IBJJF Masters World Championship

NOTES

DATE CORRECTED scan-2026-07-18-1206: Confirmed September 3-5, 2026 at Las Vegas Convention Center (not "August TBD" as previously listed). Gilbert Burns publicly named this his post-MMA-retirement target (Apr 24) — no-gi only ("I'm not wearing a kimono"). 12 IBJJF World titles on his record before MMA pivot. UPDATE Apr 26: Burns CONFIRMED return ("It's not easy… I want to be a world champion in jiu-jitsu in the Masters"). UPDATE Sep 3 (scan-2026-09-03-1443): Burns SIGNED WITH UFC BJJ in May 2026 — his debut expected later in 2026. He did NOT end up competing at IBJJF Masters Worlds 2026. Initial plan superseded by UFC BJJ contract. Tom Hardy (brown belt) is teaching at the event.

Results

Gilbert Burns' much-teased Masters Worlds return never materialized in Las Vegas, his UFC BJJ deal pulling him off the mats as the veteran divisions quietly crowned champions of their own.

• Master 1 Black Belt Middleweight Rafael Oliveira
• Master 2 Black Belt Heavyweight Bruno Santos
• Master 3 Black Belt Lightweight Diego Ramalho