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.

Any of the 97 brown belts registered for No-Gi Pans this weekend could earn their share of the spotlight with a dominant performance. But there are a few favorites to do it. Among them, there are returning No-Gi Pans and No-Gi Worlds medalists from brown belt divisions, as well as some newcomers from purple belt looking to make their names.