WNO Gordon Ryan VS Matheus Diniz Card Quick Look
The WNO 4 Gordon Ryan vs Matheus Diniz card next month (Oct. 2) has some of the best grapplers scheduled to square off. Names like Ryan, Craig Jones, Gabi Garcia, Roberto Jimenez and Tony Ramos, to name a few. If all the athletes stay healthy, this may be the best event of the year. Let’s take a look at some of the heavy hitters on this card.
Gordon Ryan vs Matheus Diniz
Ryan will be back in action after having to take some time off from contracting Covid. He was due to face Jones in the last WNO, but both had to pull out of the card after testing positive for the coronavirus. They are back now, and this time Ryan is set to face Diniz. Diniz won gold at ADCC in 2019 and has never been submitted in no-gi as a black belt. This match will be 30 minutes of sub-only.
Gilbert Burns vs Dante Leon
Leon last competed at WNO against Garry Tonan in a bout that many believe could be match of the year. Tonan came away with the victory, but there is no doubt Leon will be on top of his game Oct. 2 when he faces off with Gilbert Burns. Burns has been making waves in MMA and is the number-one contender to the UFC welterweight title. He is an IBJJF world champion in both Gi and No Gi.
Roberto Jimenez vs Craig Jones
Both of these competitors have been busy this year. Jimenez won Kumite last month before the decision was overturned in a controversial call by the ref. Then, Jiminez tapped former UFC fighter, Jesse Taylor, at SUG 17. Jiminez seems to be on a roll, but takes on Jones who has also been active. Jones competed on the SUG 17 card losing to Mason Fowler in overtime. With Jimenez being the stronger wrestler and savvy to leg locks this match is interesting.
Tony Ramos vs Nicky Ryan
Tony Ramos will make his entrance into the world of submission grappling next month. Though he is a newcomer to the sport, he is no stranger to competition. He’s a former NCAA national champion who has built a career on winning as an underdog. He has been training strictly in Jiu Jitsu for this match. If you want to hear his thoughts on his upcoming match, check out our interview with him here. He will face Nicky Ryan. The question on everybody’s mind is, can he stop the leg locks?
Elisabeth Clay vs Gabi Garcia
Elisabeth Clay is 20 years old and making a name for herself in the grappling scene. She is on a long win streak and is expected to place at ADCC 2021. She won the West Coast trials for ADCC in 2017 as a blue belt when she was only 16 years old. But we’ll see if the brown belt will have what it takes to beat one of the best female grapplers of all time in Garcia. Garcia is a four-time ADCC champ and nine-time IBJJF champ. This will be a No Gi match, which gives Clay the best odds at coming out with a victory.
Paulo Miyao vs Geo Martinez
Paulo Miyao is a multiple world champion and has won just about every major tournament out there. He is also an ADCC regular. He faces Martinez for the third time. Martinez is primarily a No Gi sub-only player who earned his black belt under Eddie Bravo in just three years. He won the ADCC trials in 2014. Miyao has two wins over Martinez, both by points. This will be a sub-only match.
WNO takes place on Oct. 2 and will be streamed live on FloGrappling.
