As the 2024 ADCC World Championships loom in Las Vegas in approximately six weeks’ time, WNO 24 will take place live from Austin, Texas later today with openweight kingpin Gordon Ryan set to headline. Ryan, who will be competing for the first time since narrowly escaping Nick Rodriguez back in December 2022, will take on up-and-comer Josh Saunders in the main event.
Fight fans can stream WNO 24 live on FloGrappling beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The show is set to emanate from the Austin Palmer Event Center.
Gordon Ryan Returns
Ryan, the WNO heavyweight champion, will look to make a statement ahead of ADCC. He has automatic entry into the field as the defending champion at 99 kilos. He is the No.1-ranked Pound-For-Pound No-Gi grappler in the world and has not lost a match in six years. Now 28, Ryan will look to make up for a lost 2023 where he dealt with illness and injury, and should have quite a test in front of him in the form of Saunders.
Saunders is no slouch, whatsoever. He is a two-time ADCC Trials Gold Medalist who brings a similar level of physicality to submission grappling as Ryan does. As talented as Saunders is, the focus will still remain squarely on Ryan as he gears up for ADCC, as well as his ability to shake off the rust, though this is not the first time “The King” will be competing following an extended layoff.
Rest of the Card
Two other title fights will encompass Thursday’s card: Diego Pato taking on Fabricio Andrey for the WNO featherweight crown, and Jacob Couch taking on Jonnatas Gracie for the WNO middleweight title. As much excitement as there is around Ryan’s return to competition, Pato vs. Andrey has all the makings of a show-stealer, as two stellar athletes jockey for an edge heading into ADCCs.
Couch and Gracie find themselves in a similar boat, albeit with the twist of competing for a vacant belt. Previous champion Tye Ruotolo, brother of Kade Ruotolo, recently vacated the belt due to a layoff of his own. The Ruotolo brothers will be notably absent from this year’s ADCCs, so the attention is squarely on Couch and Gracie to showcase themselves ahead of the world championships.
For up-to-the-minute results and updates, be sure to stay locked in to MMA Sucka!
WNO 24 Results
Main Card
Gordon Ryan def. Josh Saunders via Heel Hook at 8:33 — For the WNO Heavyweight Championship
Diego Pato def. Fabricio Andrey via Rear-Naked Choke at 12:07 — For the WNO Featherweight Championship
Jonnatas Gracie def. Jacob Couch via Decision — For the vacant WNO Middleweight Championship
Victor Hugo def. Javier Zaruski via Neck Crank at 7:40
Tainan Dalpra def. Jay Rodriguez via Decision
Adele Fornarino def. Ana Rodrigues via Decision
Jozef Chen def. Elijah Dorsey via Rear-Naked Choke at 5:37
Ethan Crelinsten def. Deandre Corbe via Decision
Preliminary Card
Felipe Costa vs. Declan Moody def. Felipe Costa via Rear-Naked Choke at 7:22
Taylor Hishaw def. Lauren Sears via Decision
Jordan Holy def. Andrew DeGraff via Decision
Ally Wolski def. Nathalia Santoro via Armbar at 3:39
