Kaynan Duarte vs. Roberto Jimenez and Pedro Marinho vs. Izaak Michell are set for WNO 25 on December 4.
After a several-month hiatus, FloGrappling’s Who’s Number One (WNO) is slated to return to action on Wednesday, December 4 with WNO 25, and a pair of intriguing matches have been announced for the card.
Kaynan Duarte vs. Roberto Jimenez
In the main event, four-time ADCC champion Kaynan Duarte will square off with IBJJF no-gi world champion Roberto Jimenez in a heavyweight clash.
Fresh off an incredible double-gold run at the 2024 ADCC World Championships that saw him win all but one of his eight matches by submission, Duarte has been one of the sport’s top heavyweight competitors for the past several years. A master tactician with skills in all areas of grappling, he boasts recent notable victories over the likes of Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu, Giancarlo Bodoni, and Izaak Michell, among others.
Jimenez, meanwhile, has competed across a variety of weight classes during his black belt career – but has always been an elite talent no matter the division. The Ecuadorian’s biggest career accomplishment came at the 2023 IBJJF No-Gi Worlds when he submitted five straight opponents, including three heavyweight ADCC veterans, to win gold in the absolute division.
On paper, the matchup between Duarte and Jimenez at WNO 25 represents a clash of styles. While Duarte is a patient and methodical grappler who loves to employ control-based pressure passing from the top position, Jimenez is an ultra-aggressive submission hunter and one of the best back-takers in the sport today.
However, Duarte’s submission-heavy run at ADCC may be an indication that he has further developed his submission-finishing abilities – particularly with respect to his guillotine choke.
Size will also likely play a significant factor. Duarte competes at either heavyweight or 99kg, while Jimenez recently made the 80kg limit at the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational.
Pedro Marinho vs. Izaak Michell
Before Duarte and Jimenez collide in the main event at WNO 25, reigning light heavyweight champion Pedro Marinho will defend his gold against Australian standout Izaak Michell.
Gracie Barra’s Marinho first claimed the WNO light heavyweight title in early 2022 with a decision victory over Craig Jones – a performance that came not long after he won double gold at the 2021 IBJJF No-Gi Worlds. Since then, Marinho has seen mixed success on the WNO stage, losing to Gordon Ryan and Nicholas Meregali (in the gi) while defeating Giancarlo Bodoni and, in his most recent WNO outing, Rafael Lovato Jr.
Standing across from him will be multiple-time ADCC Trials winner Michell. A former B-Team member now training at New Wave, Michell owns impressive wins over Roberto Jimenez, Ryan Aitken, and Jacob Couch. He’ll come into the contest following a 1-2 run at the 2024 ADCC World Championships.
Fans can expect plenty of scrappy exchanges on the feet when these two talented wrestlers square off, with neither man typically willing to give up top position without a fight.
Marinho owns one of the most dangerous guillotine chokes in the sport – a weapon he uses to dictate wrestling exchanges. And once the match hits the mat, the Brazilian has proven to be a skilled guard passer with a surprisingly adept leg lock game.
For his part, Michell tends to do his best work with throw-by’s and duck-unders that take him directly to his opponent’s back.
How to watch: WNO 25 takes place on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, and will air live on FloGrappling (subscription required).
