Kaynan Duarte vs. Roberto Jimenez and Pedro Marinho vs. Izaak Michell are set for WNO 25 on December 4.
After a several-month hiatus, FloGrappling’s Who’s Quantity One (WNO) is slated to return to motion on Wednesday, December 4 with WNO 25, and a pair of intriguing matches have been introduced for the cardboard.
Kaynan Duarte vs. Roberto Jimenez
In the principle occasion, four-time ADCC champion Kaynan Duarte will sq. off with IBJJF no-gi world champion Roberto Jimenez in a heavyweight conflict.
Recent off an unbelievable double-gold run on the 2024 ADCC World Championships that noticed him win all however considered one of his eight matches by submission, Duarte has been one of many sport’s high heavyweight opponents for the previous a number of years. A grasp tactician with expertise in all areas of grappling, he boasts current notable victories over the likes of Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu, Giancarlo Bodoni, and Izaak Michell, amongst others.
Jimenez, in the meantime, has competed throughout quite a lot of weight lessons throughout his black belt profession – however has all the time been an elite expertise regardless of the division. The Ecuadorian’s largest profession accomplishment got here on the 2023 IBJJF No-Gi Worlds when he submitted 5 straight opponents, together with three heavyweight ADCC veterans, to win gold within the absolute division.
On paper, the matchup between Duarte and Jimenez at WNO 25 represents a conflict of kinds. Whereas Duarte is a affected person and methodical grappler who likes to make use of control-based stress passing from the highest place, Jimenez is an ultra-aggressive submission hunter and among the best back-takers within the sport as we speak.
Nevertheless, Duarte’s submission-heavy run at ADCC could also be a sign that he has additional developed his submission-finishing talents – significantly with respect to his guillotine choke.
Measurement may even seemingly play a major issue. Duarte competes at both heavyweight or 99kg, whereas Jimenez lately made the 80kg restrict on the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational.
Pedro Marinho vs. Izaak Michell
Earlier than Duarte and Jimenez collide in the principle occasion at WNO 25, reigning gentle heavyweight champion Pedro Marinho will defend his gold towards Australian standout Izaak Michell.
Gracie Barra’s Marinho first claimed the WNO gentle heavyweight title in early 2022 with a call victory over Craig Jones – a efficiency that got here not lengthy after he gained double gold on the 2021 IBJJF No-Gi Worlds. Since then, Marinho has seen blended success on the WNO stage, dropping to Gordon Ryan and Nicholas Meregali (within the gi) whereas defeating Giancarlo Bodoni and, in his most up-to-date WNO outing, Rafael Lovato Jr.
Standing throughout from him can be multiple-time ADCC Trials winner Michell. A former B-Staff member now coaching at New Wave, Michell owns spectacular wins over Roberto Jimenez, Ryan Aitken, and Jacob Couch. He’ll come into the competition following a 1-2 run on the 2024 ADCC World Championships.
Followers can anticipate loads of scrappy exchanges on the toes when these two proficient wrestlers sq. off, with neither man usually keen to surrender high place with out a struggle.
Marinho owns some of the harmful guillotine chokes within the sport – a weapon he makes use of to dictate wrestling exchanges. And as soon as the match hits the mat, the Brazilian has confirmed to be a talented guard passer with a surprisingly adept leg lock sport.
For his half, Michell tends to do his finest work with throw-by’s and duck-unders that take him on to his opponent’s again.
The way to watch: WNO 25 takes place on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, and can air reside on FloGrappling (subscription required).
