8 athletes to watch at the 2025 IBJJF No-Gi Worlds
These are eight standout grapplers to keep an eye on at the 2025 IBJJF No-Gi Worlds this weekend.
The biggest no-gi event on the IBJJF calendar goes down on December 11-13, 2025, in Las Vegas, with black belt athletes competing on Friday and Saturday.
This year’s No-Gi Worlds are particularly packed with top talent and well-known names. Before the action gets underway, let’s take a closer look at eight grapplers poised for standout performances.
#1 Cole Abate
Young Art of Jiu-Jitsu phenom Cole Abate will return for his first appearance in no-gi competition since capturing gold at the 2024 IBJJF No-Gi Worlds.
A master technician who’s equally dangerous hunting for leg locks from his back as he is passing guard and taking the back from the top position, Abate hasn’t competed at a high rate during his black belt career. Still, he’s seen plenty of success at the highest level. While he’s already claimed multiple golds in the gi at IBJJF majors, he is likely to do his best work in no-gi.
Abate will be the favorite in the lightweight division, and not only because he’s the returning champion. He could run into some stiff competition in the form of his AoJ teammate Daniel Sathler, no-gi Pans and Euros champion Julian Espinosa, and no-gi Euros champion Yigit Hanay.
#2 Pawel Jaworski
Polish submission ace Pawel Jaworski turned in a nearly flawless performance at the no-gi Pans, and he’ll look to do the same in his return to the medium-heavy division.
Jaworski is one of the tournament’s most dangerous leg lockers, who has proven himself to be a threat in both his division and the absolute division. In addition to no-gi Euros and Pans titles to his name, he boasts ADCC Trials gold, as well as experience at CJI and Polaris.
If Jaworski wants to keep his impressive momentum going, he’ll have to get through stiff competition like former no-gi world champions Sebastian Rodriguez and Wallisson Oliveira, young rising star Logan Smith, and experienced no-gi specialist David Garmo.
#3 Javier Barter
Panama’s Javier Barter is quietly emerging as one of the sport’s best talents – and he’s poised for a true breakout performance this weekend.
A black belt since 2022, Barter seems to have hit his stride in 2025 with a second-place finish at the no-gi Brasileiros and gold at no-gi Pans. Notably, his performance at Pans included submission victories over Sean Yadimarco and Jose Jurema, and a 12-0 domination of Dante Leon. Barter is a true submission hunter with a penchant for finding the back and rear-naked choke.
Barter will face nothing but elite opposition in the talent-packed heavyweight division. In addition to possible rematches with Leon, Jurema, and Yadimarco, he could square off with the likes of 2024 no-gi world champion Faris Benlamkadem and accomplished veteran Charles Negromonte.
#4 Mia Funegra
After dominating the colored belt ranks and winning a world title in the gi just days after earning her black belt, Art of Jiu-Jitsu prodigy Mia Funegra will now look to capture a black belt world title in no-gi.
The 19-year-old light-feather standout possesses the classic AoJ style that emphasizes solid outside passing, an active and practically impassable guard, and an ever-evolving leg lock game. Funegra beat some big names to win gold in the gi, and she’ll have to do the same here.
Fans can look forward to potential matchups for Funegra against Brasileiros champion Brenda Larissa, Essential BJJ representative Jessica Crane, or European standout Josefine Modig.
#5 Adele Fornarino
Reigning ADCC champ-champ and perennial pound-for-pound star Adele Fornarino will aim for her first no-gi world title at the black belt level in the featherweight division.
Simply put, the Australian is a superb guard player and a ruthless finisher, both when she’s attacking arms from her closed guard or the legs from her open guard. With submission wins over the likes of Brianna Ste-Marie, Rafaela Guedes, and Jasmine Rocha, Fornarino has done plenty to establish herself near the top of the women’s pound-for-pound list. Her lone losses in the past couple of years have been razor-thin decisions against fellow pound-for-pound elites Ffion Davies and Helena Crevar.
Fornarino will be the favorite in a jam-packed featherweight division, where she could square off with young phenoms like Thaynara Victoria or Ana Mayordomo.
#6 Helena Crevar
Top pound-for-pound no-gi competitor Helena Crevar will be a significant favorite to take home gold in the medium-heavy division.
Outside of a 90-second decision loss at a Polaris Squads event, Crevar is undefeated in no-gi action since coming up short in the final at ADCC 2024. Since then, she’s picked up victories over Fornarino, Sarah Galvao, and Elisabeth Clay to surpass the rest of the women’s division and erase any doubt that she’s the sport’s top pound-for-pound grappler.
As always, fans can look forward to an offensive-minded guard and picture-perfect finishing mechanics from the young Kingsway product. While her toughest competition in the medium-heavy division will likely come from returning no-gi world champion Salla Simola, Crevar could make plenty of noise in the absolute division if she decides to go that route.
#7 Cassia Moura
Perhaps the most intriguing athlete on this list is returning no-gi world champion Cassia Moura, who will move up several weight classes to compete in the heavyweight division.
With her explosive takedowns and dynamic guard passing, Moura has already cemented herself as an elite talent, boasting victories over Sarah Galvao, Alex Enriquez, and Tammi Musumeci. Winning gold against significantly larger opponents will stamp her place among the sport’s pound-for-pound best.
Despite the size she’ll be giving up, the Bruno Bastos product is likely the favorite in the heavyweight division. She’ll undoubtedly lean on her speed, pacing, and athleticism against established heavyweights like Nia Blackman and Erin Harpe.
#8 Gabi Pessanha
Finally, the sport’s most dominant competitor – Gabi Pessanha – will look to extend her run into the no-gi world as she shoots for another double-gold performance.
Pessanha has been practically untouchable over the past several years, racking up double-gold after double-gold in gi competion, and is now doing the same in no-gi action. The Brazilian is a superb athlete with a knack for finding the straight ankle lock finish.
Pessanha will be the favorite in both the super-heavy and absolute divisions. In fact, her tasting defeat this weekend would likely be an even bigger story than her taking home two more gold medals at jiu-jitsu’s most prestigious no-gi tournament.
How to watch: The 2025 IBJJF No-Gi World Championships take place December 11-13, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will air live on FloGrappling (subscription required).
