Take a look at our full card lineup and preview of WNO 25: Duarte vs. Jimenez, which fits down on December 4, 2024.
After a several-month hiatus, FloGrappling’s Who’s Quantity One (WNO) will return to motion on Wednesday, December 4 with an 11-match card that includes a variety of the planet’s prime no-gi opponents.
Duarte vs. Jimenez
In the primary occasion, 2024 ADCC double-gold medalist Kaynan Duarte will sq. off with 2023 IBJJF no-gi absolute champion Roberto Jimenez.
Lengthy thought to be one of many sport’s prime pound-for-pound opponents, Duarte has loved a stellar yr in 2024, clearing out a stacked subject to win gold on the IBJJF No-Gi Grand Prix earlier than delivering a career-defining efficiency on the 2024 ADCC World Championships that noticed him submit seven of his eight opponents.
The Atos consultant’s dominant positional management and harmful guillotine choke shall be put to the check towards Jimenez – arguably the game’s most entertaining grapplers. Whereas he sometimes competes at a decrease weight class, Jimenez has confirmed himself to be lots able to defeating elite heavyweights. His high-paced, high-activity type and world-class back-takes ought to make for an intriguing conflict towards the methodical and tactical strategy of Duarte.
Marinho vs. Michell
Earlier than that, reigning WNO mild heavyweight champion Pedro Marinho will put his belt on the road towards Australian standout Izaak Michell.
Marinho claimed the title in early 2022 with a victory over Craig Jones and has spent the previous couple of years quietly establishing himself as one in every of grappling’s most harmful opponents. Identified for his top-tier wrestling and arguably the very best guillotine choke within the sport, the Brazilian is undoubtedly hungry to bounce again from a disappointing first-round exit on the 2024 ADCC World Championships.
For his half, Michell possesses the same, wrestling-heavy type to Marinho, however has proven to be a extra dynamic leg locker. Followers can sit up for an intense stand-up battle on this match, with neither man prepared to cede the underside place. Marinho is a continuing menace along with his guillotine choke, whereas Michell is an excellent back-taker and tireless employee.
Fornarino vs. Cassella
Additionally, reigning ADCC 55kg and absolute champion Adele Fornarino hopes to place a stamp on her epic 2024 with a profitable protection of her WNO strawweight crown. The Australian was initially slated to face no-gi world champion Alex Nguyen, however will now tackle late-notice substitute Sophia Cassella.
Fornarino has loved a banner yr. She is undefeated throughout each gi and no-gi competitions, boasting notable victories over the likes of Anna Rodrigues, Mayssa Bastos, and Rafaela Guedes. Her double-gold efficiency at ADCC noticed her submit 4 of her six opponents to ascertain herself as arguably the game’s prime pound-for-pound grappler.
Freshly promoted black belt Sophia Cassella will look to attain the upset within the largest alternative of her profession thus far. A Medusa EBI champion, Cassella is a superb leg locker with ever-evolving wrestling and guard passing abilities. On paper, she’s a big underdog towards the achieved Fornarino, however Cassella actually has the submission-hunting abilities to attain what could be one in every of 2024’s largest upsets.
The remainder of the cardboard at WNO 25
Elsewhere on the cardboard, multiple-time ADCC world champion Felipe Pena will face rising B-Staff star Declan Moody; younger prodigy Helena Crevar returns towards Leilani Bernales; and Pedigo Submission Preventing’s Max Hanson will battle Carlos Henrique in a rematch of the pair’s conflict within the last of the 2024 IBJJF No-Gi Pans that Hanson gained on factors.
Take a look at the total lineup at WNO 25 beneath.
WNO 25 full card lineup
- Kaynan Duarte vs. Roberto Jimenez (heavyweight)
- Pedro Marinho vs. Izaak Michell (WNO mild heavyweight title)
- Adele Fornarino vs. Sophia Cassella (WNO strawweight title)
- Felipe Pena vs. Declan Moody (heavyweight)
- Helena Crevar vs. Leilani Bernales (featherweight)
- Daniel Sathler vs. Fabyury Khrysthyan (welterweight)
- Max Hanson vs. Carlos Henrique (light-weight)
Undercard
- Julian Espinosa vs. Randy Baker (light-weight)
- Nate Hernandez vs. Isaac Cordova (featherweight)
- Dylan Melton vs. Sebastian Attard (mild heavyweight)
- Thaynara Victoria vs. Kathryn Discianni (strawweight)
The best way to watch: WNO 25 takes place on Wednesday, December 4, and can air dwell on FloGrappling (subscription required) starting at 8:00 PM EST.
