Standout brown belt athletes entered major title contention in Lisbon, Portugal. Highlight performers showcased their phenomenal talent and relentless spirit, decisively capturing their respective titles. The next crop of world-class black belts is on the horizon, having unequivocally proven their worthiness under the bright lights of the European Championships.

Nikolett Kis

Nikolett Kis of Sigma Jiu-Jitsu made her mark in the female lightweight division at the 2026 European Championships. She initiated her campaign by securing a collar choke following an efficient backtake, which propelled her into the quarterfinals. Nikolett then bested Léa Vomscheid with an armbar from the triangle position, and secured a decisive ten-point victory in the semifinals. The Sigma Jiu-Jitsu standout captured the lightweight title in impressive fashion, executing a backtake and finishing Janette Gloger with a lapel choke. Her dominant Euros run continued as Nikolett entered the brown belt open division for an additional four matches. She launched her open class bid with a points victory before securing another lapel choke from the back. A hard-fought referee decision placed Nikolett in the finals, where she cemented her phenomenal performance with a dominant thirteen-point victory. Nikolett demonstrated her high-level technique and vigorous work rate by capturing two gold medals, earning four submissions in the process. Her performance at the European Championships has unequivocally set the stage for an extraordinary season in 2026.

Alex Vazquez

AOJ standout brown belt, Alex Vazquez, navigated five formidable matches in the featherweight division. His opening bout culminated in a lapel choke from the back, following a seamless backtake from the leg-drag position. Alex advanced to the quarterfinals by securing a thirty-second belly-down straight ankle lock finish, which was quickly followed by yet another lapel choke from the back. His semifinal against Sultan Jabr concluded with a second decisive straight ankle lock finish, earning Alex a spot in the finals against Alinur Kuatuly for the featherweight crown. Ultimately, the AOJ athlete clinched the gold medal with an advantage victory, garnering immense recognition for his phenomenal performance. Alex departs Lisbon as a European Champion, having secured four impressive submissions throughout the tournament.

Rafael Gamba

Rafael Gamba showcased his prowess in the middleweight division, representing Alliance. Gamba commenced his competition day with two masterful triangle finishes, propelling him into the quarterfinals. A dominant straight ankle lock submission followed by a semifinal triangle earned the Alliance athlete a coveted shot at middleweight gold. Rafael secured an incredible fourth triangle submission of the competition to claim the first major brown belt title of his career. His performance at the Euros prominently displayed his beautiful guard techniques and highly effective submission attacks, solidifying his status as one of the brightest prospects in the sport. Rafael unquestionably delivered one of the most memorable showcases at the European Championships this year.

Elizabeth Genge

Stealth BJJ athlete Elizabeth Genge entered the female featherweight division as the top-ranked seed. Across four demanding matches, Elizabeth secured two submissions en route to capturing a European Championship gold medal. Her opening two bouts powerfully showcased her elite submission game, concluding both contests with devastating head-and-arm chokes. Her most challenging encounter was the semifinals against Mariia Klein, a tightly contested match where the Stealth competitor prevailed by a narrow two-point margin. The championship final pitted Elizabeth against Pnina Aronov for the featherweight title, a match that culminated in a dominant fifteen-point shutout victory for Genge. Elizabeth claimed her first major brown belt title in fantastic fashion, exhibiting elite submission systems and impressive championship composure.

Thierry Felipe

Thierry Felipe, representing Marcio Andre Jiu-Jitsu, dominated the ultra-heavyweight division at the 2026 European Championships. His bracket featured many of the weight class's most talented competitors, including new faces and familiar foes. His first-round matchup began with a beautiful takedown, transitioning straight into side-control, and concluding with a powerful clock choke. The Marcio Andre student advanced to the semifinals for a tough battle against Adrian Roberto, which was marked by relentless back-and-forth action. Ultimately, Thierry secured five crucial points and a wrist-lock finish to punch his ticket to the ultra-heavyweight finals. Thierry completed his masterful run to Euros gold with a dominant final performance, ending the bout with a lethal breadcutter choke. Thierry secured three submissions in three matches en route to capturing his first major gi brown belt title, generating significant momentum early in the 2026 season.

Emily Leyva

Atos Jiu-Jitsu standout athlete, Emily Leyva, made a statement in her brown belt major gi debut in the light-featherweight division. Emily secured a semifinals victory over the very talented Michal Baly, winning by advantages. Carlota Prendes met Emily in the final match, which culminated with a beautiful armbar finish for the Atos competitor. Emily has firmly established a reputation for her submission-oriented style, particularly her dangerous and frequently utilized armbar system. By securing her first major brown belt title in the gi, she proved yet again why she is regarded as one of the top female prospects in the sport. Emily aims to continue her soaring trajectory throughout the 2026 season, which features three more prestigious grand slam events in the gi.

Natã Tenca

Natã Tenca commenced his 2026 campaign in the super-heavyweight division. The formidable Atos Jiu-Jitsu athlete cruised into the semifinals, where he captured a devastating straight ankle lock finish. His championship finals matchup against Luiz Rigo was a back-and-forth battle, ultimately culminating in a hard-fought three-point victory for Luiz. Refusing to accept a sole silver medal at the European Championships, Natã entered the demanding open division for an additional four matches. Decisive first and second-round victories over tough opponents propelled Natã into the semifinals against Lucas Lopes. Natã secured his place in the finals with an impressive kneebar finish, aligning himself with fellow Atos teammate Adrian Roberto. The two teammates ultimately closed out the open division finals, with Natã claiming the well-earned gold medal. Natã departs the European Championships as an open division gold medalist and super-heavyweight runner-up, continuing his highly successful brown belt career.

These standout athletes, as well as all the brown belt full-match replays, can be found exclusively at FloGrappling.