By Philipp — Rollbook · Updated October 18, 2026
IBJJF Master Worlds 2026 Results: Champions, Teams & Highlights
IBJJF Master Worlds 2026 results from Las Vegas (Sept 3-5): Alliance won both team titles, plus the open-class winners and every Master 1 and Master 2 black belt champion.
On this page
- IBJJF Master Worlds 2026 Overview
- Master Worlds 2026 at a Glance
- Team Results
- Black Belt Open Class Champions
- Master 1 Black Belt Champions (Gi)
- Master 2 Black Belt Champions (Gi)
- Storylines from Las Vegas
- What is Master Worlds?
- What to Expect in Each Age Group
- Gi Only: Where Masters Compete No-Gi
- Training Insights from Champions
- Bracket Analysis Tips
- 2027: Not Yet Announced
- The Masters Competition Community
- Recording Your Masters Journey
- Official Sources
IBJJF Master Worlds 2026 Overview
Update (October 2026): This page now covers the 2026 edition, held September 3-5 in Las Vegas. All results below come from IBJJF's official results page. Dates for Master Worlds 2027 have not been announced yet.
The IBJJF World Master Jiu-Jitsu Championship, commonly known as Master Worlds, is the premier IBJJF event for competitors aged 30 and over. Every year it brings masters athletes from around the globe to Las Vegas to compete for world titles in their age and belt divisions.
This article covers the 2026 Master Worlds results: the team titles, the black belt open-class champions, and every Master 1 and Master 2 black belt weight-class champion. For a detailed breakdown of all age categories and eligibility rules, see our IBJJF masters age divisions guide.
Master Worlds 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Dates | September 3-5, 2026 |
| Venue | Las Vegas Convention Center, West Hall (W1-W3) |
| Held Alongside | Jiu-Jitsu CON International (gi September 3, no-gi September 4) |
| Divisions | Master 1 through Master 7, white to black belt |
| Men's Team Champion | Alliance (223 points) |
| Women's Team Champion | Alliance (147 points) |
Team Results
| Place | Master Male | Points | Master Female | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alliance | 223 | Alliance | 147 |
| 2 | Gracie Barra | 208 | Gracie Barra | 129 |
| 3 | Carlson Gracie Team | 173 | CheckMat | 113 |
Alliance swept both academy titles, with Gracie Barra second in both rankings. Team points come from medals across every belt and age division, so the academy titles reward depth more than a handful of black belt stars.
Black Belt Open Class Champions
| Age Division | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Master 1 | Marcus Vinicius Lopo Ruiz (Atrium BJJ) | Ingridd Alves de Sousa (AGR Jiu-Jitsu) |
| Master 2 | Jaime Soares Canuto (GF Team) | Mayara Monteiro Custódio (CheckMat) |
All four open-class champions also medaled in their weight class:
- Marcus Vinicius Lopo Ruiz took bronze at Master 1 super-heavyweight, then won the open class over middleweight champion Alef José Soares Brito de Morais (Ares BJJ).
- Ingridd Alves de Sousa won double gold in Master 1: medium-heavyweight and the open class.
- Jaime Soares Canuto took bronze at Master 2 medium-heavyweight, then beat his GF Team teammate Ricardo Ferreira Evangelista, the ultra-heavyweight champion, in the open-class final.
- Mayara Monteiro Custódio won double gold in Master 2: super-heavyweight and the open class.
Master 1 Black Belt Champions (Gi)
Master 1 is the 30-35 age group, the deepest and most athletic masters division.
| Weight | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Rooster | João Ricardo Bordignon Miyao (Cicero Costha Internacional) | Margarita Prado Ochoa (Solas Jiu-Jitsu) |
| Light Feather | Rodnei Barbosa Gabriel Jr. (Lucas Leite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) | Rita de Cassia P. Reis (Elementum Jiu-Jitsu) |
| Feather | Cleber de Sousa Fernandes (Alliance) | Nathalie Wan Soares Veras Ribeiro (Lucas Leite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) |
| Light | Richar Emiliano Nogueira (Rodrigo Pinheiro) | Janaina Maia de Menezes (Alliance) |
| Middle | Alef José Soares Brito de Morais (Ares BJJ) | Luciane dos Santos Silva (CheckMat) |
| Medium Heavy | Horlando de Jesus Monteiro (Nova União) | Ingridd Alves de Sousa (AGR Jiu-Jitsu) |
| Heavy | Fellipe Andrew Leandro Silva (Del Mar Jiu-Jitsu Club) | Maisa Gurgel Sales dos Santos (Julio Secco) |
| Super Heavy | Wilson Bueno de Moraes Júnior (CheckMat) | Mayara Kaori Oishi (CheckMat) |
| Ultra Heavy | Alexander Sak (Abdullaev Team) | — |
Women compete in eight weight classes (rooster to super-heavy), so there is no women's ultra-heavyweight division.
