These are the highest 5 takeaways from WNO 24, which came about on June 20, 2024, in Austin, Texas.
Who’s Quantity One (WNO) 24 came about this previous Thursday and as at all times the athletes introduced the warmth. From the primary bout of the evening by means of the primary occasion which featured the return of Gordon Ryan, submissions had been flying and statements had been made.
View the complete outcomes from WNO 24 here.
#1 Gordon Ryan remains to be the man
Gordon Ryan returned from an prolonged hiatus on account of well being points to ship a classic efficiency in opposition to hulking heavyweight Josh Saunders.
Ryan was aggressive from the onset of this bout as he shortly pulled guard and appeared to assault Saunders’s legs. Saunders did an important job defending early however Ryan used these assaults to comb and acquire high place. From there, Ryan systematically and regularly shredded by means of Saunders’s guard trying to expose the match-finishing place. Saunders met his demise on the 8:33 mark of the match as Ryan entered the within sankaku place from top-side management. From there Ryan was in a position to cross the leg to the surface and end along with his patented exterior heel hook.
Right here’s to hoping Ryan’s well being is the place it must be so we will see him again to an everyday competitors schedule. The jiu-jitsu neighborhood must see “King” Ryan again to dealing with authentic high 5 competitors. With ADCC proper across the nook, we may even see Ryan sooner relatively than later.
#2 Diego Pato deserves extra pound-for-pound recognition
Diego “Pato” Oliviera has been on an absolute tear in 2024 and he stored the ball rolling at WNO 24 which noticed his submit rival Fabricio Andrey through rear-naked choke.
Andrey gave Pato all he might deal with in the course of the bout. He was in a position to efficiently strain cross by means of Pato’s guard, threaten with a kimura entice, and keep protected from Pato’s harmful leg assaults. In the long run, it didn’t matter as Pato stayed calm and located the end.
Current no-gi wins over Dante Leon, Gianni Grippo, Kennedy Maciel, Diogo “Baby Shark” Reis and now Andrey, Pato deserves a spot close to the highest of the pound-for-pound rankings. Pato is a well-rounded grappler who can end from wherever. The WNO champ-champ is without doubt one of the most enjoyable grapplers on the scene in the present day.
#3 Tainan Dalpra is the true deal in no-gi
At WNO 24 Tainan Dalpra continued his ascent up the no-gi jiu-jitsu ladder as he secured his most spectacular no-gi win but. Dalpra defeated ADCC West Coast Trials champion and ADCC world championships veteran Jay Rodriguez by determination.
Early within the bout, Rodriguez scored a takedown and was in a position to briefly cross Dalpra’s guard and nearly safe full mount. Rodriguez stored the strain and tempo on Dalpra all through the bout. Dalpra’s guard proved difficult as at all times, he used constant leg assaults and inversions from the underside to offset Jay-Rod’s passing. Late within the bout, Dalpra was in a position to threaten a again take with a berimbolo and use it to achieve high place. From there he handed the guard and this time secured again management which finally gave him the choose’s nod.
Wins over ADCC veterans Oliver Taza and Jay Rodriguez, in addition to his accolades within the gi, make Tainan Dalpra deserving of an invitation to ADCC or The Craig Jones Invitational (CJI). Dalpra has absolutely dedicated himself to no-gi grappling and he deserves an opportunity to carry out on one of many greatest phases within the sport.
#4 Joezef Chen often is the high younger prospect within the sport
Nineteen-year-old Jozef Chen made an announcement at WNO 24 by submitting ADCC East Coast trials champion Elijah Dorsey. Chen was unimaginable on Thursday evening displaying dominant wrestling and guard passing on his solution to securing the fight-ending rear-naked choke.
Chen has a jam-packed schedule developing as he has bouts scheduled in opposition to Andy Varela (Major Character jiu-jitsu) and Tye Ruotolo (ONE Championship). Chen can be slated to compete on the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational. After this run, Chen might solidify himself as not solely one of many hottest prospects within the sport in the present day however presumably the highest grappler within the sport.
#5 Backtakes are nonetheless king
The game of jiu-jitsu each within the gi and no-gi evolves at a speedy fee. There are tons of intricate guards, passing ideas, and submission assaults. Nevertheless, most positions nonetheless result in the again. The rear-naked choke is probably the most generally hit submission in each sports activities.
At WNO 24 we noticed the taking of the again because the deciding consider lots of the bouts. There have been 4 rear-naked choke finishes on the cardboard. Within the aforementioned Dalpra vs. Rodriguez match, Dalpra’s again take on the finish of the bout secured him the victory.