WNO 21 results: Pedro Marinho, Mica Galvao retain titles, Diogo Reis suffers injury
View the full results and video highlights from WNO 21, featuring a main event light heavyweight title match between Pedro Marinho and Rafael Lovato Jr.
FloGrappling’s Who’s Number One (WNO) returned to action in Austin on Thursday, November 30, with a talent-stacked card topped by three title matches.
Pedro Marinho defends light heavyweight crown
In the main event, WNO light heavyweight champion Pedro Marinho retained his title with a gritty, hard-fought decision win over veteran Rafael Lovato Jr. Marinho started explosively, scoring some early takedowns and finding some success from top position through the match’s first five minutes.
The pair would spend the remaining 10 minutes largely hand-fighting and jockeying for position on the feet, with Lovato generally pressing the action and moving forward. Despite that aggression, the American was never able to secure a takedown or a strong position.
The victory solidifies Marinho’s status as the sport’s top light heavyweight.
Mica Galvao defends title, faces Nicky Ryan next
Before that, WNO welterweight champion Mica Galvao looked dominant in his title defense against challenger Kody Steele. The Brazilian used his front headlock attacks throughout the contest to both threaten submissions and find strong positions, eventually finding his way to the back to secure a rear-naked choke finish with just over two minutes remaining. The victory improves Galvao’s WNO record to 9-1.
Afterward, it was announced that Galvao’s next title defense would come on February 9 against the B-Team’s Nicky Ryan at WNO 22 in Costa Mesa, California.
Diogo Reis Loses Title Due To Injury
The evening’s first title match saw Diego “Pato” Oliveira earn a victory over Diogo “Baby Shark” Reis to claim the WNO featherweight title. After a high-paced six minutes of action that saw Oliveira chaining together leg attacks, the contest ended in disappointing fashion, as Reis suffered a knee injury during an exchange and was unable to continue.
Tainan Dalpra shines, Giancarlo Bodoni decisions Lucas Barbosa
In other notable action, multiple-time gi world champion Tainan Dalpra made his long-awaited no-gi debut with a dominant submission victory over WNO veteran Troy Russell. The Art of Jiu-Jitsu representative displayed the same type of clean guard passing and suffocating top control seen in his gi performances on his way to the armbar finish.
Also, ADCC champion Giancarlo Bodoni – filling in for his teammate Gordon Ryan on just one week’s notice – earned a decision win over Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa in a 15-minute match that was contested exclusively on the feet. With the win, Bodoni improves his record against Barbosa to 3-4 overall and has now taken two in a row.
WNO 21 results
Main card
- Pedro Marinho def. Rafael Lovato Jr. via decision to defend his WNO light heavyweight title
- Mica Galvao def. Kody Steele via submission (rear-naked choke) to defend his WNO welterweight title
- Diego Oliveira def. Diogo Reis via injury stoppage to claim the WNO featherweight title
- Giancarlo Bodoni def. Lucas Barbosa via decision
- Luke Griffith def. Roosevelt Sousa via submission (heel hook)
- Helena Crevar def. Julai Maele via decision
- Tainan Dalpra def. Troy Russell via submission (armbar)
- Owen Jones def. Dominic Mejia via decision
- Reese LeFever def. Estevan Martinez via decision
- Mia Funegra def. Janice Russell via armbar
- Nick Bataya def. Ian Butler via submission (kimura)
