The black belt class of 2021 is a who's who of top notch competitors, many of whom are likely to grace the top of black belt podiums in the coming months. Below are the athletes who earned the rank of black belt in December.

Day one of the IBJJF World Championships was filled with the action, submissions and incredible stories expected of an event of this caliber. Day two is sure to deliver as well, as the male purple and brown belts will take their place on the mats in search of the most coveted title in jiu-jitsu. With hundreds of competitors in search of just a few medals, we're guaranteed  thrilling action throughout the day.

The 2021 IBJJF American National Championships begin on Thursday June 24. The black belts take the mats on Friday, June 25, and switch into no-gi attire on Saturday, June 25. We could see any number of potential matches in the semifinals and finals, but we're promised some exciting matches even earlier in the tournament. Here are our favorite first and second round matchups.