Janaína Lebre: “For me, this is like a Worlds”
Runner-up in past editions, the world champion says she needs this crown and expects a final against Sarah Galvão
Janaína Lebre returns to the Pyramid in Long Beach, California, on Sunday (Nov. 8), chasing The Crown title that slipped away in past editions. She opens at women’s lightweight against Nikolett Kis.
On Saturday, the world champion told VF Comunica how much this event means to her: “I’ve been second place two, three years in a row. This year, for me, this is like a Worlds. I need to win this crown so I can finally be at peace.”
A target on her back
Asked what changes now that everyone wants to beat the world champion, she said nothing: “Nothing changes for me. I still have that hunger to win things.” Her style won’t change either: “Same as always, an aggressive Janaína who goes for the submission and keeps moving forward.”
A rematch with Sarah in the final?
Janaína expects the other finalist to come from Sarah Galvão or Ághata Rabelo, and wants a rematch of the 2025 final she lost to Sarah on advantages. “Of all the Crowns, this one has a really tough bracket,” she said. On Sarah: “She’s a really, really good athlete and she fights forward too. The fans definitely want to see that match again.”
If she gets past Nikolett, Janaína meets the winner of Elisabeth Clay vs. Sabrina Gondim in the semifinal.
The full interview is in our Crown vlog on the VF Comunica YouTube channel. VF Comunica’s coverage of The Crown is presented by Kingz.
Read more
The Crown: what is the IBJJF invitational and how it works
Mica Galvão draws Leleo Souza in his Crown 2026 debut
Is this finally Janaína’s year?
More in Interviews
- 01
- 02
- 03
