WNO 23 results and video highlights: Meregali dominates Rocha in main event
Check out the full results and video highlights from last Friday’s WNO 23: Nicholas Meregali vs. Vagner Rocha.
Who’s Number One (WNO) 23 took place on Friday, March 10, and featured a heavyweight main event clash between Nicholas Meregali and Vagner Rocha.
In that matchup, New Wave’s Meregali employed solid wrestling and suffocating top control en route to a late submission finish. After spending the bout’s first several minutes grappling for position on the feet, Meregali used an arm drag to secure a clean takedown. From there, he quickly passed Rocha’s guard and spent the next few minutes alternating between dominant positions.
The finish came in the contest’s final two minutes, as Meregali wrapped up an armbar from the mount.
With the victory, the 29-year-old extends his winning streak that dates back to the 2022 ADCC World Championships and continues to look like the top heavyweight competitor in no-gi grappling.
Before that, in the co-main event, young phenom Andrew Tackett – fresh off his gold medal performance at the ADCC West Coast Trials – put on a spectacular showing against current IBJJF no-gi world champion Tommy Langaker. Tackett made relatively quick work of the Norwegian, passing his guard before moving to the back position where he sunk in the match-ending rear-naked choke.
The win further solidifies Tackett’s status as one of the sport’s top 77kg competitors as he continues to gain momentum ahead of the 2024 ADCC World Championships.
Elsewhere on the card, Rocha siblings Achilles and Jasmine each secured impressive submission wins. On the preliminary card, 17-year-old Achilles Rocha added to his highlight reel with an incredible armbar over Camron Couch. Later in the night, recent ADCC West Coast Trials winner Jasmine Rocha submitted Emily Ferreira with an Aoki lock.
Also of note, Nicky Ryan picked up the biggest win of his still-young career with an ankle lock submission on two-time ADCC champion JT Torres; Felipe Pena earned a gritty decision win over fellow veteran Rafael Lovato Jr.; and former WNO champion Diogo “Baby Shark” Reis breezed to a submission win over Shay Montague.
Check out the full results from WNO 23 below.
WNO 23 results
Main card
- Nicholas Meregali def. Vagner Rocha via submission (armbar)
- Andrew Tackett def. Tommy Langaker via submission (rear-naked choke)
- Felipe Pena def. Rafael Lovato Jr. via decision
- Nicky Ryan def. JT Torres via submission (ankle lock)
- Jasmine Rocha def. Emily Ferreira via submission (Aoki lock)
- Diogo Reis def. Shay Montague via submission (anaconda choke)
Preliminary card
- Achilles Rocha def. Camron Couch via submission (armbar)
- Luccas Lira def. Husam Alabed via decision
- Cassia Moura def. Jessica Crane via submission (rear-naked choke)
- Evan Leve def. Marlon Tanaka via decision
