Rafael Gamba eyes submission of Andy Murasaki at The Crown
The brown belt world champion makes his Crown debut against the two-time champion and says he does not run from the best
Rafael Gamba makes his debut at The Crown this Sunday, November 8, at the Pyramid in Long Beach, California, against the most experienced opponent the tournament could give him. The Alliance middleweight opens against Andy Murasaki, a two-time Crown champion, and told VF Comunica on the eve of the event that he is not afraid of facing the best this early.
“It’s by facing the best and the champions that we become who we want to be. Nobody becomes somebody by beating nobody,” he said.
“We’re not afraid of the best”
Gamba credits that mindset to Mário, who he says shaped him. “I was raised by Mário. He polishes me every single day so we don’t fear challenges, don’t fear tough opponents.”
For him, taking on the toughest names is a choice not everyone makes. “A lot of people end up running and not facing the best, and that doesn’t happen with us. If we have to go in there and win, we’ll go in to win. If we go in to win and end up losing, well, that’s part of the game. But we’re not afraid of the best. Quite the opposite, that’s what we want.”
Murasaki as the measuring stick
Gamba arrives after a dominant season at brown belt. In 2026 he won the European, the Brazilian Nationals and the World Championship at middleweight, submitting every opponent at the European and the Brazilian Nationals, according to the IBJJF. Now at black belt, he sees Murasaki as the perfect test.
“Fighting Andy will be very special, because right in my debut I’ll get the best possible measure of what the real black belt elite and the highest level look like,” he said.
Murasaki is chasing his third Crown title and comes in hot. This fall he won the Orange County Open with two submissions and took double gold in Houston.
Asked how he sees the match ending, Gamba didn’t hesitate: “I believe with a submission.”
What comes next
The winner of Gamba vs. Murasaki faces the winner of Natan Chueng vs. Tarcisio Santos in the semifinals. On the other side of the bracket are Mica Galvão, Leleo Souza, Uanderson Ferreira and José Steve. Each division champion takes home US$20,000.
Before the brackets came out, Gamba had already spoken to VF Comunica about Mica Galvão being the favorite, saying it is “not a superhero against a human being”.
VF Comunica’s coverage of The Crown is presented by Kingz.
Who are you picking, the newcomer or the two-time champion?
Read more:
Mica Galvão draws Leleo Souza in his Crown 2026 debut
Andy Murasaki submits both opponents, rolls into The Crown
More in Interviews
- 01
- 02
- 03
