Tezos Who’s Number One (WNO) is set to return on Thursday, May 18 in Oklahoma City, Okla. WNO 18 will feature gi competition for the first time in more than three years.
The main event will see multi-time IBJJF world champion Nicholas Meregali facing off against WNO light heavyweight no-gi champion, Pedro Marinho, in a 15-minute WNO rules gi matchup.
Fight fans and grappling fans can catch WNO 18 streaming live on FloGrappling beginning at 7:45 p.m. ET/4:45 p.m. PT.
Main Event — Meregali vs. Marinho
The 6-foot-6 Meregali is a two-time black belt world champion in the gi and is considered one of the best grapplers in the world, particularly in the heavyweight division. “Alemão,” 30, earned his black belt under Mario Reis. He is a three-time world champion in the gi, with his most recent conquest coming in the Absolute division. He also took third place at ADCC 2022 in his weight division, the men’s 99kg.
Nicholas Meregali (4-0) will welcome the gi back to WNO in a heavyweight bout against reigning Tezos WNO no-gi light heavyweight champ Pedro Marinho (2-1).https://t.co/nBdF9gW7Ce
— FloGrappling (@FloGrappling) April 26, 2023
Marinho is a two-time black belt no-gi world champion and is the current WNO light heavyweight champion. He has a 2-1 record in WNO competition, all of which have come in no-gi. He most recently won the 2021 IBJJF World No-Gi Championship, claiming both heavyweight and openweight gold medals. The 26-year-old earned his black belt under Ulpiano Malachias in 2021.
The match, which should represent a fun clash of styles, will be contested under the WNO ruleset. There will be a 15-minute time limit and heel hooks are prohibited. The winner will be determined by submission or judges’ decision.
Rest of the Card
Former Bellator middleweight champion and grappling phenom Rafael Lovato Jr. will be in action against Elder Cruz in what will serve as the co-main event. Lovato, the multiple-time ADCC veteran and 2022 ADCC bronze medalist, should have the backing of a partisan crowd in his native Oklahoma City, and is looking to show he can still hang with one of grappling’s young guns at 39-years-old.
Elsewhere on Thursday’s card, Tubby Alequin is set to take on Alex Enriquez in a women’s flyweight rematch from No-Gi Worlds in December 2022. Jacob Couch will also take on Izaak Michell at middleweight, and Dante Leon will face Ruan Alvarenga in a clash of styles, particularly in terms of how they hunt for top position and fish for their submissions. Young upstart William Tackett will open the WNO 18 main card against Francisco Lo in a battle of top-10 no-gi grapplers.
There will also be a round of preliminary bouts streamed live and free on the FloGrappling YouTube channel prior to tonight’s event. Austin Oranday will take on Troy Russel, and Davis Asare will face off against Nick Heflin in a pair of 15-minute no-gi matchups.
Tezos WNO 18 Results
Main Card
Nicholas Meregali def. Pedro Marinho via Submission (Mounted Triangle) at 5:22
Rafael Lovato Jr. def. Elder Cruz via Submission (RNC) at 9:26
Tubby Alequin def. Alex Enriquez via Judges’ Decision
Izaak Michell def. Jacob Couch via Judges’ Decision
Dante Leon def. Ruan Alvarenga via Submission (RNC) at 7:22
Francisco Lo def. William Tackett via Judges’ Decision
Preliminary Card
Troy Russel def. Austin Oranday via Submission (Heel Hook) at 4:14
Davis Asare def. Nick Heflin via Judges’ Decision
