World, Pan, and Brasileiro Champion Bianca Basilio is gearing up for the 2023 Worlds as she goes for her second straight title in the featherweight division. Coming into the Worlds last year, Bianca had won multiple major titles, but winning a gold medal at the World Championships as a black belt had eluded her. After five previous attempts she won gold with a finals victory over Amanda Canuto, beating the 2018 World Champion via advantages.

“Before graduating to black belt in 2016, I had won the IBJJF World in the colored belts for five consecutive years. I felt prepared to win as a black belt, but that was not how it happened in my history. I won my first black belt title after five long years. Before that I stood out in the main events of the organization as a Brasileiro and Pan Champion. In 2022, I won my first World title as a black belt. It was my seventh World title, including the colored belts, since I started fighting at the IBJJF Worlds in 2012.”

Bianca returned to IBJJF competition for the first time in 2023 at the Brasileiros, a huge nine day event that had over 8,000 competitors. She won three matches, getting the submission in two of her three fights and outscoring her opponents 12-0. The wins gave Bianca her fifth title, making the Brasileiros the major championship that she’s won more than any other.

“It was a wonderful feeling. For me, the Brazilian Nationals is the event with the most energy. The crowd really goes wild. They make noise and cheer a lot. I really love fighting in Brazil. I was super happy with all the support that friends and fans left during the tournament with messages, words of encouragement, and affection. After this weekend, a huge desire grew in my heart to see the Worlds happen in Brazil again. I think it would be amazing to feel this vibration here.”

In just over two weeks Bianca will go for her second straight World title in the featherweight division. Featherweight has never been more competitive. #2 ranked lightweight Nathalie Ribeiro will drop down to featherweight for the first time since 2019. 2023 European and Pan featherweight champion Anna Rodrigues will also compete at feather. Anna has already won gold at the Worlds twice at light-feather, but will make her Worlds featherweight debut this year. Bianca spoke about how she’s feeling heading into the Worlds and also gave her thoughts on Anna as a possible opponent.

“I feel incredibly good. When we mature many things change in our minds and I think that makes us much better than past phases. Of course, each stage has its importance, but we learn to value what really matters and I’m so happy to be able to do this one more time. Anna is in a good phase of her career. She is very young and has matured a lot. About a fight against her, a lot of people want to see this fight happen and so do I.”

Bianca attributes much of her success to the team of professionals she surrounded herself with.

“I want to say that when you have a why and a team to make it happen, the only option is to succeed. I want to thank important people who make a difference in my career, such as my sponsors Gaspar Advogados Associados, Kingz Kimonos, and Kanji belt, my professors Caio Almeida and Diogo Almeida, professionals who accompany me like Dr Daniel Sapatini, Alexandre Dias, Nathalia Chantri, Dr. Rafael Soares, Dr Leandro Silva, and those of you who are my friends or fans who follow my work. I want to say thank you and I hope you will support me in my next battles. Osss.”

Be sure to catch Bianca competing in the stacked black belt featherweight division at the 2023 World Jiu-Jitsu Championships. You can stream the entire event exclusively on FloGrappling.