Day two of Pan action features the world’s foremost male brown belts competing alongside distinguished Master 1 black belt competitors. European Champions return to the second major event of the season, while exceptional newcomers make their 2026 major debut, and celebrated master veterans contend fiercely for the coveted Pan title and spotlight. As the master competitors endeavor to expand their extensive resumes, brown belt males continue their journey of accumulating vital Grand Slam experience before ascending to the sport’s highest echelon.

Male Brown Belt

The next generation of elite black belts continues their pursuit of major titles on day two of the 2026 Pans. Highly decorated athletes are set to clash with rapidly ascending prospects, all vying for significant recognition at the season’s second major tournament.

Alex Vazquez of AOJ now focuses on securing another Grand Slam gold medal, following his impressive featherweight title run in Europe. His electrifying performance there featured five dominant victories, including four submissions, highlighting his exceptional back-take technique and devastating footlock pressure. Alex now turns his attention to the Pans, where he first claimed a major title at the brown belt level in 2025. A similarly thrilling display at the European Championships was delivered by Rafael Gamba, who secured middleweight gold with fantastic execution. The Alliance athlete captivated the audience with a stunning five submissions across his five matches, generating immense anticipation for his second major competition appearance this year. The 2026 season could potentially serve as a redemption tour for Rafael, who previously secured bronze or silver medals in the Brasileiro, Pan, and World events during 2025. Fellow Alliance powerhouse and the globally top-ranked brown belt, Lucas de Bonis, is scheduled to compete this week. Lucas is fresh off his European title in the heavyweight division, aiming once more to enforce his formidable, blanketing pressure across the entire field. The elite competitor appears to have significantly elevated his performance since capturing the Brasileiro title in 2025, a success followed by an impressive Worlds silver medal outing. Lucas is undoubtedly targeting Grand Slam gold throughout his 2026 campaign and enters the Pans as a favorite to secure another major title.

Super-heavyweight standout Luiz Rigo is finalizing his preparations for the 2026 Pans. Luiz enters the competition as the division’s reigning Pan champion, having recently added a European title to his resume in January. The DreamArt athlete intends to command the Pans spotlight, seeking to claim his third major title at the brown belt level. His Worlds silver medal finish to conclude the previous season may be fueling what could become a potentially dominant 2026 campaign. The dynamic duo of Atos Jiu-Jitsu athletes, Adrian Ribeiro and Natã Tenca, are set to compete as the #2 and #3 ranked brown belts, respectively. Adrian approaches the event with profound confidence, holding the title of reigning ultra-heavyweight World Champion. His imposing style features stifling pressure and exquisite control, clearly demonstrated when he earned silver and bronze medals at the 2026 European Championships. His teammate, Natã, employs a comparable strategy, systematically overpowering opponents before initiating his aggressive series of finishing techniques. Natã secured bronze medals at all four Grand Slam events in 2025 before commencing this year’s campaign by seizing an open class title at the European Championships.

The middleweight division is anticipated to be one of the most thrilling and highly contested brackets during day two of the Pan Championship. The division is anchored by the previously mentioned Rafael Gamba, but also showcases an array of elite brown belt athletes. Jesiah Tubby has generated significant buzz, securing gold medals at the Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Jose open events in 2026. Dominic Manno arrives with momentum following his notable victory at the IBJJF Grand Prix event last month, as he pursues his inaugural major title at the brown belt level. No-gi phenom Emerson Feitosa seeks to establish his elite standing in the gi circuit, entering as the reigning No-Gi Worlds and Brasileiro champion. Furthermore, Caleb Nascimento joins the middleweight fray, bringing 2026 European and 2025 No-Gi Worlds silver medals. Luan Veras enters the Pans title race as another European silver medalist from January and poses a formidable challenge for the top of the podium. These competitors offer just a preview of the exceptionally stacked Pans middleweight division, which guarantees high-intensity action and a deep selection of captivating matchups.

The day two action presents an abundance of high-caliber athletes demanding the jiu-jitsu world's attention. João Vitor Alves of Alliance is one such contender, making his 2026 major debut as the reigning roosterweight Brasileiro champion. Felipe Goulart is also scheduled for his brown belt gi major debut, following an astounding double-gold performance at the 2025 World Championships in the purple belt division.

