Check out the full card lineup and preview for WNO 24: Ryan vs. Saunders, set to take place on Thursday, June 20.
FloGrappling’s Who’s Number One (WNO) continues to churn out top-tier events. WNO 24 is the latest on the stacked docket. The main event features the return of grappling icon Gordon Ryan as he takes on upset-minded Australian Josh Saunders. In the co-main event, WNO Champ-Champ Diego Pato defends his featherweight title against Fabricio Andrey.
WNO 24: Ryan vs. Saunders full card
Main Card
Gordon Ryan vs Josh Saunders
Diego Pato vs Fabricio Andrey
Victor Hugo vs Javier Zaruski
Jacob Couch vs Jonnatas Gracie
Tainan Dalpra vs Jay Rodriguez
Ana Rodrigues vs Adele Fornarino
Elijah Dorsey vs Jozef Chen
Ethan Crelinsten vs DeAndre Corbe
Prelim Card
Felipe Costa vs Declan Moody
Taylor Hishaw vs Lauren Sears
Andrew DeGraff vs Jordan Holy
Ally Wolski vs Natalia Santoro
Gordon Ryan vs. Josh Saunders
Gordon Ryan will make his long-awaited return to the competition stage to defend his WNO Heavyweight Championship against Australian powerhouse Josh Saunders. Ryan, who has been dealing with stomach ailments that hampered his training, has not competed since October.
Needing no introduction, Ryan is the consensus no-gi grappling GOAT. He is a multiple-time EBI champion, and an ADCC weight and Absolute Champion. He has won on every big stage in professional grappling and often called how he will finish his bouts. Known for his dynamic leg lock game, over the past few years he has made it a point to showcase the rest of his well-rounded skill set. He is adept at passing the guard and taking the back where the finish becomes an inevitable matter of time.
Standing across from him is rising Australian Josh Saunders. A two-time ADCC Asian & Oceanic Trials Champion, Saunders will compete at the 2024 ADCC World Championships in the +99kg division.
Saunders is a powerful and aggressive grappler. He has very good takedown skills and once on the mat has slick passing. He is a proven finisher. Saunders makes his WNO against the best no-gi grappler in the world today. Can he shock the world or will Gordon Ryan wow us with another self-predicted submission?
Diego “Pato” Oliveira vs Fabricio Andrey
Featherweight gold is on the line in the co-main event as two-division champion Diego Pato defends his strap against Fabricio Andrey. These two men are no strangers to one another as this will mark their fourth battle. Andrey currently holds a 2-1 series lead as he won a pair of razor-close decisions. Pato won their last bout in 2023 at IBJJF’s event “The Crown” via advantage. It should be noted that all of these bouts took place in the Gi.
Pato brings with him one of the most intricate guard games in jiu-jitsu today. He is a vicious leg locker as shown in his last WNO bout that saw him win the WNO Lightweight Championship finishing Dante Leon via outside heel hook. Pato has been on an absolute tear in 2024.
ADCC trials winner and IBJJF world champion Fabricio “Hokage” Andrey toes the line looking to obtain WNO championship gold. An impressive blend of explosive wrestling, guard passing and triangles from everywhere makes Andrey an extremely tough outing for anyone.
There will obviously be some competition for Fight of the Night as this card is stacked from top to bottom, but this bout should be absolute fireworks for however long it lasts. It will be interesting to see how the dynamic of the bout changes without the gi.
Jacob Couch vs. Jonnatas Gracie
WNO veteran and beloved fan favorite Jacob Couch will get his shot at WNO gold as he takes on Jonnatas Gracie for the Middleweight title. Couch, who won the 2023 ADCC East Coast Trials incredibly submitting seven opponents, picked up right where he left off at WNO 22 as he submitted Sebastian Rodriguez via outside heel hook. Couch wastes no time on the mat as he tends to sit guard and get right to work. “The Hillbilly Hammer” is known for his brutal leg locks.
Jonnatas Gracie made his WNO in 2023 defeating Oliver Taza via decision. He has been on a roll in 2024 holding victories over Levi Leary Jones and most recently Jay Rodriguez.
It will be fascinating to see how Gracie decides to navigate the guard of Couch. He is a very smooth and patient guard passer who will look to lock Couch down and hold position.
The rest of the card at WNO 24
Tainan Dalpra looks to continue paving his way on the no-gi side of the sport. He is 2-0 at WNO with wins over Troy Russell and Oliver Taza. He takes another step up as he takes on the always-electric Jay Rodriguez. Rodriguez is a wild man who can attack from any position and operates at a blistering pace. Dalpra, the fundamental wizard against the unorthodox Rodriguez should be a fascinating war.
Both Elijah Dorsey and Jozef Chen had breakout performances in their recent ADCC Trials campaigns. Dorsey won seven bouts including defeating Chen’s teammate Nicky Ryan in the finals to win the -77kg bracket at the 2023 East Coast Trials. Chen won 6 bouts at the 2023 ADCC European trials to punch his ticket to the 2024 ADCC World Championships. This bout between two of the sport’s top prospects has Fight of the Night written all over it.
The main card kicks off with a bout between ADCC Trials Champions Ethan Crelinsten and Deandre Corbe. This action-packed bout should set the bar high for the rest of the main card.
How to watch: WNO 24: Ryan vs. Saunders takes place on Thursday, June 20, and will air live on FloGrappling (subscription required) beginning at 8:00 PM ET.
