On the IBJJF website, you can already get a picture of the path the 2,600 athletes signed up for the event will have to take on their way to the gold medal.

The GRACIEMAG at the Jiu-Jitsu Pan Blog took the opportunity to do a brief analysis of the matches we may see in the black belt male and female categories.

Rush over there and find out who faces who.

Not having completed since ADCC 2009, when she won the over-60 kg weight class, Hannette Staack is signed up in the middleweight division.

She may get a chance to face Hillary Williams, who is also returning, after dedicating recent months solely to medical school

The GRACIEMAG at the Pan Blog had a chat with Hannette and she told us what she expects on her return to competition.

The first comment on the post predicting the outcome of the men’s black belt divisions (on the Portuguese version of the Blog) was… You guessed it: “What about the females? You forget about them?”

No, we didn’t forget.

Jiu-Jitsu’s valiant lady warriors deserve a post all their own.

The female brown/black belt category is already a success in sheer number of competitors that sign up.

Head over the GRACIEMAG at the Pan Blog and check out the Blog’s predictions:

Sign-ups for the 2011 Pan are practically done.

Some new names may still make the list, but not much will change.

The brackets aren’t out yet, but one can already get an idea of the big picture to unfold in Irvine, California.

So the GRACIEMAG at the Pan Blog fearlessly endeavors to unravel each black belt weight group and come up with predictions for finalists and a likely winner.

After the final check is done, we’ll be back to see if any big names entered the fray to change the outlook.

Michael Langhi celebrates gold at 2010 Worlds. Photo: Ray Santana.

“I read on GRACIEMAG.com that the Pan 2011 lightweight division could be the best of all times, so I didn’t want to miss out,” chides black belt Michael Langhi over the radio.

And that’s that, the lightweight world champion is another name to confirm his participation at the last minute, as did a number of other teachers – Wellington Megaton, Theodoro Canal, Bia Mesquita and more.

Yesterday, Langhi told GRACIEMAG.com he needed one more visit to the doctor to decide whether he will go. The reason being a recent leg injury. “It was bothering me, but I’m already training. So I’m 70%,” he told us on Wednesday.

Injury cured, the likelihood rose to 100% at night, when the teacher at Alliance São Paulo entered the IBJJF website and put in his name. “Now I’m already feeling good in training, going strong against everyone in the academy, so I decided to compete at the Pan too. I’m heading to Irvine to try and steamroll everyone there.”

Next Wednesday the world champion embarks for California, where he will meet up with Lucas Lepri, his teammate in his weight group, and other Alliance aces. “I’ll arrive there, do a last training session at Cobrinha’s academy, rest Friday and I’ll be ready to throw some weight around,” he says in farewell.

To find out more about the athletes and timetable for the 2011 Pan, visit IBJJF.org.

Lucas Lepri (pictured, in photo by Luca Atalla) is one of the favorites to win gold at the 2011 Pan.

The one who wins the IBJJF Pan can, throughout an entire year, metaphorically pound his chest and claim he’s the best Jiu-Jitsu fighter in the Americas.

And the winner of the lightweight division at this year’s Pan may be able to gloat about even more. That’s so because pretty much all the best in the world will be there, as you can see in the official list from the IBJJF below. Plus, as GRACIEMAG.com has ascertained, a a burly surprise could show up at the last minute. . .

Among those guaranteed to be there: Lucas Lepri, Augusto Tanquinho, JT, Davi Ramos, Sandro Batata, Rodrigo Freitas, Zak Maxwell. Get the picture?

How about you, you secured your spot in the thick of the action yet? Sign up here, today’s the last day!

