The 2026 IBJJF Crown kicks off Sunday, November 8, at the Pyramid in Long Beach, California, marking the return of the premier professional Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament in the traditional gi. The event features eight-person brackets across four men’s divisions and two women’s divisions, with a substantial financial incentive driving the competition. Each tournament winner will secure a $20,000 prize, while smaller purses are allocated to other medalists, reinforcing the event’s status as a top-tier professional showcase for gi specialists.
Mica Galvao returns to the mat as world champions battle for $20,000 purses in Long Beach
High-level competition is guaranteed with the participation of multiple reigning world champions, including three-time Crown winners Erich Munis and Gabi Pessanha. Joining them are Andy Murasaki, Sarah Galvao, and Nolan Stuart, who aim to defend or claim their titles in a field stacked with elite athletes. The spotlight also turns to middleweight star Mica Galvao, who makes his return to major tournament action following his father and coach’s arrest on sexual assault charges. Galvao faces a formidable challenge in the middleweight bracket, where Murasaki has successfully defended the Crown in back-to-back years.
Fans can follow every match live on FloGrappling, with coverage beginning at 1 p.m. ET. For those seeking additional context or preliminary action, free live streams of earlier matches from the 2025 edition are available on YouTube. Detailed brackets and first-round matchups are currently accessible on the official IBJJF platform, allowing viewers to track the progression of their favorite competitors as they navigate the gauntlet toward the championship belts.
Source: Yahoo Sports
