Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship
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The Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Pan American Championship (commonly known as Pan Ams or Pans), is the largest Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament held in the Americas. The event is held annually by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
History
Representing one of the first steps toward international expansion of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the Pan-American Championship has been held annually since 1995. While the first event garnered only 250 athletes, the event has grown yearly with the 2022 edition in Florida reporting over 4,600 jiu-jitsu athletes registered to compete.
The tournament was originally held in Brazil but moved to the United States in 2007, reflecting the global expansion of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and its growing popularity in North America.
The Pan Championship is one of the four IBJJF Grand Slam events, which include the European Championship, Brazilian Nationals, and Worlds.
The IBJJF assigns a ranking weight to its tournaments, determining the number of points an athlete can earn. In the 2017/2018 IBJJF calendar, the Pan American Championship had a weighting of 4, making it second in importance only to the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, which had a weighting of 7.
Many accomplished jiu-jitsu athletes have secured titles at the Pan Championship. In 2024, Gutemberg Pereira won the absolute male division by submitting Marcus Scooby with a rear-naked choke, while Gabi Pessanha took the absolute female title by submitting Izadora Cristina with a foot lock, securing double gold at the event.[AI-retrieved source]
The Pan Championship is regarded as one of the most prestigious tournaments in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. A strong performance at the Pan can elevate an athlete’s career, providing international recognition and opportunities for sponsorships and higher-level competition. The tournament also serves as a platform for the introduction of new techniques and strategic innovations, influencing the evolution of the sport.
The 2024 edition featured high-level performances across multiple divisions, reinforcing the event’s status as a premier competition in the sport.[AI-retrieved source]
The media coverage of the Pan Championship has grown significantly, with platforms like FloGrappling providing live broadcasts and in-depth analysis. This increased exposure has contributed to the global recognition of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, attracting new practitioners and fans worldwide. The Pan Championship’s legacy lies in its continuous role in the sport's popularity on a global scale.
Host cities
The IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship has been held in several cities in the Western United States:
- Los Angeles, California (USA)
- Irvine, California (USA)
- Anaheim, California (USA)
- Las Vegas, Nevada (USA)
- Long Beach, California (USA)
Pan Men's Champions
