The 2024 edition of The Crown is scheduled for November 17th, 2024 and the IBJJF has just announced the full lineup for the middleweight division. This is the second division to be confirmed, after the eight featherweight grapplers competing at the event came first. The middleweight division is following suit with eight of the best BJJ competitors in this weight class being invited, thanks to the fact that the brackets have doubled in size for this year. The main difference between the two lineups is the fact that the event’s reigning champion is returning to defend his title at middleweight, after an excellent performance in the inaugural edition last year.
The inaugural champion last year was Tainan Dalpra and although he will undoubtedly be one of the favorites to win this time around, he actually didn’t win the IBJJF World Championship this year. Dalpra isn’t the only big name returning either, as the man he submitted in the final last year will also be coming back for another attempt at gold. That man was Andy Murasaki and he’ll also be joined Mauricio Oliveira as well; the third man who made it to the podium of The Crown in 2023 and left with a bronze medal.
Although this year’s IBJJF World Championship winner isn’t competing, the silver medalist Francisco Lo will be looking to make a big impact. There’s an interesting storyline coming from Lo as well, as Dalpra was actually disqualified against him at the IBJJF World Championship and both men will be eager for the rematch. ADCC Trials winner Elijah Dorsey has been invited as well and although he has become popular for his no gi performances this year, he also won the IBJJF European Championship 2024. That was Dorsey’s first gold medal at an IBJJF major and he stands out as one to watch when the bracket unfolds.
Similarly to the featherweight division, the IBJJF has rounded out the bracket by inviting some experienced veterans who will be very tough to beat. Manuel Ribamar and Jaime Canuto have both spent years at the very top of the sport and they have each shared the mats with pretty much all of the best competitors in their weight classes during that time. The final man who will complete the middleweight division is Gabriel Galvao and although he’s not as well-known as everyone else in the lineup for The Crown in 2024, he’s already had some excellent performances.
The full IBJJF: The Crown 2024 event, including the middleweight division above, is available to watch live on November 17th, 2024, on FloGrappling, click here to subscribe and watch.
