Mica Galvão draws Leleo Souza in his Crown 2026 debut
The IBJJF released all six brackets. Of the five matchups VF Comunica picked last week, one is set for the quarterfinals and the rest depend on wins in Long Beach
The IBJJF released the brackets for The Crown 2026 on Monday, October 26. The event is on November 8 at the Pyramid in Long Beach, California, with six divisions, eight black belts in each and $20,000 to every champion. Mica Galvão, making his Crown debut, opens the middleweight bracket against Leonardo “Leleo” Souza. The draw also locked in one of the five matchups VF Comunica picked last week right away: Thierry Felipe and Seif Houmine open the ultra-heavyweight bracket.
Of the other four fights on our list, one could happen in the semifinals. The other three can only happen in a final.
Thierry Felipe vs. Seif Houmine: set for the quarterfinals
A black belt since September, Thierry comes in after winning the open class at the Sacramento Fall Open on October 17, beating Francisco Papasidero in the final.
Across from him is France’s Seif, of GF Team, the reigning ultra-heavyweight world champion. At 38, he won Europeans, Pans and Worlds this season. Both men make their Crown debut in this match.
The winner meets the winner of Pedro Machado vs. Anderson Kauan in the semifinals. Kauan joined the bracket on Monday, replacing Helder Rodrigues, according to the IBJJF. On the other side, three-time champion Erich Munis opens against Papasidero, and Alexander Sak faces Matheus Vetoraci.
Sabrina Gondim vs. Janaína Lebre: a rematch could come in the semifinals
The draw put both women in the same half of the lightweight bracket. Sabrina Gondim opens against Elisabeth Clay, and Janaína Lebre faces Nikolett Kis. If both win, they meet in the semifinals.
At The Crown 2025, Janaína submitted Sabrina with an ezekiel choke in the quarterfinals. Sabrina returns to lightweight as the reigning featherweight world champion. In the other half, defending champion Sarah Galvão opens against Giovanah Oliveira, and Aghata Rabelo faces Keanna Klay.
Leo Ferreira vs. Fellipe Andrew: only in the final, just as Leo wanted
Leonardo “Leo” Ferreira had already said who he wanted in the final, and the draw put Fellipe Andrew on the opposite side of the heavyweight bracket.
“Our match at BJJ Stars left some questions unanswered,” Leo told VF Comunica.
Leo opens against Nicholas Maglicic and could face Vinicius Liberati, who meets Omar Nada, in the semifinals. Leo beat Liberati twice in 2024, both on advantages. Fellipe starts against Windson Torres, in the same half as defending champion Nolan Stuart, who faces Davi Vetoraci.
Mica Galvão vs. Rafael Gamba: saved for the final
Mica Galvão makes his Crown debut against Leonardo “Leleo” Souza, with the winner of Uanderson Ferreira vs. José Steve waiting next.
Rafael Gamba landed on the other side and opens his black belt career against two-time Crown champion Andy Murasaki, who is chasing a third straight title. Before the draw, Gamba had already addressed Mica’s status as favorite: “It’s not a superhero against a regular human being.”
Tarcisio Santos vs. José Steve: opposite sides as well
Tarcisio Santos opens against Natan Chueng, who replaced Jackson Nagai. If he wins, he could get a Worlds rematch in the semifinals: Tarcisio knocked Murasaki out in the round of 16 at this year’s Worlds, on advantages. José Steve opens against Uanderson and could meet Mica in the semifinals.
Every Crown 2026 quarterfinal
Featherweight: Samuel Nagai vs. Keven Carrasco; Will Wilson vs. Ademir Barreto; João Mendes “Bisnaga” vs. Jun Yong Cho; Rerisson Gabriel vs. Mateo Cardona
Middleweight: Mica Galvão vs. Leonardo “Leleo” Souza; Uanderson Ferreira vs. José Steve; Andy Murasaki vs. Rafael Gamba; Natan Chueng vs. Tarcisio Santos
Heavyweight: Vinicius Liberati vs. Omar Nada; Nicholas Maglicic vs. Leo Ferreira; Nolan Stuart vs. Davi Vetoraci; Fellipe Andrew vs. Windson Torres
Ultra-heavyweight: Erich Munis vs. Francisco Papasidero; Alexander Sak vs. Matheus Vetoraci; Seif Houmine vs. Thierry Felipe; Pedro Machado vs. Anderson Kauan
Women’s lightweight: Janaína Lebre vs. Nikolett Kis; Sabrina Gondim vs. Elisabeth Clay; Sarah Galvão vs. Giovanah Oliveira; Aghata Rabelo vs. Keanna Klay
Women’s super-heavyweight: Gabi Pessanha vs. Maria Ruffatto-Gilpin; Hazel Butcher-Salazar vs. Anabel Lopez; Larissa Dias vs. Ingridd Alves; Yara Soares vs. Maria Alencar
The Crown streams live, exclusively on FloGrappling. Which quarterfinal do you most want to see in Long Beach?
Read more:
- The Crown 2026: five matchups that could happen in Long Beach
- Erich Munis completes The Crown 2026 field, chases a fourth title
- Fellipe Andrew wins with two subs on 32nd birthday
VF Comunica’s coverage of The Crown is presented by Kingz.
Original story by VF Comunica, published at vfcomunica.com. Reproduction allowed only with credit and a link to the source.