| Year | Host | 57 kg | 64 kg | 70 kg | 76 kg | 82 kg | 88 kg | 94 kg | 100 kg | +100 kg | Absolute |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | United States | Brazil Marcos Barreto (1/1) | Brazil Vinicius Magalhaes (1/2) | Angola João Roque (1/1) | Brazil Marcio Feitosa (1/4) | Brazil Alexandre Paiva (1/1) | Brazil Roberto Magalhaes (1/4) | Brazil Luis Roberto Duarte (1/1) | Brazil Roberto Correa (1/4) | Brazil Eduardo Galvão (1/1) | Brazil Rigan Machado (1/3) |
| 1997 | United States | Brazil Royler Gracie (1/2) | Brazil Marcio Feitosa (2/4) | Brazil Fernando Vasconcelos(1/2) | Brazil Ricardo Herriot (1/2) | Brazil Roberto Magalhaes (2/4) | Brazil Roberto Correa (2/4) | Brazil Rigan Machado (2/3) | Brazil Rigan Machado (3/3) | ||
| 1998 | United States | Brazil Luis Renato (1/1) | Brazil Vinicius Magalhaes (2/2) | Brazil Marcio Feitosa (3/4) | Brazil Fernando Vasconcelos (2/2) | Brazil Roberto Magalhaes (3/4) | Brazil Saulo Ribeiro (1/2) | Brazil Bruno Severiano (1/3) | Brazil Ryan Gracie (1/1) | Brazil Saulo Ribeiro (2/2) | |
| 1999 | United States | Brazil Nay Cunha (1/1) | Brazil Royler Gracie (2/2) | Brazil Marcio Feitosa (4/4) | Brazil Bruno Severiano (2/3) | Brazil Antonio Schembri (1/1) | Brazil Ricardo Herriot (2/2) | Brazil Pericles Laudier (1/1) | Brazil Roberto Magalhaes (4/4) | Brazil Antonio Schembri (1/1) | |
| 2000 | United States | Brazil Rafael Duarte (1/1) | Brazil João Eduardo (1/1) | Brazil Alexandre Carneiro (1/1) | Brazil Augusto Lopez (1/1) | Brazil Erick Santos (1/1) | Brazil Fabricio Prantera (1/1) | Brazil Diego Jose (1/1) | Brazil Bruno Mathias (1/1) | Brazil Luis Felipe (1/1) | Brazil Fabricio Monteiro (1/1) |
| 2001 | United States | Japan Takeo Tani (1/1) | Brazil Wellington Dias (1/1) | Brazil Sandro Santiago (1/1) | Brazil Edson Diniz (1/1) | Brazil Bruno Severiano (3/3) | Brazil Roberto Correa (3/4) | Brazil Fernando Pontes (1/1) | Brazil Roberto Tozi (1/1) | Brazil Jorge Patiano (1/1) | Brazil Xande Ribeiro (1/4) |
| 2002 | United States | Brazil Ricardo Vieira (1/1) | Brazil Leo Vieira (1/2) | Brazil Carlos Eduardo (1/2) | Brazil Delson Heleno (1/1) | Brazil Xande Ribeiro (2/4) | Brazil Fabio Leopoldo (1/1) | Brazil Alexandre Dantas (1/3) | Brazil Marcio Dantas (1/1) | Brazil Alexandre Dantas (2/3) | |
| 2003 | United States | Brazil Leonardo Escobar (1/1) | Brazil Renato Migliaccio (1/1) | Brazil Carlos Eduardo (2/2) | Brazil Paulo Guilobel (1/1) | Brazil Cassio Werneck (1/1) | Brazil Roberto Correa (4/4) | Brazil Adriano Maciel (1/1) | Brazil Marcio Cruz (1/4) | Brazil Marcio Cruz (2/4) | |
| 2004 | United States | Brazil Bibiano Fernandes (1/3) | Brazil Leo Vieira (2/2) | Brazil Daniel Moraes (1/1) | Brazil Fernando Augusto (1/1) | Brazil Ronaldo Souza (1/2) | Brazil Gabriel Vella](1/2) | Brazil Jorge Oliveira (1/1) | Brazil Alexandre Dantas (3/3) | Brazil Ronaldo Souza (2/2) | |
| 2005 | United States | Brazil Bibiano Fernandes (2/3) | Brazil Mario Reis (1/2) | Brazil André Galvão (1/9) | Brazil Givanildo Santana (1/1) | Brazil Rodrigo Pinheiro (1/1) | Brazil Xande Ribeiro (3/4) | Brazil Marcio Cruz (3/4) | Brazil Mario Cruz (4/4) | ||
| 2006 | United States | Brazil Mauro Ayes (1/1) | Japan Dai Yoshida (1/1) | Brazil Bibiano Fernandes (3/3) | Brazil Tiago Alves (1/1) | Brazil André Galvão (2/9) | Brazil Demian Maia (1/1) | Brazil Braulio Estima (1/1) | Brazil Xande Ribeiro (4/4) | Brazil Rolles Gracie (1/1) | Brazil Roger Gracie (1/1) |
