Patreon: https://patreon.com/UnknownPressures | Whatever your thoughts about the IBJJF, and people often have strong opinions one way or the other, there’s no arguing that the annual World Championships is the premier event when it comes to the gi. You’ll see the absolute best athletes in action, and there were plenty of incredible performances at the 2026 Worlds.

And while we saw some truly virtuoso performances from the likes of Tainan Dalpra, Gabi Pessanha and others, the event was marred by a number of notable moments. Namely, dubious disqualifications, questionable judges’ decisions, a couple of fake matches in the finals.

Episode 36 of @UnknownPressures is out now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and everywhere else.

Support us on Patreon for extended episodes, early access, bonus content and a weekly deep-dive newsletter!

Unknown Pressures is a jiu-jitsu podcast brought to you by two long-time industry insiders: Matt Benyon, the co-founder of Scramble and Polaris, and Hywel Teague, jiu-jitsu / grappling commentator and analyst.

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Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unknown-pressures-a-jiu-jitsu-podcast/id1838001583

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Timestamps

0:00 IBJJF Worlds marks 30 years of history

3:03 Tainan Dalpra continues dominance

7:47 Pato sets record and retires

9:22 It’s stupid to try and criticize Art of Jiu-Jitsu

14:11 Gabi Pessanha, the lady GOAT

15:23 Gigantic Seif Eddine Houmine crushes the competition

18:27 Notable medalists from Worlds

19:38 Double guard pulls and dodgy DQs

29:07 The controversial fake matches

35:09 Did you know IBJJF has prize money?

36:35 The non-Brazilian brown belts winning gold

39:18 Brazilian bias is a problem for Worlds

42:42 Brown belts Nata Tenca and Livia Barasine

We asked how long it would be before more people became implicated in the Melqui Galvao case. Well, a bombshell just dropped when it was revealed that his brother Enoque, also a serving police officer, has been arrested on similar charges. One good thing from this case is that Melqui has ben put under a preventative prison order, meaning he will stay in jail while the investigation is underway.

The details around Melqui's case have not been widely covered in the English-speaking world, which is why we continue to cover it as best we can. We have to give credit to the efforts of Brazilian media such as BJJ Cria, BJJ Bros and MMA Hoje, along with a number of independent creators, in staying on top of this case so that it doesn't get forgotten.

The Andre Galvao case from earlier this year has resurfaced following allegations from a second female student, who said that even though the San Diego police and attorney's office declined to investigate, she too suffered from harassment at the hands of the disgraced coach. The statement came just days before the IBJJF World Championships, where Galvao is expected to be seen coaching his team.

It's important to not that while equally concerning, the cases of Melqui Galvao and Andre Galvao (no relation) are very different. The Atos Jiu-Jitsu Instagram account issued a statement via lawyers Rosing Pott and Strobehn (English) and Hueso e Andrade (Portuguese) that the San Diego Police Department referred the investigation to the San Diego Attorney’s Office to review for potential misdemeanour violations. On April 9, 2026 the City Attorney’s office advised they would not proceed with charges against Galvao.

This is not to say that the allegations were baseless. Many former Atos team members left or have openly spoken out, such as Josh Hinger, saying that something did happen.

Atos HQ used the statement to announce something called the “Atos safe mat program”. Which they described as “one of the most comprehensive ethics, safety, and protection programs ever structured within the sport”. However, eagle-eyed jiu-jitsu fans may have noticed a similarity with the statement put out by Fight Sports in 2021 when the team was embroiled in it's own crisis involvement sexual crimes.

UFC BJJ 8 recently took place, and while there were some notable matches and cool submissions, a lot of the chatter was fixated on the less-than-stellar commentary and the fact Mikey Musumeci competed with a staph infection that sent him to hospital immediately after the match.

This led us to reminisce on one of the most curious moments in jiu-jitsu history: the horrific outbreak of something called epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC), a super virulent form of pink eye that tore through ADCC 2019, afflicting people such as Craig Jones, Mason Fowler, and even Mo Jassim.

In the rest of the episode we cover topics such as:

• The UFC's plans to run Open tournaments much like ADCC and IBJJF

• The projected return to competition of Mica Galvao

• Recent ADCC invites and updates

• Tommy Langaker's shocking confession and recovery from drug addiction

• And much more...

Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:

• Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unknown-pressures-a-jiu-jitsu-podcast/id1838001583

• Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/61hk0ul9sltg2sKJyPNnjo?si=480898a6fb244b8a

• Follow Unknown Pressures on IG: https://www.instagram.com/unknownpressures/

• Follow Matt on IG: https://www.instagram.com/matthew.benyon

• Follow Hywel on IG: https://www.instagram.com/hywelteague

Timestamps:

0:00 Melqui case update: brother arrested for rape

4:31 Another claim of harassment against Andre Galvao

19:36 UFC BJJ 8 recap

22:48 UFC BJJ commentary is not great

25:17 Is UFC BJJ botting views?

26:36 Mikey’s biological warfare, competed with staph

29:43 2019 ADCC super pinkeye outbreak

35:04 ADCC competitors vs matside tables

38:46 Enhanced Games & doping in jiu-jitsu

41:11 UFC BJJ announces new Open tournaments

Patreon: https://patreon.com/UnknownPressures | There's no way we could go to Leglock camp without talking to Mateusz Szczecinski and Kamil Wilk. The Polish black belts are right on the cutting edge of leglock meta, and their camps have helped raise the level of leglock technique around the world.

Hywel and Matt chat with Mateusz and Kamil to find out about the humble beginnings of Leglock camp way back in 2019 in Poland. From their global expansion to discussing how leglock styles differ around the world, the guys share their stories of training in Australia, Japan and elsewhere.

Plus, they're coming to the USA soon! Maybe somebody could fulfill their greatest wish and hook them up with the long lost Eddie Cummings.

Episode 34 of Unknown Pressures is out now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and everywhere else. Support us on Patreon for extended episodes, early access, bonus content and more! Unknown Pressures is a jiu-jitsu podcast brought to you by two long-time industry insiders: Matt Benyon, the co-founder of Scramble and Polaris, and Hywel Teague, jiu-jitsu / grappling commentator and analyst.

Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unknown-pressures-a-jiu-jitsu-podcast/id1838001583

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/61hk0ul9sltg2sKJyPNnjo?si=480898a6fb244b8a

Follow Unknown Pressures on IG: https://www.instagram.com/unknownpressures/

Follow Matt on IG: https://www.instagram.com/matthew.benyon

Follow Hywel on IG: https://www.instagram.com/hywelteague

Follow Mateusz: https://www.instagram.com/mateusz_szczecinski/

Follow Kamil: https://www.instagram.com/wilku_bjj/

Follow Leglock Camp: https://www.instagram.com/leglockcamp/