Master 2 Black Belt Champions (Gi)
Master 2 is the 36-40 age group.
| Weight | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Rooster | Sam Lee Teague (CheckMat) | Serena Gabrielli (Flow) |
| Light Feather | Reiss Bailey (New School BJJ) | Patrícia Maria N. Fontes dos Santos (CheckMat) |
| Feather | Richard Stephen Slomba Jr. (Form Jiu Jitsu Academy) | Karen Deisy Antunes Girotto Borges (CheckMat) |
| Light | Gilson Nunes de Oliveira Neto (CheckMat) | Catherine Fuhro Perret Mitria (CheckMat) |
| Middle | Chaise Olimpio Ivo C. Albuquerque (GF Team) | Giulia Frederica Chen-Dardani (Gregor Gracie Jiu-Jitsu) |
| Medium Heavy | Thiago Rodrigues Lemos (CheckMat BJJ) | Akeela Jovon Al-Hameed (Pedro Sauer Team) |
| Heavy | Frederico Pinto Cesar de Almeida (Otávio de Almeida) | Grace Kelly Ferla (Brazilian Power Team International) |
| Super Heavy | Renato Guimaraes Cardoso (Alliance) | Mayara Monteiro Custódio (CheckMat) |
| Ultra Heavy | Ricardo Ferreira Evangelista (GF Team) | — |
Names and academies as listed on IBJJF's official results page. Master 3-7 results for every belt are on the same page.
Storylines from Las Vegas
CheckMat's Master 2 women. CheckMat won four of the eight Master 2 women's black belt weight classes and the open class, and finished third in the women's team ranking.
GF Team's open-class one-two. Jaime Canuto and Ricardo Ferreira Evangelista both reached the Master 2 men's open-class final, which Canuto won.
Alexander Sak's run continues. The Abdullaev Team athlete won Master 1 ultra-heavyweight and was then announced for the ultra-heavyweight bracket of The Crown, IBJJF's invitational on November 8 in Long Beach.
Alliance's depth. In Master 1 and Master 2, Alliance's black belt golds came at Master 1 feather (Cleber de Sousa Fernandes), Master 1 women's light (Janaina Maia de Menezes) and Master 2 super-heavy (Renato Guimaraes Cardoso), but the team titles were built on medals across every belt and age group.
What is Master Worlds?
Event Significance
Master Worlds stands as the most prestigious tournament for older competitors:
- Dedicated Masters Event - Not combined with adult worlds
- Full Age Divisions - Master 1 through Master 7
- All Belt Levels - White through Black belt
- International Competition - Athletes from worldwide
- Career Achievement - Masters world title is significant honor
Typical Format
- Held in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Las Vegas Convention Center
- Late August or early September (2024: August 29-31; 2025: August 28-30; 2026: September 3-5)
- Three days of competition
- Hundreds of brackets: IBJJF's 2026 results list 475 divisions across Master 1-7 and every belt
- Multiple mat areas
Did You Know: Master Worlds shares the Las Vegas Convention Center with Jiu-Jitsu CON. In 2026 the Jiu-Jitsu CON International ran its gi divisions on September 3 and no-gi on September 4, with kids divisions on September 4-5.
