Jackson Nagai wants his legacy to be attacking Jiu-Jitsu, with no stalling
World champion in 2024 and finalist in 2026, the Checkmat black belt says he does not want to be remembered only for his titles; he returns to the Crown in November
Jackson Nagai has enough titles to be remembered for his medals. But he wants to be remembered for something else too. In an interview with VF Comunica, the Checkmat black belt said his legacy is also about the way he fights: always moving forward, trying to pass the guard, attack and submit, even when this means taking risks.
For him, this is a job for a whole generation. Jackson believes younger athletes need to show a more aggressive and beautiful Jiu-Jitsu, one that is fun to watch. More than winning, he wants to leave his own style behind and inspire the next athletes to compete without stalling.
What stalling means
In Jiu-Jitsu, stalling is when a fighter holds the opponent and protects the score. He does not take risks and does not look for the submission, the move that makes the opponent give up. Fighters often win this way by a small advantage or by referee decision, but fans criticize it a lot. The discussion has grown in recent years, because live streams and professional events need exciting matches to keep people watching.
World champion in 2024, finalist in 2026
Jackson was born on March 25, 1994, near Manaus, in the north of Brazil. He received his black belt from Lucas Leite in January 2020. His best year was 2024, when he won the IBJJF World Championship and the Pan Championship at middleweight. The IBJJF is the sport’s main federation. In 2026 he reached the World Championship final again, this time at lightweight. He took the silver medal after losing the final to his teammate Matheus Gabriel.
Back at the Crown
His next event already has a date. Jackson is confirmed in the middleweight bracket of the Crown 2026, on November 8, at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. The names already announced in his bracket include Mica Galvão, Tarcisio Santos, José Steve, Leo Souza, Rafael Gamba and Uanderson Ferreira.
Jackson knows this tournament well. In 2025 he reached the middleweight final and lost to Andy Murasaki by 4 points to 0. His younger brother, Sam Nagai, is also confirmed this year. VF Comunica’s coverage of the Crown is presented by Kingz.
How the Crown works
The Crown is an invitation-only tournament run by the IBJJF, the sport’s main federation, and fought in the gi, the traditional uniform. This is its fourth edition. It has 48 invited athletes in six brackets of eight, and all the matches happen in one night. Each champion takes home US$ 20,000. The event is streamed on FloGrappling.
The story behind the champion
In 2024, a few days after his world title, Jackson told VF Comunica about the personal drama and the inner battle he faced before reaching the top. The full 46-minute interview is on our YouTube channel, in Portuguese.
And you, do you prefer a fighter who takes risks to submit, or one who protects the lead until the end?