Master 1 Black Belt

The most accomplished Master 1 athletes are prepared to exhibit their superior skills under the intense spotlight of the 2026 Pans. The divisions are saturated with extensive competitive resumes and vast championship experience, warranting the recognition of the global jiu-jitsu community. Spectators can confidently anticipate high-intensity action from this profoundly decorated assembly of Master 1 athletes.

The male divisions present a stellar selection of highly skillful athletes ready to solidify their legacy. Former adult World Champion João Miyao of Cicero Costha leads the roosterweight division with a competitive history so formidable it defies simple summation. Since 2023, João has attained gold in all four Grand Slam events within the Master 1 category, notably securing three consecutive Pans titles and back-to-back Master World titles. His game emphasizes highly efficient guard play and lethal submission mechanics that frequently captivate the audience. Jamil Hill-Taylor returns to competition, much to the excitement of jiu-jitsu enthusiasts globally. Following a world-class adult career that included a 2018 World Championship and 2021 Pan titles, Jamil introduces his distinct skillset to the major Master 1 lightweight competition. Unfortunate injuries have challenged the Team Lloyd Irvin competitor, making his participation in the event profoundly inspiring. Fans will undoubtedly be treated to a masterclass of elite technique that defines his approach, as he seeks his first major title in the Master 1 category.

Jonas Andrade of Humbling Jiu-Jitsu Club is slated to contend in the light-featherweight division, coming off an exceptional gold medal finish in Lisbon at the European Championships. Emilio Hernandez, a former top-ranked adult no-gi black belt, enters the featherweight division. The Zenith BJJ competitor is widely recognized for his reliably high-level execution and thrilling, action-packed matches. Gabriel Marangoni returns to major title contention as a two-time Master Worlds silver medalist. Moreover, his collection of achievements in the masters category features a 2024 European title and four gold medals spanning No-Gi Pans and No-Gi Worlds events. The medium-heavyweight division is prominently led by Manuel Ribamar of Rodrigo Pinheiro BJJ. As a two-time Master World Champion and the current reigning Pan Champion, Manuel's formidable skillset is certain to delight the Kissimmee, Florida audience. The Master 1 category is populated with other distinguished competitors, including high-level athletes such as Thomas Bracher and Felipe Pimentel, alongside other compelling contenders.

The Master 1 female category showcases highly accomplished athletes who are determined to expand their collection of major event achievements. Silvania Monteiro, representing De La Riva JJ, moves into the Master 1 category after a successful tenure at the Master 2 level, which included two Brasileiro titles and a European championship title. Silvania is competing in a compact yet formidable light-featherweight division that also features fellow watchlist athlete Patrícia Fontes. Pati initially gained prominence at the adult level, where she captured three consecutive No-Gi World Championships from 2015 to 2017. Since transitioning to the adult level, Pati has earned two World Master silver medals and is clearly focused on achieving a breakthrough performance at the Master level in 2026. Vedha Toscano of CheckMat is making her 2026 debut following an exceptional campaign last year. In 2025, Vedha secured World Master gold before launching into her dominant no-gi season. Vedha commenced with a No-Gi Pans title and concluded her year with a spectacular double-gold performance at the No-Gi World Championships. Margaret Grindatti, representing Lira Jiu-Jitsu, is slated to compete in the middleweight division. Having earned consecutive silver medals at the World Master event, Margaret is well-positioned for a successful 2026 campaign. Team Forsa competitor Michelle Marquez enters the event carrying substantial momentum from her superb European Championship title run. With prior success, including a Pans title in 2023, Michelle steps into the heavyweight division with profound self-assurance. The Master 1 black belt class offers an impressive assembly of talented and accomplished females ready to demonstrate their skills.

Day two of the Pan Championship provides spectators with a rare and unique chance to observe the sport’s most promising, up-and-coming prospects competing directly alongside established Master 1 veterans. Excitement builds as the newest cohort of brown belt Pan Champions prepare to be honored under the intense spotlight of the season's second Grand Slam event. All competitive bouts will be streamed live from Kissimmee, Florida, exclusively on FloGrappling.