The January 2025 update has been applied to the Jits Magazine BJJ Rankings and the full standings can be found here. The year is over and December was just as important as every month, with several fantastic events taking place and tons of elite grapplers hitting the mats. Obviously the main impact came from the IBJJF No Gi World Championship, as that attracted multiple ranked competitors in every single no gi weight class. There was another big no gi event going on right at the same time as well though, as Eddie Bravo put together the very first edition of Jiu-Jitsu Overdose. There wasn’t many opportunities for gi grapplers to compete this month and although that half of the rankings were relatively quiet, there was still some movement as a result of BJJ Stars and BJJ Clubes primarily.
The Jits Magazine BJJ Rankings also have their own official sponsor, our proud partners REVGEAR! You can find out more about REVGEAR Jiu Jitsu and take a look at all of fantastic the products they offer at either www.revgear.com or www.revgeareurope.co.uk, and you can drop code Jits20 into the checkout for 20% off regular priced items.
Jits Magazine BJJ Rankings – January 2025 Update
Men’s No Gi BJJ Rankings
Bantamweight – Under 135lbs
The IBJJF No Gi World Championship 2024 caused a fair few changes in every division, but it was absolute chaos at bantamweight. Nobuhiro Sawada is now number fourteen and Lucas Castro is at 11th, but the champion Everton Teixeira moves up to 2nd. Marcos Gomes breaks into the rankings as high as 5th but the spot just above him at 4th is taken by the man who beat him, Zach Kaina.
Featherweight – Under 148lbs
There were very few ranked competitors at featherweight entered at no gi worlds, but Cole Abate won gold and he advances to 10th. Julian Espinosa took home the silver medal and he breaks into the rankings at number fifteen as a result.
Lightweight – Under 162lbs
No gi worlds had an impact here too, as Yigit Hanay won a bronze medal that took him all the way up to 6th. Gianni Grippo beat him and he moves into 5th, while the champion stays put at 4th. That wasn’t the only change though, as Matt Masch won the Combat Jiu-Jitsu Lightweight World Championship and he breaks into the rankings at number fourteen thanks to who he beat along the way.
Welterweight – Under 175lbs
Alexandre De Jesus won no gi worlds at this weight but due to a lack of ranked opposition, he only breaks into the rankings at number thirteen.
Middleweight – Under 190lbs
Francisco Lo climbs up the rankings to 10th with a silver medal at no gi worlds but the man who took the gold medal sits just above him at number nine, Wallisson Oliveira.
Light-Heavyweight – Under 205lbs
There weren’t many ranked competitors at no gi worlds in this weight class either and the champion remains at his original position, but Faris Ben-lamkadem breaks in at number fifteen with his silver medal performance.
Heavyweight – Under 225lbs
Luccas Lira breaks in to the rankings at 4th after a big win at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 9, and there was plenty more changes further down thanks to no gi worlds. Two men have entered the heavyweight rankings as a result, with Elder Cruz returning at 14th and Marcos Carrozzino breaking in for the first time at 8th.
Super-Heavyweight – Over 225lbs
Anderson Kauan breaks into the rankings at 14th with his silver medal at no gi worlds but just above him at number thirteen is Devhonte Johnson, who managed to beat him in the absolute division. The champion from the actual weight class that applies here was Lucas Montalvao, and he comes in at 11th.
Pound for Pound
The only change here is Everton Teixeira, who breaks in at number fifteen thanks to his rise at bantamweight.
Jits Magazine Men’s Gi BJJ Rankings
Bantamweight – Under 137lbs
There were no changes in the January 2025 update for this division of the Jits Magazine BJJ Rankings.
Featherweight – Under 154lbs
The featherweight division was shaken up by the star-studded grand prix at BJJ Stars 14, as there were some unexpected outcomes. The biggest movement was from the man who won the whole tournament, as Fabricio Andrey made his way to 3rd place after beating one of the best in the world. Andrey isn’t alone either, as Diego Sodre made his way up to 5th thanks to his semi-final finish.
