Who’s Number One 21 Recap

WNO or Crown? Which had more submissions?

Who’s Number One is a major BJJ event that happens a few times a year. It’s a chance for the best athletes to showcase their talents in 15 minute submission only matches.

This was an all no gi event. I was interested to see the comparison between this and the recent IBJJF Crown all gi event.

WNO vs IBJJF Crown - Submission Results

WNO 21 (no gi)

11 matches. 6 submissions. 55% submission rate.

IBJJF Crown (gi)

19 matches. 3 submissions. 16% submission rate.

WNO 21 analysis

Rules

15 minute matches. All submissions legal. No points. Judging system where a “judges favour” is announced every 5 minutes.

Main Card Matches

Middleweight - under 185 pounds. 15 minute match.

Tainan Dalpra (5’10, 183.6 pounds. 23 years old. Team Art of Jiu-Jitsu)

vs.

Troy Russell (5’10, 183.6 pounds. 30 years old. Team Lovato Jiu-Jitsu)

Tainan Dalpra submits Troy Russell with an armbar. 4 mins 30 seconds.

Tainan Dalpra is one of the top students of the Mendes brothers Art Of Jiu-Jitsu academy in Costa Mesa, California. Tainan is 2 time world champion in the gi. This was his first big no gi match. Props to Troy for giving it his all, but Tainan was too much. He hit a beautiful arm drag to single leg to get the match to the ground. Finishing with a mounted armbar.

Tainan sounds like he wants to take his time with no gi, didn’t call for any big names, or suggest ADCC was possibly coming. I would love to see him at ADCC.

Tainan’s coach, Gui Mendes posted on Instagram about how Tainan was trying to emulate the moves of legendary Marcelo Garcia. This should be a big hint for coaches and anyone training no gi. The Mendes brothers are amazing coaches and they think Marcelo Garcia has the best move set. Copy Marcelo Garcia.

Female featherweight - under 145 pounds. 15 min match.

Helena Crevar (5’6, 145 pounds. 16 years old. Team New Wave)

Vs.

Julia Maele (5’7, 141.8 pounds. 31 years old)

Helena Crevar beats Julia Maele by decision

Helena is a 16 year old BJJ phenom training at team New Wave with John Danaher. Julia is twice her age, a very competitive black belt, and ADCC European trials winner.

Helena is really fun to watch. She pulled guard and immediately started hunting for submissions. Most of the match she was attacking Julia’s legs. Good match. Helena’s next focus is winning the ADCC trials to earn her spot in the ADCC 2024 world championship.

Heavyweight. 15 min match.

Luke Griffith (6’5 253.4 pounds. Age 22. Team New Wave)

Vs.

Roosevelt Sousa (6’4 252 pounds. Age 30. Team Fight Sports)

Luke Griffith defeats Roosevelt Sousa by inside heel hook. 3 mins 25 seconds.

Luke is an animal. He’s 3-0 in WNO competition with 3 quick submissions. A few leg entanglements before they landed in 50/50 position where Luke got an inside heel hook for the win.

In the post match interview he called for a match with Craig Jones. Let’s go, that’s a match I wanna see!

Heavyweight. 15 min match.

Giancarlo Bodoni (5’11, 210 pounds. Age 28. Team New Wave)

Vs.

Lucas 'Hulk' Barbosa (5’10, 207 pounds. Age 31. Team Atos)

Giancarlo Bodoni defeats Lucas 'Hulk' Barbosa by decision.

This match was mostly standing collar ties. Commentator Shawn Williams did his best to explain the strategy behind the hand fighting game, but most of the feedback from this match was that it was boring.

Giancarlo did what he needed to do to win. Hulk shot in a few times but never got Giancarlo down.

Featherweight Championship match. Under 145 pounds. 15 min match.

Diogo “Baby Shark” Reis (champion)

(5’5, 144.8 pounds. Age 21. Team Melqui Galvao)

Vs.

Diego “Pato”

(5’4, 144.8 pounds. Age 24. Team Art of Jiu-Jitsu)

Diego Pato defeats Diogo Reis by submission injury. 8 mins 55 seconds.

Baby shark vs. The duck. Pato is Portuguese for duck. Pato looked like he was on his way to winning a decision before Reis injured his knee on a guard pass attempt. Pato jumped closed guard, got a quick sweep from K guard and started attacking the legs.

Welterweight Championship match - 15 mins

Mica Galvao (champion)

(5’9, 169.4 pounds. Age 20. Team Melqui Galvao)

Vs.

Kody Steele (5’9, 170 pounds. Age 28. Team Brazilian Fight Factory)

Mica Galvao defeats Kody Steele by one arm choke from back 12 mins 38 seconds.

Mica Galvao has to be the most explosive athlete in BJJ. All my years watching I’ve never seen anything like him. Mica hit some really cool foot sweeps, including a Sasae style foot sweep.

Mica hit a huge suplex over 10 mins into this match. He took the back and secured the choke. After the match, Nicky Ryan’s music hit and he was announced as the next challenger for Mica. Sign me up.

Light heavyweight championship

Pedro Marinho (champion)

(5’10, 203.6 pounds. Age 27. Team Gracie Barra)

Vs.

Rafael Lovato Jr. (6’3, 204.8 pounds. Age 40. Team Lovato JJ)

Pedro Marinho defeats Lovato by decision.

More action than Hulk/Giancarlo but a similar match. Lots of standing up. Marinho hit a couple nice arm drags/duck unders and got into a rear body lock where he was able to lift Lovato up. Pedro was more aggressive early, and in the last few mins which seemed to score him the victory. Impressive showing from Lovato, wrestling that much of a match at that pace is impressive at any age let alone a 40 year old.

Marinho talked after the match about how much he admired Lovato. To learn English when he came to the USA, Marinho was using Lovato’s podcast as a learning tool. Pretty cool. Lots of great sportsmanship in the matches.

Potential card for WNO 22 in February. California.

Just speculation, none of these matches have been announced.

Gordon Ryan vs. ?

Hoping Gordon is healthy it would be good to see him in this card. A problem with Gordon’s opponents - nobody can get enough momentum to seem worthy of a match with the king. Gordon’s teammates seem like good potential opponents. I see Lucas Barbosa, Vinny Magalhaes as potential opponents.

Nicky Ryan vs. Mica Galvao - welterweight title

Biggest match at welterweight right now. It’s hard to see anyone matching Mica, but Nicky Ryan is a special talent. This one actually was announced for February.

Luke Griffith vs. Craig Jones?

This would be a fun match. Craig should try and get this match sooner rather than later because Luke’s ceiling seems quite high.

Diego Pato vs. Dante Leon - champ 145 vs. Champ 155

Diego Pato called for this match after his win over baby shark.

Tainan Dalpra vs. ?

How about Tainan vs. Oliver Taza? Taza has competed against Tainan’s teammate and I believe they are close in weight.

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