Track every roll — log sessions and techniques for free
What to Expect in Each Age Group
Master 1 Black Belt
The Master 1 (30-35) black belt division consistently produces the highest level of masters competition:
- Many athletes still competing at a high level in adult divisions
- Current competitors at peak experience
- Fastest and most athletic masters division
- Deepest brackets
Master 2-3 Black Belt
Master 2 (36-40) and Master 3 (41-45) feature:
- Seasoned competitors with decades of experience
- Technical precision over athleticism
- Strategic game plans
- Community favorites and legends
Master 4+ Black Belt
Older masters divisions showcase:
- Lifetime dedication to the art
- Efficient, fundamentals-focused games
- Inspiring competitors proving age is just a number
- Strong community support
Pro Tip: Study the game styles of successful Master 3+ competitors. They tend to favor efficient, low-energy techniques -- pressure passing, half guard sweeps, and reliable submissions from dominant positions. Their games offer a blueprint for sustainable competition longevity.
Weight Class Tendencies
- Middle and medium heavy: the most common body types, so expect large brackets and more rounds to reach the podium
- Light and feather: speed-based games, complex guard systems and scrambles
- Heavy and up: pressure passing and top-heavy games
Gi Only: Where Masters Compete No-Gi
Master Worlds is a gi championship. Masters no-gi competitors get their world title shot at the World No-Gi Championship, which includes Master 1-7 divisions. The 2026 edition runs December 10-12, also at the Las Vegas Convention Center; see our No-Gi Worlds 2026 guide.
Training Insights from Champions
What Winners Do Differently
Patterns among Master Worlds champions:
Technical Preparation:
- Competition-specific drilling
- Game plan development
- Position-specific sparring
- Video study of opponents
Physical Preparation:
- Age-appropriate conditioning
- Recovery prioritization
- Injury prevention
- Weight management
Mental Preparation:
- Visualization techniques
- Competition routine
- Pressure management
- Focus strategies
Key Takeaway
Master Worlds champions consistently prioritize recovery and injury prevention over training volume. The athletes who win at the highest masters levels are those who train smart -- focusing on competition-specific drilling, position sparring, and game plan refinement rather than grinding through endless hard rolls.
Bracket Analysis Tips
Reading Brackets
Understanding your potential path:
- Identify known competitors
- Research recent results
- Plan for multiple match types
- Prepare for various styles
Bracket Strategy
Early Rounds:
- Don't overlook anyone
- Execute your game
- Conserve energy when possible
- Build momentum
Later Rounds:
- Higher stakes matches
- Opponents have warmed up
- Game plans may need adjusting
- Experience matters
2027: Not Yet Announced
IBJJF has not published dates or a venue for Master Worlds 2027. The last three editions all ran at the Las Vegas Convention Center in late August or early September, but treat that as a pattern, not a confirmed date. We will add Master Worlds to our IBJJF 2027 calendar as soon as IBJJF announces it, and the 2026 IBJJF schedule covers the events still to come this year.
How to Prepare
If targeting Master Worlds 2027:
- Start competition preparation early
- Compete at regional events
- Study successful masters competitors
- Focus on sustainable game development
- Keep your body ready with a BJJ stretching and mobility routine
The Masters Competition Community
What Makes It Special
Masters competition offers unique benefits:
- Competing with life responsibilities
- Proving commitment to the art
- Age-appropriate challenges
- Building lasting friendships
Community Atmosphere
Master Worlds is known for:
- Supportive environment
- Respectful competition
- Celebrating participation
- Lifetime achievement recognition
Warning: Las Vegas heat during Master Worlds season (late August/September) regularly exceeds 100 degrees F. Stay hydrated at all times, avoid prolonged sun exposure between matches, and keep a cooler with water and electrolytes accessible throughout the day.
Recording Your Masters Journey
Why Track Competition
Documenting your masters career helps:
- See improvement over time
- Identify patterns in performance
- Set meaningful goals
- Create lasting memories
What to Track
- Notes on how each match went
- Training leading to competition
- Technique notes and adjustments
- What you would change next time
Pro Tip: After each Master Worlds, review competition footage (FloGrappling often covers major divisions) to study how champions in your age and weight class win their matches. Take notes on their guard passing sequences, submission setups, and how they manage pace during shorter masters matches.
Official Sources
- IBJJF Master Worlds 2026 Results - Official results for every division and the team rankings
- IBJJF Events Calendar - Master Worlds schedule and registration
- IBJJF Books & Videos - Masters division rules and age categories
Competing in masters divisions? Download Rollbook to log your training around work and family, record competition days as their own session type, and keep your streak alive with grace days when life gets busy. Rollbook is free on iOS and Android.
Oss!
