Anabel Lopez confirmed for The Crown 2026
A No-Gi world champion and ADCC silver medalist, the 21-year-old black belt returns to the tournament at super-heavyweight, in a bracket that already has Yara Soares and Larissa Dias
Anabel Lopez is back at The Crown. The IBJJF confirmed the Checkmat black belt this Thursday, October 8, in the women’s super-heavyweight bracket of the tournament, set for November 8 at the Long Beach Pyramid in California.
At 21, Lopez comes in mostly on the strength of her no-gi results. She won the No-Gi World Championship in 2024, the Pan No-Gi in 2025 and, in September this year, took silver at ADCC in the over-65 kg division: she beat Gabi Pessanha in the quarterfinals by referee decision and lost only to Helena Crevar in the final. In the gi, she won silver at the 2026 European Championship.
Second time at the tournament
This will be her second time at the event. In 2025, Lopez lost in the quarterfinals, submitted by Gabi Pessanha with a straight ankle lock. Ten months later, she beat the Brazilian at ADCC.
Familiar faces in the bracket
With Lopez, super-heavyweight now has seven names announced: Larissa Dias, Yara Soares, Hazel Butcher-Salazar, Ingridd Alves, Maria Vitória Ruffatto-Gilpin and Maria Alencar were already confirmed. One spot is left.
Two of them have faced Lopez recently. Yara Soares beat her 4-2 in the final of this year’s European Championship, after losing to her at the 2025 Pan No-Gi. Larissa Dias won their semifinal at the 2025 World Championship by referee decision.
Who Anabel Lopez is
Born in Galicia, Spain, Lopez trains at Fightzone in London and received her black belt from Marco Canha in June 2024, at 18. Six months later, she was already a No-Gi world champion.
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 will stream on FloGrappling.
The Crown coverage on VF Comunica is presented by Kingz.
Is Anabel Lopez a title contender at super-heavyweight? Leave your opinion in the comments.
