Tainan Dalpra booked for no-gi debut against Troy Russell
Two-time gi world champion Tainan Dalpra will make his no-gi debut against Troy Russell on November 30 at WNO 21.
One of jiu-jitsu’s top gi competitors of the past decade will soon make his long-awaited no-gi debut.
On November 30, at Who’s Number One (WNO) 21, two-time IBJJF world champion Tainan Dalpra will square off with Troy Russell in a 15-minute submission-only matchup.
FloGrappling announced the bout on Instagram.
With a black belt record of 71-2 and gold medal performances at every major IBJJF tournament, Dalpra has firmly established himself as one of the top pound-for-pound gi competitors in the world. The Art of Jiu-Jitsu representative has lost just one time in IBJJF competition – a narrow defeat to Jansen Gomes in the final of the 2023 IBJJF Worlds.
Dalpra arguably possesses the best guard passing in all of gi jiu-jitsu, showcasing the trademark AoJ style at the highest levels. Much more than just a top control specialist, the 22-year-old is also an accomplished submission hunter with a 73 percent submission rate across all of his black belt matches.
Russell, meanwhile, is significantly less known but is certainly no stranger to the no-gi scene. A black belt under Rafael Lovato Jr., Russell is a two-time WNO veteran, sporting a submission win over Austin Oranday and a submission loss against Andrew Tackett.
Russell is a skilled leg locker who will certainly look to test Dalpra in that department.
How to watch: WNO 21 takes place on Thursday, November 30, and will air live on FloGrappling (subscription required).
