Erich Munis completes The Crown 2026 field, chases a fourth title
Unbeaten at the event and a three-time ultra-heavyweight champion, the seven-time world champion takes the last of the 48 spots in the bracket where Thierry Felipe promised to beat the big names
The last name added to The Crown 2026 is the heaviest one. On Friday, the IBJJF announced Erich Munis in the ultra-heavyweight division of the event, set for November 8 at the Pyramid in Long Beach, California. With him, all 48 spots are now filled.
Erich has never lost at The Crown. He won the ultra-heavyweight title at all three editions, in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and returns to Long Beach chasing a fourth straight.
Unbeaten in three editions
At the first edition, in 2023, Erich beat Roosevelt Sousa in the final. The next year he beat Marcus “Scooby” Ribeiro for the title, and in 2025 he got past Gustavo Batista 6 to 0 to make it three. So far, only Gabi Pessanha, who is also going for a fourth title at women’s super-heavyweight, has the same record at the event.
Seven-time world champion with a rival in his own gym
The São Paulo native arrives with seven black belt world titles: four at super-heavyweight, in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025, and three in the open class, in 2024, 2025 and 2026. The latest came in June in Long Beach, with three submissions and a 6 to 4 win over Marcus Ribeiro in the final.
The season also brought a hurdle. In the super-heavyweight finals at the Brazilian Nationals and at Worlds, Erich lost on advantages to Vinicius Liberati, his training partner at Soldiers Jiu-Jitsu. Liberati is also in The Crown, but at heavyweight, so the two will not meet on November 8.
A bracket that promised to take down the big names
Erich lands in a bracket where a newcomer has already said he wants the biggest names. Speaking to VF Comunica, Thierry Felipe, who got his black belt from Marcio André in September, said he is going to Long Beach for the prize and for the big wins.
“I believe that with how hard we’re working, we can do both: win the $20,000 and beat every big name that’s there on November 8 at The Crown,” Thierry said at the time.
Besides Erich and Thierry, the ultra-heavyweight bracket has Francisco Papasidero, who was awarded a heavyweight bronze at Worlds after Rider Zuchi’s doping case, Seif-Eddine Houmine, Helder Rodrigues, Alexander Sak, Pedro Machado and Matheus Vetoraci. Each Crown champion takes home $20,000.
Read more: Thierry Felipe wants $20,000 and big names at The Crown, Sam Nagai promises no steroids, no stalling at The Crown and Andy Murasaki wins double gold in Houston ahead of The Crown.
Can anyone take the ultra-heavyweight crown from Erich Munis? Tell us in the comments.
