanding performance in the second round against Adam James witnessed the AOJ athlete accumulate thirteen unanswered points. Gabriel Nascimento offered a formidable obstacle hoping to derail Alex’s gold medal projections in the semifinals. Alex was able to secure a hard-fought victory via single advantage, placing him in the featherweight final against Malcom Teruel. Alex proved his technical prowess, earning a sweep and guard pass to maintain a commanding five-point lead, before latching onto a tight armbar as time expired. Ultimately, the AOJ standout claimed the featherweight title, thereby reaffirming his dominance at the brown belt level. The triumph marks his second grand slam event title of the 2026 season, with aspirations of claiming a third at Brasileiros.

 

Emily Leyva

Atos female Dream Team member, Emily Leyva, delivered another resounding statement at the 2026 Pans. Emily entered the event following a phenomenal gold-medal performance at the European Championships in January. The top-seed in the light-featherweight division certainly drew lofty expectations as she headlined a skillful collection of brown belt prospects in the 118 pound category. Emily commenced her run with a stunning triangle-armbar submission victory in two minutes and thirty seconds. A rematch with a familiar foe, and exciting prospect, Michal Baly generated keen anticipation for the light-featherweight final. The Atos standout showcased her formidable passing pressure to open a number of strong attacking positions, including a leg-drag attempt that forced Michal to expose her back. Emily capitalized with lightning-quick reactions, securing the back position and immediately hunting for the submission finish. With ten seconds remaining, she seamlessly transitioned to her incredible armbar system, ultimately securing the finish to claim a second gi major title this season. Through four matches in grand slam competition in 2026, Emily has an unblemished record with three submissions, affirming her status as one of the brightest female color belt prospects in the sport. Emily now boasts five major titles at the brown belt level including Pan and European Championships, as well as No-Gi triumphs at Worlds, Pans, and Brasileiros. The future is certainly bright for the young talent hailing from Atos Jiu-Jitsu, warranting specific attention surrounding her Brasileiro outing at the end of the month.

 

Mauro Lucas

Alliance standout athlete Mauro Lucas entered the heavyweight division as the #3 seed. Mauro was pitted against Takeshiro Tanino in an early stage showdown between two highly skilled athletes. Mauro was able to secure a sweep while down on advantages with under a minute remaining, claiming the victory to move into the semifinals. The Alliance product’s full scoring repertoire was on display against Milo Ketterhagen, amassing eleven unanswered points en route to a decisive victory. Fellow Alliance highlight athlete, Lucas Coruja, squared off with Mauro in the heavyweight finals. After eight minutes of back-and-forth action, Mauro settled for the silver medal. Despite a frustrating loss, Mauro persevered into the open class where he captured three victories. In the quarterfinals, top prospect Adrian Ribeiro clashed with Mauro with a semifinal bid hanging in the balance. The Alliance athlete demonstrated his dangerous guard by securing a beautiful loop choke finish to claim a notable victory. Mauro again showcased his submission oriented style by finishing Irux Almeida via darce choke in the semifinals. The build up to the heavyweight finals rematch was quickly finalized, as Lucas Coruja and Mauro were again set to clash with a Pans title on the line. This time, Mauro was able to outlast his fellow Alliance prospect, resulting in an arm triangle finish with two minutes remaining. Mauro exits the prestigious Pans event with a heavyweight silver medal and an open division title, delivering thrilling performances throughout his impressive run.

 

Marcio Italo

Another Alliance standout performer, Marcio Italo, secured the medium-heavyweight title as the division’s lowest seed. Macio commenced his championship run with a thirty-second footlock victory, finishing with a Caio Terra variation to move into the semifinals. Irux Almeida collided with the Alliance product for a finals placement in a match that featured two skillful competitors. Marcio was able to secure a sweep with roughly ninety seconds remaining, which proved to be the only scoring maneuver either competitor could complete. The medium-heavyweight final featured Marcio Italo and Enzo Marasciulo in a commanding affair that witnessed the Alliance prospect capture a kneebar victory and the gold medal. The achievement notched Marcio’s first major title at the brown belt level, undoubtedly providing the necessary confidence to contend for a Brasileiro title at the end of the month.

 

Full-match replays of all the incredible brown belt action are live, exclusively on FloGrappling.