Lightweight – Under 169lbs
There were no changes in the January 2025 update for this division of the Jits Magazine BJJ Rankings.
Welterweight – Under 181lbs
There were no changes in the January 2025 update for this division of the Jits Magazine BJJ Rankings.
Middleweight – Under 194lbs
Jansen Gomes improved his position from 3rd to 2nd with a win over Fellipe Andrew in their superfight at BJJ Stars 14, but it wasn’t enough for him to take the top spot in Andrew’s place because Gustavo Batista moved up one space to occupy it instead.
Light-Heavyweight – Under 208lbs
There were no changes in the January 2025 update for this division of the Jits Magazine BJJ Rankings.
Heavyweight – Under 225lbs
Leonardo Ferreira won double gold at the IBJJF World Championship as a brown belt earlier this year so although he was promoted on the podium, he didn’t get the chance to face the best in the world this year. That is until the grand finale of BJJ Clubes last month where he submitted Anderson Munis and earned himself the 5th spot in the rankings on his very first appearance, shifting the rest of the top 5 up slightly as Munis fell below him.
Super-Heavyweight – Over 225lbs
There were no changes in the January 2025 update for this division of the Jits Magazine BJJ Rankings.
Pound for Pound
Mica Galvao now takes the top spot thanks to Fellipe Andrew’s downfall, while Jansen Gomes moves up to 2nd. Fabricio Andrey comes in at 7th and pushes Meyram Maquine just below him, while Gustavo Batista moves up to the 11th spot thanks to the movement around him in his weight class.
Jits Magazine Women’s No Gi BJJ Rankings
Strawweight – Under 115lbs
Adele Fornarino won the strawweight title at Who’s Number One 25 and that win and the title itself was enough to see her move into the 4th spot. No gi worlds took place just after that match and Jhenifer Aquino moved up to 3rd with a gold medal there. Sophia Cassella won a silver medal in her weight class and she now sits just inside the top five thanks to that performance.
Featherweight – Under 125lbs
Cassia Moura had an incredible performance as a fresh black belt at no gi worlds and she shot up the featherweight rankings into 9th after she won her first world title at this level.
Lightweight – Under 135lbs
Brianna Ste-Marie won no gi worlds and she breaks into the rankings at this weight in the 3rd spot, but the rest of the division below her holds firm as everyone else only beat opponents ranked below them.
Middleweight – Under 146lbs
Nadia Frankland moved up two places and is now ranked as number thirteen at middleweight after she won a silver medal at no gi worlds.
Heavyweight – Over 146lbs
Caitlin Huggins enters the heavyweight rankings at number thirteen after a big win at no gi worlds, but Salla Simola beat her to move up to 12th and Paige Ivette comes in just behind them both at 14th. Anabel Lopez advanced a few places after winning her first black belt world title and she now sits at number eight, while Gabrieli Pessanha had a fantastic no gi debut that saw her break into the rankings at 7th after winning double gold.
Pound for Pound
Brianna Ste-Marie has broken into the pound for pound rankings after a fantastic run in the absolute division at no gi Worlds as well as winning her weight class, and she now sits at number thirteen.
Jits Magazine Women’s Gi BJJ Rankings
Strawweight – Under 118lbs
There were no changes in the January 2025 update for this division of the Jits Magazine BJJ Rankings.
Featherweight – Under 129lbs
There were no changes in the January 2025 update for this division of the Jits Magazine BJJ Rankings.
Lightweight – Under 141lbs
Natalia Zumba beat Victoria Ulrich at BJJ Clubes and that led to her taking her place at 13th in the lightweight rankings, bumping her down a single spot.
Middleweight – Under 163lbs
There were no changes in the January 2025 update for this division of the Jits Magazine BJJ Rankings.
Heavyweight – Over 163lbs
Welma Moreira moves up one place and makes it to 7th this month after she beat a pair of opponents ranked just below her along the way to winning double gold at the IBJJF Brasilia Open 2024.
Pound for Pound
There were no changes in the January 2025 update for this division of the Jits Magazine BJJ Rankings.
