The Sapateiro World Championship 2024 is coming one step closer with the Bethlehem Qualifier set for April 14th, 2024 and there’s an amazing lineup booked for it. The promotion is putting $100,000 in prize money up for their first world champion in the 160lbs division so naturally these qualifying rounds have attracted some fantastic competitors. While this edition is an invitational tournament, there will also be an Open tournament in Bethlehem the day before on April 13th too. The two winners from these tournaments will join Deandre Corbe, who won the Florida Qualifier and secured his place as the first contender for the Sapateiro World Championship.
There are some seriously impressive competitors who might be competing alongside Deandre Corbe at the end of the year though, and there’s going to be some fun matches once the Bethlehem Qualifier starts. The early favorite to win the tournament is probably either Carlos Henrique or Julian Espinosa, although things certainly won’t be easy for either of them. Kevin Dantzler is coming into the tournament on short notice but he’s a veteran competitor who will be a real contender regardless. He isn’t the only top grappler coming in on short notice either, as both Mason Klein and Andrew Franco were announced with just days left before the tournament takes place.
Sid Tavolaro and Landon Elmore are both ones to watch in the Sapateiro World Championship 2024 Bethlehem Qualifier lineup as well, as they are both promising young competitors from top teams; Standard Jiu-Jitsu and New Wave Jiu-Jitsu respectively. While Tavolaro will be looking to join his teammate Corbe in the grand finale, he’ll be competing against another teammate, Travis DePriest, just to get there. They aren’t the only talented prospects taking part either, as Andrew DeGraff has been making waves for a little while now and Matt Masch is fresh off a really impressive breakthrough performance at the featherweight Combat Jiu-Jitsu World Championship 2024.
Jason Valle will actually be returning for his second attempt at qualifying after going out in the opening round of the Florida Qualifier, and there are several other talented competitors rounding out the lineup. Top 10th Planet representative Isaac Cordova is going to be making a run at the World Championship invite, as is the exciting Unity Jiu-Jitsu brown belt Anthony Ortiz. The final competitors who will be entering the lineup for the Sapateiro World Championship 2024 Bethlehem Qualifier will be Randy Baker, Vince Kline, and Diallo Braithwaite; and all three of them will no doubt be eager to make a big impact at the event.