Galvao’s Pan shocker
Sarah Galvao stunned the super‑heavyweight scene by beating Gabi Pessanha and taking double gold at the 2026 IBJJF Pan Championship (Mar. 25–29) — a result now positioning her as a top pound‑for‑pound name in gi competition. (mmamania.com) (jitsmagazine.com)
The 2026 Pan ran in Kissimmee, Florida from March 24–29, and the IBJJF announced it contracted the U.S. Anti‑Doping Agency (USADA) to provide anti‑doping services for the event. (ibjjf.com) Sarah Galvão is 19 years old, represents Atos Jiu‑Jitsu, and was promoted to black belt in June 2025 under her parents André and Angelica Galvão. (en.wikipedia.org) Gabrieli “Gabi” Pessanha entered the tournament as one of the sport’s most decorated competitors, holding multiple IBJJF World and Pan titles in the +79kg and absolute divisions across 2021–2025. (bjjheroes.com) At the 2026 European Championship in Lisbon earlier this season, Pessanha beat Galvão in the women’s absolute final by 2–1 on advantages after a 0–0 points score, according to match reports. (bjjnoticias.com.br) The pair have now split high‑profile open‑class finals this year, a sequence outlets described as the start of a rivalry and that has fueled debate over pound‑for‑pound rankings. (jitsmagazine.com) FloGrappling hosted the official Pan broadcast and posted a recap noting the women’s open‑class final outcomes, while video of the absolute final appears on the event’s highlights and official channels. (flograppling.com)
