Andy Murasaki confirmed for the Crown 2026, chasing a third straight middleweight title
The two-time champion and AOJ black belt takes the last middleweight spot in a bracket that already has Mica Galvão, Tarcisio Santos and Jackson Nagai
It’s official. The IBJJF has confirmed Andy Murasaki for the Crown 2026, set for November 8 at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. The middleweight champion of the last two editions, the AOJ black belt returns to the invitation-only event looking for a third straight title.
The news came right after a big weekend. At the IBJJF Houston Fall Open, Andy won four matches and took gold in both the medium-heavy division and the absolute. It was his first IBJJF Open in more than three years.
Two Crowns at middleweight
Andy’s Crown story started with a loss. In 2023, he reached the middleweight final and was caught in a triangle by Tainan Dalpra. The next year, he won the title after Tainan, with a broken hand, could not compete in the final. In 2025, he defended his belt: he beat Pedro Maia on advantage in the semifinal and Jackson Nagai 4-0 in the final.
Born in Saitama, Japan, to Brazilian parents, Andy got his black belt from André Galvão in December 2020 and spent years at Atos in San Diego before moving to AOJ in 2026. This season he won the Brazilian Nationals at lightweight and beat Andy Varela with an armbar at UFC BJJ 5.
A bracket full of familiar faces
With Andy in, the middleweight bracket reaches eight names. The IBJJF had already announced Mica Galvão, Tarcisio Santos, Jackson Nagai, José Steve, Leonardo “Leleo” Souza, Rafael Gamba and Uanderson Ferreira.
Two of them have crossed paths with Andy recently. Jackson was his opponent in last year’s final. Tarcisio beat Andy on advantage in the round of 16 at Worlds in June, at lightweight, and comes to the Crown as one of the top names of the new generation. Mica Galvão, the biggest name in the bracket, makes his Crown debut.
At the Crown, each division has eight athletes and three rounds to the title. Andy is the only one in the bracket who already knows what it takes to win the middleweight division at this event.
Read also: Who completes the bracket? Five names who could take the last middleweight spot at the Crown 2026.
Can Andy Murasaki make it three in a row at the Crown? Let us know in the comments.