Adult black belt lightweights

Edson Pereira (Alliance)

Lucas A. Lepri (Alliance)

Davi Ramos (Atos)

Rodrigo Caporal (Atos)

Francisco Tavares (Combative Martial Arts)

Rodrigo Freitas (Gracie Barra América)

Zak Maxwell (Gracie Humaitá)

Jonathan Torres (Lloyd Irvin)

Evan Michael (Lotus Club)

Leandro Nascimento (Manimal)

Alexandre Henrique (Ryan)

Sandro Santiago (Sandro Batata)

Julio Armando (Sandro Batata)

Augusto Mendes (Soul Fighters)

What do you think of the list so far? Who’s going to take it? Opine below!

Rodrigo Munduruca, the absolute champion of the International Master competition after closing out with Saulo Ribeiro, is one of this year's favorites. Along with him: Fabio Leopoldo, Roberto Tozi, Fernando Soluço and more.

Rodrigo Munduruca, the absolute champion of the International Master competition after closing out with Saulo Ribeiro, is one of this year’s favorites. Along with him: Fabio Leopoldo, Roberto Tozi, Fernando Soluço and more.

One of the big attractions of the IBJJF Pan, with sign-ups closing today, is the masters division, where teachers and fighters from back in the day display their technique, defend their legacies, and inspire their students.

This year the division brings further aces, as you can see below, according to information provided on the IBJJF website. To check out all those signed up until now, click here. Take the opportunity to sign yourself up, if you haven’t already. And to find out all the juicy details regarding the Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu championship, check out the GRACIEMAG at the Pan Blog.

Black belt master light featherweight

Hiroyuki Mizuno (Alliance)

Sung Kang (Alliance)

Bruno Maniaudet (American Top Team)

Luíz Vicente (De La Riva)

Daniel Alvarez (Nova União)

Featherweight

Cristiano Oliveira (Gracie Barra)

Lightweight

Mark Vives (BJJ Revolution)

Kazeka Muniz (Gracie Barra)

Marcos Barros (Gracie Barra)

Carlos Lemos (Gracie Barra America)

Stephan Luther (Gracie Humaitá)

Issac Riggs (Léo Dalla)

Middleweight

Carlos Frederico Rodriguez (Carlson Gracie)

Elizandro Beda (CheckMat)

Francisco Mendes (CheckMat)

Luiz Carlos Chagas (Reação)

Rodrigo Teixeira (Rickson)

José Costa Junior (Ryan)

Medium heavyweight

Eduardo Braga (Alliance)

Ethan Day (ATT)

Daniel Wanderley (Carlson)

Marcello Viktor (Cascão JJ)

Aldo de Oliveira (Gracie Barra)

Nakapan Phungephorn (Lloyd Irvin)

Marcelo Meleiro (Nova União)

Heavyweight

Fernando Di Pierro (Alliance)

Humberto Borges (Alliance)

Walter Fontes (Cascão)

Carlos Alexandre (Emirates Team)

Fabio Leopoldo (Gracie Barra Thousand Oaks)

John William (Ribeiro JJ)

Gustavo Katayose (Rilion)

Superheavyweight

Alessandro Ferreira (Cia Paulista)

Cristiano Kaminice (Gile Ribeiro)

Roberto Tozi (Godói)

Anthony Scales (Nova União)

Ranieri Paiva (X3 Sports)

Ultraheavyweight

Don Francis (Caíque JJ)

Fabiano Monteiro (Carlson)

Diego Monteiro (Competition)

Tyler Bosard (GB Rio Grande Valley)

Rodrigo Munduruca (Gracie Humaitá)

Phillip Smith (Roberto Traven)

Marcos Willian (Tozi)

Master Absolute

Eduardo Braga

Fernando Di Pierro

Ethan Day

Mark Vives

Don Francis Richard

Carlos Frederico Rodriguez

Fabiano Lima Monteiro da Silva

Marcello Viktor C. Morais

Walter Fontes Vital Jr

Elizandro Leite Beda

Francisco Ramos Mendes Neto

Alessandro Ferreira da Silva

Diego Antico Monteiro

Luíz Vicente da Silva Júnior

Carlos Alexandre C. Rodrigues

Cristiano Alves Kaminice

Roberto Tozi Ferreira Filho

Cristiano Renato Q. Oliveira

Kazeka Muniz

Tyler Bosard

Fabio Leopoldo e Silva Neto

Rodrigo Munduruca

Stephan Luther Goyne

Luiz Carlos Chagas S. Junior

Nakapan Phungephorn

Anthony Scales

Daniel V. Alvarez Jr.

