Month in review May 2026 | Progress Jiu Jitsu

May has been a busy one at Progress HQ. We restocked the Vital Apparel range, which a lot of you have been waiting on. Black, white and chocolate are all back, and there is a brand new Bottle Green colourway added to the lineup. We have also been in the studio working on the Sempre Collection with Sam and Oliver Tero, which we cannot wait to share with you. More on that very soon. Check below for everything that happened in the world of BJJ and at Progress this month.

In the World of BJJ

The 30th edition of the IBJJF World Championships wrapped up in Long Beach, California at The Pyramid. Tainan Dalpra, Gabi Pessanha, Mayssa Bastos, Jalen Fonacier, Diego Pato, Cole Abate and more left Long Beach with world titles, while several divisions produced major upsets, breakout performances and new names to watch. Day one was described by many as one of the most action-packed in Worlds history.

IBJJF Worlds 2026

At 25 years old, Tainan Dalpra has just won his fourth world title, and did it in a way nobody had done before. Six minutes and fifteen seconds across four matches, all by submission. He beat Natan Chueng inside the first minute of the final to complete the fastest World Championship run ever recorded. In the rooster division, Diego Pato took gold after the number one ranked Rerisson Gabriel went out early to Khaled Alshehhi in one of the biggest upsets of the week. Pato capitalised on a wide open bracket and jumps to number two on the pound-for-pound rankings. At featherweight, Cole Abate took gold for AOJ in a composed final against Sam Nagai, with Yuta Shimada the standout bracket story after an unexpected run to the podium.

On the women's side, Gabi Pessanha left Long Beach with two more world titles, super heavy and open class gold, bringing her career total to twelve. The open class win is her sixth absolute world title, tying Buchecha's all-time record. One of the most decorated careers in the history of the sport, and she is still competing at the top of it. The women's light final between Janaina Lebre and Sarah Galvao was one of the matches of the weekend. In the year since earning her black belt, Galvao has gone 56 wins and 4 losses, a record that made her the clear favourite heading in. Lebre edged it anyway, in a brilliant match that was one of the results of the week.

A final mention to Seif-Eddine Houmine, who won ultra heavy gold by beating Gutemberg Pereira and then announced his retirement. The first Moroccan and first Frenchman to win an IBJJF black belt world title, going out as champion. 

Progress at Worlds

Two Progress athletes made the podium.

Ryan Nee came away with bronze at blue belt light feather in his first year competing in the adult division. Stepping up to adult for the first time and making the podium at IBJJF Worlds is a serious statement. One to watch.

Giada Pedretti took bronze at purple belt feather against a strong international field, following her European gold medal in January. Back-to-back podium finishes at the highest level. Well done to both of them.

All Things Progress

May has been a big one behind the scenes. We have been in the studio shooting the Sempre Collection with Sam and Oliver Tero. It is a project that means a lot to us and one we cannot wait to share with the community very soon.

Congratulations again to Ryan Nee and Giada Pedretti for representing Progress at Worlds and coming home with medals. 

The team has been heads down preparing for the summer sale, which is coming in June. Keep your eyes on our socials over the next couple of weeks. There is some exciting athlete news on the way.

And for the blue belts across Europe: something big is coming. We are not ready to share the full picture just yet, but if you are a blue belt and you have been looking for a serious opportunity to test yourself against the best in Europe, watch this space. More very soon.

See you next month,
The Progress Team