Check out our full card lineup and preview of WNO 25: Duarte vs. Jimenez, which goes down on December 4, 2024.
After a several-month hiatus, FloGrappling’s Who’s Number One (WNO) will return to action on Wednesday, December 4 with an 11-match card featuring a number of the planet’s top no-gi competitors.
Duarte vs. Jimenez
In the main event, 2024 ADCC double-gold medalist Kaynan Duarte will square off with 2023 IBJJF no-gi absolute champion Roberto Jimenez.
Long regarded as one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound competitors, Duarte has enjoyed a stellar year in 2024, clearing out a stacked field to win gold at the IBJJF No-Gi Grand Prix before turning in a career-defining performance at the 2024 ADCC World Championships that saw him submit seven of his eight opponents.
The Atos representative’s dominant positional control and dangerous guillotine choke will be put to the test against Jimenez – arguably the sport’s most entertaining grapplers. While he typically competes at a lower weight class, Jimenez has proven himself to be plenty capable of defeating elite heavyweights. His high-paced, high-activity style and world-class back-takes should make for an intriguing clash against the methodical and tactical approach of Duarte.
Marinho vs. Michell
Before that, reigning WNO light heavyweight champion Pedro Marinho will put his belt on the line against Australian standout Izaak Michell.
Marinho claimed the title in early 2022 with a victory over Craig Jones and has spent the past couple of years quietly establishing himself as one of grappling’s most dangerous opponents. Known for his top-tier wrestling and arguably the best guillotine choke in the sport, the Brazilian is undoubtedly hungry to bounce back from a disappointing first-round exit at the 2024 ADCC World Championships.
For his part, Michell possesses a similar, wrestling-heavy style to Marinho, but has shown to be a more dynamic leg locker. Fans can look forward to an intense stand-up battle in this match, with neither man willing to cede the bottom position. Marinho is a constant threat with his guillotine choke, while Michell is a super back-taker and tireless worker.
Fornarino vs. Cassella
Also, reigning ADCC 55kg and absolute champion Adele Fornarino hopes to put a stamp on her epic 2024 with a successful defense of her WNO strawweight crown. The Australian was originally slated to face no-gi world champion Alex Nguyen, but will now take on late-notice replacement Sophia Cassella.
Fornarino has enjoyed a banner year. She is undefeated across both gi and no-gi competitions, boasting notable victories over the likes of Anna Rodrigues, Mayssa Bastos, and Rafaela Guedes. Her double-gold performance at ADCC saw her submit four of her six opponents to establish herself as arguably the sport’s top pound-for-pound grappler.
Freshly promoted black belt Sophia Cassella will look to score the upset in the biggest opportunity of her career so far. A Medusa EBI champion, Cassella is an excellent leg locker with ever-evolving wrestling and guard passing skills. On paper, she’s a significant underdog against the accomplished Fornarino, but Cassella certainly has the submission-hunting talents to score what would be one of 2024’s biggest upsets.
The rest of the card at WNO 25
Elsewhere on the card, multiple-time ADCC world champion Felipe Pena will face rising B-Team star Declan Moody; young prodigy Helena Crevar returns against Leilani Bernales; and Pedigo Submission Fighting’s Max Hanson will battle Carlos Henrique in a rematch of the pair’s clash in the final of the 2024 IBJJF No-Gi Pans that Hanson won on points.
Check out the full lineup at WNO 25 below.
WNO 25 full card lineup
Kaynan Duarte vs. Roberto Jimenez (heavyweight)
Pedro Marinho vs. Izaak Michell (WNO light heavyweight title)
Adele Fornarino vs. Sophia Cassella (WNO strawweight title)
Felipe Pena vs. Declan Moody (heavyweight)
Helena Crevar vs. Leilani Bernales (featherweight)
Daniel Sathler vs. Fabyury Khrysthyan (welterweight)
Max Hanson vs. Carlos Henrique (lightweight)
Undercard
Julian Espinosa vs. Randy Baker (lightweight)
Nate Hernandez vs. Isaac Cordova (featherweight)
Dylan Melton vs. Sebastian Attard (light heavyweight)
Thaynara Victoria vs. Kathryn Discianni (strawweight)
How to watch: WNO 25 takes place on Wednesday, December 4, and will air live on FloGrappling (subscription required) beginning at 8:00 PM EST.
