WNO 24 taking shape with the additions of Cole Abate, Tainan Dalpra, Jozef Chen
Several world-class no-gi matches have been announced for WNO 24, set to go down on Thursday, June 20.
The next installment of FloGrappling’s Who’s Number One (WNO) is on the calendar, and it’s already shaping up to be one of the promotion’s best cards.
WNO 24 will take place on Thursday, June 20 in Austin, Texas. Several matches have already been announced.
Reigning WNO featherweight champion Diego “Pato” Oliveira – a man considered by many to be the sport’s top pound-for-pound competitor – will defend his belt against fellow Brazilian Fabricio Andrey. The pair have clashed three times before as black belts, with Andrey holding a 2-1 advantage. All three of those matches, though, took place in the gi.
Also, multiple-time gi world champion Tainan Dalpra will continue his foray into the elite no-gi scene as he’s set to take on ADCC veteran Jay Rodriguez. While the Art of Jiu-Jitsu product is still relatively new to no-gi competition, he has proven so far to be a top talent, and in his most recent no-gi outing secured a dominant decision win over veteran no-gi competitor Oliver Taza.
For his part, B-Team’s Rodriguez will bring a top-flight takedown game and some of the sport’s best cardio and submission defense to the contest.
Dalpra won’t be the only Art of Jiu-Jitsu athlete competing at WNO, as young phenom Cole Abate will make his return to action for the first time since last September when he squares off with elite black belt Ethan Crelinsten. A master technician and strategist, Abate’s well-rounded game will be put to the test against Crelinsten and his world-class back-takes and scrambling ability.
And in a clash of recent 77kg ADCC Trials winners, Team Lloyd Irvin’s Elijah Dorsey will take on young prodigy Jozef Chen. While both men are talented in all areas of grappling, both are superb guard passers.
Other announced matches at WNO 24 include a pivotal heavyweight tilt between ADCC Trials winner Luke Griffith and multiple-time world champion Victor Hugo, as well as a middleweight title bout between Jacob “The Hillbilly Hammer” Couch and Checkmat’s Francisco Lo.
WNO 24 current lineup
- Diego “Pato” Oliveira vs. Fabricio Andrey (WNO featherweight championship)
- Jacob Couch vs. Francisco Lo (WNO middleweight championship)
- Victor Hugo vs. Luke Griffith (heavyweight)
- Cole Abate vs. Ethan Crelinsten (lightweight)
- Tainan Dalpra vs. Jay Rodriguez (middleweight)
- Elijah Dorsey vs. Jozef Chen (welterweight)