Mica Galvão Beats Murasaki to Win the 2026 IBJJF Crown

Mica Galvão is back, and he has the Crown to prove it. On Sunday, November 8, at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California, the Melqui Galvão Jiu-Jitsu star won three matches in one night and beat Andy Murasaki in the final, ending Murasaki’s run at a third straight middleweight title.

Brazilians swept all six titles at the fourth edition of the IBJJF’s invitation-only event. Joining Mica as champions were Sarah Galvão, Fellipe Andrew, João Mendes, Erich Munis and Gabi Pessanha. Each champion took home $20,000.

Mica Galvão ends Murasaki’s middleweight streak

Middleweight was the most anticipated bracket of the night, and it delivered. In his Crown debut, Mica opened with a 4-2 win over Leonardo “Leleo” Souza, then advanced past Matheus Luna by disqualification in the semifinals.

On the other side, Murasaki looked like a man who knew the way. He choked out Rafael Gamba with a rear-naked choke and edged Tarcisio Santos on advantages.

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The final ended 4-2, the same score as Mica’s opener. The win stopped Murasaki, the 2024 and 2025 champion, and marked Mica’s return after sitting out most of 2026. His young son joined him on the mat for the celebration.

Sarah Galvão goes back-to-back

Still unbeaten since earning her black belt, Sarah Galvão kept control of the women’s lightweight division. She submitted Giovanah Oliveira with an armbar and Aghata Rabelo with an Americana from the triangle, then beat Elisabeth Clay on points in the final for her second straight Crown.

Munis and Pessanha: four editions, four titles

Erich Munis and Gabi Pessanha have won every Crown in their divisions since the event began in 2023. Munis submitted all three opponents at ultra-heavyweight, finishing Francisco Papasidero and Alexander Sak with Ezekiel chokes and Anderson Kauan with an arm-triangle while up 8-0.

Pessanha did the same at women’s super-heavyweight. She submitted Maria Ruffatto-Gilpin and Hazel Butcher-Salazar, then caught three-time world champion Larissa Dias in a toe hold early in the final.

Fellipe Andrew reclaims heavyweight gold

The 2023 heavyweight champion is back on top. Fellipe Andrew beat Windson Torres 14-0, submitted Davi Vetoraci, who had upset defending champion Nolan Stuart, and finished Leonardo “Leo” Ferreira with an arm-triangle in the final.

João “Bisnaga” Mendes finally gets his Crown

A year after losing the featherweight final to Cole Abate, João “Bisnaga” Mendes won it all. He beat Jun Yong Cho 4-2 and Mateo Cardona before topping Will Wilson 7-2 in the final. The division still has never had a repeat champion: 2023 winner Samuel Nagai lost his opening match to Keven Carrasco on a referee decision.

2026 IBJJF Crown full results

Men’s featherweight

Quarterfinals
João Mendes def. Jun Yong Cho by points (4-2)
Mateo Cardona def. Rerisson Gabriel by points (2-0)
Keven Carrasco def. Samuel Nagai by referee decision
Will Wilson def. Ademir Barreto by points (2-0)

Semifinals
João Mendes def. Mateo Cardona
Will Wilson def. Keven Carrasco by points (2-0)

Final
João Mendes def. Will Wilson by points (7-2)

Women’s lightweight

Quarterfinals
Sarah Galvão def. Giovanah Oliveira by armbar
Aghata Rabelo def. Keanna Klay by points (2-0)
Janaina Lebre def. Nikolett Kis by referee decision
Elisabeth Clay def. Sabrina Gondim by referee decision

Semifinals
Sarah Galvão def. Aghata Rabelo by Americana from the triangle
Elisabeth Clay def. Janaina Lebre by points (2-0)

Final
Sarah Galvão def. Elisabeth Clay by points

Men’s middleweight

Quarterfinals
Mica Galvão def. Leonardo “Leleo” Souza by points (4-2)
Matheus Luna def. José Steve by points (2-0)
Andy Murasaki def. Rafael Gamba by rear-naked choke
Tarcisio Santos def. Natan Chueng by points (2-0)

Semifinals
Mica Galvão def. Matheus Luna by disqualification
Andy Murasaki def. Tarcisio Santos on advantages

Final
Mica Galvão def. Andy Murasaki by points (4-2)

Men’s heavyweight

Quarterfinals
Davi Vetoraci def. Nolan Stuart by points (2-0)
Fellipe Andrew def. Windson Torres by points (14-0)
Omar Nada def. Vinicius Liberati by points (2-0)
Leonardo “Leo” Ferreira def. Nico Maglicic by choke

Semifinals
Fellipe Andrew def. Davi Vetoraci by Americana from the triangle
Leonardo “Leo” Ferreira def. Omar Nada on advantages

Final
Fellipe Andrew def. Leonardo “Leo” Ferreira by arm-triangle choke

Women’s super-heavyweight

Quarterfinals
Larissa Dias def. Ingridd Alves by foot lock
Yara Soares def. Maria Alencar by points (2-0)
Gabi Pessanha def. Maria Ruffatto-Gilpin by arm-triangle choke
Hazel Butcher-Salazar def. Anabel Lopez by Ezekiel choke

Semifinals
Larissa Dias def. Yara Soares by foot lock
Gabi Pessanha def. Hazel Butcher-Salazar by smother from closed guard

Final
Gabi Pessanha def. Larissa Dias by toe hold

Men’s ultra-heavyweight

Quarterfinals
Seif-Eddine Houmine def. Thierry Felipe by north-south smother
Anderson Kauan def. Pedro Machado on advantages (1-0)
Erich Munis def. Francisco Papasidero by Ezekiel choke from the back
Alexander Sak def. Matheus Vetoraci by referee decision

Semifinals
Anderson Kauan def. Seif-Eddine Houmine by points (7-2)
Erich Munis def. Alexander Sak by Ezekiel choke

Final
Erich Munis def. Anderson Kauan by arm-triangle choke

What was the biggest win of the night: Mica over Murasaki, or Munis and Pessanha making it four for four?

VF Comunica’s coverage of The Crown is presented by Kingz.

Read more

• Gabi Pessanha reveals what fuels her fourth Crown run
• Erich Munis is the target: Fran plots a historic upset
• Tarcisio Santos makes weight, keeps fight weight a secret