Sabrina Gondim joins The Crown and could get a rematch with Janaína Lebre
The featherweight world champion and No-Gi Pan gold medalist moves back up to lightweight for the IBJJF tournament on November 8 in Long Beach
Sabrina Gondim is in The Crown 2026. The featherweight world champion was confirmed on Tuesday (Oct. 6) in the women’s lightweight bracket of the IBJJF event, set for November 8 at the Pyramid in Long Beach, California. Her reaction came on VF Comunica’s own post: “Vamooo!!” (Let’s go!).
The 27-year-old from João Pessoa, in northeastern Brazil, arrives at the best moment of her career. At this year’s World Championship, held at the same Long Beach Pyramid, she won her first black belt world title by beating Gabi McComb 3-0 in the featherweight final. Last weekend in New Jersey, she added gold at the No-Gi Pan, also at featherweight, in a final against Cindy Ung decided by a single advantage.
Back at lightweight
The Crown marks Gondim’s return to the division she competed in until March. It was at lightweight that she took bronze at the 2026 Pan, losing to Sarah Galvão in the semifinal. It was also at lightweight that she made her Crown debut last year, when she lost in the quarterfinals to Janaína Lebre by Ezekiel choke.
Since then, the Fight Sports athlete’s season has taken a turn. In May, she accepted a short-notice shot at the UFC BJJ bantamweight title against Cassia Moura and was submitted in the second round. Less than two weeks later, she dropped to featherweight and left Long Beach as a world champion. The title came after a long recovery: Gondim tore ligaments in her knee and had two surgeries before returning to competition.
Janaína Lebre in the way
The lightweight bracket already had Janaína Lebre, Ághata Rabelo, Nikolett Kis, Eliza Nascimento, Elisabeth Clay and Keanna Klay. Lebre is the current world champion in the division and was the Crown runner-up in 2025, and Rabelo herself has already called her the woman to beat at the event.
For Gondim, the rival’s presence opens the door to a rematch. Whether they meet depends on the bracket, and both arrive in a very different position from last year: they are now two 2026 world champions in the same bracket.
How The Crown works
The Crown is an invitation-only IBJJF tournament held in a single night. There are six divisions with eight athletes in each bracket, and each winner takes home $20,000. The 2026 edition is the fourth, and it will stream on FloGrappling.
VF Comunica’s coverage of The Crown is presented by Kingz.
Can Sabrina Gondim get her win back against Janaína Lebre at the Crown? Leave your opinion in the comments.