| 2007 | United States | Brazil Bruno Malfacine (1/6) | Brazil Robson Moura (1/1) | Brazil Rubens Charles (1/5) | Brazil Lucas Leite (1/4) | Brazil Marcelo Garcia (1/1) | Brazil Romulo Barral (1/2) | Brazil Eduardo Telles (1/1) | United States Rafael Lovato Jr. (1/2) | Brazil Rodrigo Medeiros (1/1) | Brazil Romulo Barral (2/2) |
| 2008 | United States | Brazil Bruno Malfacine (2/6) | Brazil Carlos Holanda (1/2) | Brazil Rubens Charles (2/5) | Brazil Celso Vinicius (1/1) | Brazil Gustavo Campos (1/2) | Brazil André Galvão (3/9) | United States Rafael Lovato Jr. (2/2) | Brazil Roberto Abreu (1/2) | Brazil Luis Theodoro (1/2) | Brazil André Galvão (4/9) |
| 2009 | United States | Brazil João Kuraoka (1/1) | Japan Yoshihiko Matsumoto (1/1) | Brazil Rubens Charles (3/5) | Brazil Lucas Lepri (1/4) | Brazil Lucas Leite (2/4) | Brazil Otavio Souza (1/2) | Brazil Roberto Alencar (1/2) | Brazil Antonio Braga Neto (1/4) | Brazil Marcio Corleta (1/1) | Brazil Antonio Braga Neto (2/4) |
| 2010 | United States | Brazil Bruno Malfacine (3/6) | Brazil Carlos Holanda (2/2) | Brazil Rubens Charles (4/5) | Brazil Michael Langhi (1/2) | Brazil Kayron Gracie (1/2) | Brazil Otavio Souza (2/2) | Brazil Bernardo Faria (1/6) | Brazil Antonio Braga Neto (3/4) | Brazil Gabriel Vella (2/2) | Brazil Bernardo Faria (2/6) |
| 2011 | United States | Brazil Rafael Freitas (1/1) | Brazil Caio Terra (1/3) | Brazil Bruno Frazatto (1/1) | Brazil Lucas Lepri (2/4) | Brazil Claudio Calasans (1/2) | Brazil André Galvão (5/9) | Brazil Rodolfo Vieira (1/2) | Brazil Marcus Almeida (1/3) | Brazil Antonio Braga Neto (4/4) | Brazil Rodolfo Vieira (2/2) |
| 2012 | United States | Brazil Caio Terra (2/3) | Brazil Bruno Malfacine (4/6) | Brazil Rafael Mendes (1/2) | Brazil Leandro Lo (1/8) | Brazil Claudio Calasans (2/2) | Brazil Kayron Gracie (2/2) | Brazil Lucas Leite (3/4) | Brazil Bernardo Faria (3/6) | Brazil Marcus Almeida (2/3) | Brazil Antônio Carlos Júnior (1/1) |
| 2013 | United States | Brazil Caio Terra (3/3) | Brazil Guilherme Mendes (1/1) | Brazil Rafael Mendes (2/2) | Brazil Michael Langhi (2/2) | United States Clark Gracie (1/1) | Brazil André Galvão (6/9) | Brazil Roberto Alencar (2/2) | Brazil Leo Nogueira (1/1) | Brazil Marcus Almeida (3/4) | Brazil Marcus Almeida (4/4) |
| 2014 | United States | Brazil João Rodriguez (1/1) | Brazil Paulo Miyao (1/3) | Brazil Mario Reis (2/2) | Brazil Lucas Lepri (3/4) | Brazil Leandro Lo (2/8) | Brazil Gustavo Campos (2/2) | Brazil Yuri Simões (1/1) | Brazil Luis Panza (1/2) | Brazil André Galvão (7/9) | Brazil André Galvão (8/9) |
| 2015 | United States | Brazil Bruno Malfacine (5/6) | Brazil Paulo Miyao (2/3) | United States Gianni Grippo (1/2) | United States Jonathan Torres (1/2) | Brazil Leandro Lo (3/8) | United States Keenan Cornelius (1/2) | Brazil Lucas Leite (4/4) | Brazil Bernardo Faria (4/6) | Denmark Alexander Trans(1/1) | Brazil Bernardo Faria (5/6) |
| 2016 | United States | United States Mikey Musumeci (1/1) | Brazil João Miyao (1/3) | Brazil Paulo Miyao (3/3) | United States Edwin Najmi (1/1) | Brazil Yago de Souza (1/1) | Brazil Leandro Lo (4/8) | Brazil Cassio Da Silva (1/1) | Brazil Luis Panza (2/2) | Brazil André Galvão (9/9) | Brazil Bernardo Faria (6/6) |
