BJJ Stars 8: Previewing the loaded 8-man gi grand prix

BJJ Stars 8 takes place on Saturday, April 30, and in addition to a number of ADCC-rules no-gi matches, the event will also feature a stacked eight-man gi grand prix. That grand prix includes a number of the best competitors in the world, including phenom Mica Galvao, seven-time IBJJF world champion Leandro Lo, and multiple-time gi and no-gi world champion Lucas Barbosa.

View the full BJJ Stars 8 gi grand prix lineup below:

Among the field, Lo is the most accomplished competitor by a significant margin. At 32-years old, it may be tempting to write Lo off as past his prime, but a quick look at his recent competition results reveals that he is very much still a world-class jiu-jitsu player. Lo holds recent notable wins over Jansen Gomes, Otavio Sousa, and, at BJJ Stars 4, fellow grand prix competitor Isaque Bahiense.

Bahiense* will be another competitor to watch, and he’ll certainly be looking forward to avenging his loss to Lo. Bahiense has been on a tear lately, with his lone loss in the past year coming to top pound-for-pound competitor Tainan Dalpra in finals of the 2021 Worlds. He is an excellent guard passer and tactician — skills that will serve him well in these points-based matches.

Teenage phenom Mica Galvao might be the most interesting grand prix competitor. Although most of his success has recently come in no-gi competition, Galvao is no stranger to the gi. Watch to see how Galvao adapts his explosive, submission-hunting style to the slower pace of the gi.

Finally, a couple dark horse competitors are worth mentioning. Recent ADCC Trials winner is one of jiu-jitsu’s most entertaining athletes; his all-offense approach and incredible back-takes make him a threat to everyone. Also, Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa was a 2021 IBJJF World champion and holds a recent (no-gi) win over Lo.

*Bahiense has withdrawn from the grand prix, and has been replaced by Wallisson Oliveira.

How to watch: BJJ Stars 8 takes place on Saturday, April 30 at 5:00 PM CT and will air live on FloGrappling (subscription required).

Ben Coate

Ben has been involved with grappling, whether through wrestling or Brazilian jiu-jitsu, essentially his entire life. After wrestling throughout his childhood, Ben found Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a young adult and quickly fell in love. He has been training for over ten years and holds the rank of black belt, and remains involved in both the MMA and BJJ scene. Ben has been writing about combat sports since 2017. He has interviewed and profiled some of MMA's biggest stars, including multiple UFC champions.

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