Marcelo Meleiro

John William Walus

Rodrigo Gonçalves Teixeira

Gustavo de Oliveira Katayose

Phillip Smith

Jose Julio Costa Junior

Marcos Willian Pereira

Ranieri Paiva de Albuquerque

(Total: 35)

When André Galvão steps into the competition area at University of California, Irvine, sweet memories from the last Pan he competed at will come to mind.

Three years back the Brazilian dominated the black belt division at the 2008 Pan.

He won the light heavyweight division and the absolute.

To win the open weight class, he coaxed a tapout in three of his four matches. Among his victims: Luiz “Big Mac” Theodoro, Fernando “Soluço” Di Piero, and Roberto Tozzi (photo) in the final.

The GRACIEMAG at the Jiu-Jitsu Pan Blog dug up some of his past and further reveals how the two-time world champion has been preparing for the 2011 Pan.

Bruno Malfacine and Felipe Costa at the Worlds, in photo by Regis Chen. Both athletes will be at the 2011 Pan.

Yes, the 2011 Pan will be the greatest Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu tournament since 1995, the year the championship was created.

The reason isn’t a record number of athletes to sign up, as occurs year after year – a sign Jiu-Jitsu is netting more and more white belts every year. (In 2010 the Pan brought in around 2,800 athletes).

Looking to the top of the pyramid, one will also notice the size of the IBJJF Pan, especially this year’s.

This year the California-based tournament promises to draw around nine current black belt world champions. An absolute record.

Check out the black belts who won the last World Championship, in 2010, and now look good to appear at the 2011 Pan.

Sign up for the event by clicking here, time’s running out.

And visit the GRACIEMAG at the Pan 2011 Blog by clicking here.

Bernardo Faria (heavyweight)
Michael Langhi (lightweight)
Rafael Mendes (featherweight)
Bruno Malfacine (roosterweight)
Marcus Vinícius Almeida (brown belt absolute)

Luanna Alzuguir (absolute)
Gabrielle Garcia (heavyweight)
Michelle Nicolini (medium heavyweight)
Hilllary Williams (middleweight)

However, it’s a fact that new talent not from the tropical country is cropping up every year and threatening Brazil’s more and more.

The dispute in the colored belt groups is already neck and neck, and even at black belt, non-Brazilians contend for top spot.

The 2011 Pan will be no different and the international army is already readying its weapons.

The Blog introduces some of the submission savants set to shine in Irvine.

Head over to the GRACIEMAG at the Pan Blog and find out about the elite international troop on its way to Irvine.

There will always be those who say winning a close contest was the result of the influence of a famous father. At the 2010 Pan, Kayron left no room for nitpicking. With brilliant performances, the then-recently-promoted black belt started out his fledgling career in the top flight convincingly. On his march to the gold medal he took out Abmar Barbosa and Sérgio Moraes, displaying an unpassable guard and spot-on sweeps.

In 2011 Kayron is saving himself for the Worlds, in June. Even so, we take a look back at the 2010 Pan with five questions. Among other things, Kayron addresses the importance of the title to his career. Head to the GRACIEMAG at the Jiu-Jitsu Pan Blog to check out what went on in the conversation.

Alonzio Jackson is in.

The 2011 Pan starts in twelve days.

The list of athletes to sign up on the IBJJF website just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

The GRACIEMAG at the Jiu-Jitsu Pan Blog has taken the first tally of who is in.

So head on over and see who’s set to shine in Irvine. And, of course, don’t forget to sign up!