| 2017 | United States | Brazil Bruno Malfacine (6/6) | Chile Leonardo Enrique (2/3) | Brazil Rubens Charles (5/5) | Brazil Lucas Lepri (4/4) | Brazil Otavio Souza (1/2) | Brazil Patrick Gáudio (1/1) | Brazil Leandro Lo (5/8) | Brazil Erberth Santos (1/1) | Brazil João Gabriel Rocha (1/2) | Brazil Leandro Lo (6/8) |
| 2018 | United States | Japan Tomoyuki Hashimoto (1/1) | Brazil João Miyao (3/3) | United States Gianni Grippo (2/2) | United States Jonathan Torres (2/2) | Brazil Gabriel Arges (1/1) | Brazil Lucas Barbosa (1/2) | Brazil Leandro Lo (7/8) | United States Keenan Cornelius (2/2) | Brazil João Gabriel Rocha (2/2) | Brazil Leandro Lo (8/8) |
| 2019 | United States | Brazil Cleber Sousa (1/1) | Chile Leonardo Enrique (1/1) | Brazil Matheus Gabriel (1/1) | Australia Levi Jones-Leary (1/1) | Brazil Isaque Bahiense (1/1) | Brazil Gustavo Batista (1/4) | Brazil Kaynan Duarte (1/1) | Brazil Fellipe Andrew (1/5) | Brazil Ricardo Evangelista (1/1) | Brazil Lucas Barbosa (2/2) |
| 2020 | United States | Brazil Lucas Pinheiro (1/1) | United States Josh Cisneros (1/1) | Brazil Thiago Macedo (1/1) | Brazil Johnatha Alves (1/4) | Brazil Ronaldo Júnior (1/1) | Brazil Otavio Souza (2/2) | Brazil Gustavo Batista (2/4) | Brazil Guilherme Augusto (1/1) | Brazil Max Gimenis (1/1) | Brazil Fellipe Andrew (2/5) |
| 2021 | United States | Brazil Lívio Ribeiro (1/1) | Brazil Diego Oliveira (1/3) | United States Jamil Hill (1/1) | Brazil Johnatha Alves (2/4) | Brazil Tainan Dalpra (1/4) | Brazil André Porfirio (1/1) | Brazil Gustavo Batista (3/4) | Brazil Fellipe Andrew (3/5) | Brazil Victor Hugo (1/1) | Brazil Fellipe Andrew (4/5) |
| 2022 | United States | Brazil Carlos 'Bebeto' Oliveira (1/1) | Brazil Meyram Maquiné (1/1) | Brazil Alexssandro Sodré (1/1) | BrazilJohnatha Alves (3/4) | Brazil Tainan Dalpra (2/4) | Costa Rica Sebastian Rodriguez (1/1) | Brazil Dimitrius Souza (1/1) | Brazil Marcus Ribeiro (1/1) | Brazil Roberto Abreu (2/2) | Brazil Erich Munis (1/2) |
| 2023 | United States | United Arab Emirates Zayed Alkatheeri (1/1) | Brazil Diogo Reis (1/1) | Brazil Marcio Andre (1/1) | BrazilJohnatha Alves (4/4) | Brazil Tainan Dalpra (3/4) | Brazil Gustavo Batista (4/4) | Poland Adam Wardzinski (1/2) | Brazil Erich Munis (2/2) | Brazil Nicholas Meregali (1/2) | Brazil Nicholas Meregali (2/2) |
| 2024 | United States | Brazil Thalison Soares (1/1) | Brazil Diego Oliveira (2/3) | Brazil Kennedy Maciel (1/1) | BrazilJackson Nagai (1/1) | Brazil Micael Galvão (1/1) | United Arab Emirates Uanderson Ferreira (1/1) | Brazil Fellipe Andrew (5/5) | Brazil Anderson Munis (1/1) | Brazil Yatan Bueno (1/1) | Brazil Gutemberg Pereira (1/2) |
| 2025 | United States | United States Jalen Fonacier (1/1) | Brazil Rerisson Gabriel (1/1) | Brazil Diego Oliveira (3/3) | Brazil Alexandre de Jesus (1/1) | Brazil Tainan Dalpra (4/4) | Brazil Francisco Lo (1/1) | Poland Adam Wardzinski (2/2) | United States Nolan Stuart (1/1) | Brazil Marcus 'Scooby' Ribeiro (1/1) | Brazil Gutemberg Pereira (2/2) |
Pan Women's Champions
Notes
External links
See also
- IBJJF
- World Championship
- World No-Gi Championship
- Pan Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship
- European Open Championship
- European Open Nogi Championship
- Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship
- Brazilian Nationals Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship
- Asian Open Championship
- Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championship