Tezos WNO light heavyweight champion Pedro Marinho has had to withdraw from his scheduled title defense against Rafael Lovato Jr. on the upcoming Tezos WNO 20: Night of Champions card. Now Rafael Lovato Jr. will face off against Ricardo Evangelista. 

Tickets are on sale now for Tezos WNO 20: Night Of Champions in Houston, TX on Oct. 1

Lovato was set to fight for the title after his most recent Tezos WNO victory, a rear naked choke win over Elder Cruz.

This match will mark Evangelista's Tezos WNO debut. He was most recently in action at the World Championships, where he advanced to the quarterfinals. The IBJJF Pan & European champion accepted this fight on less than two weeks notice.

Lovato and Evangelista have faced off one time prior at black belt, in a historical bout in 2013. They met in the finals of the open class at the Brazilian National championship, with Lovato winning with a kimura. The victory made him the first ever non-Brazilian to win the Brasileiro open class division at adult black belt - to date he is still the only person to ever do that.

Lovato's original bout was to be for the 205lb WNO Championship, and he remains #1 contender. This short notice bout will take place at heavyweight (205+lbs).

Tickets are on sale now for Tezos WNO 20: Night Of Champions in Houston, TX on Oct. 1

About Tezos WNO 20: Night of Champions

Tezos WNO 20: Night of Champions presented by Fat Tire will take place in Houston, TX on Sunday, Oct. 1. Tickets are on sale now to watch it live in person at the Bayou Music Center. This week, FloGrappling will release matchups including title defenses and vacant title brackets.

In total, six belts are on the line, including the heavyweight strap, up for grabs in the main event bout between Gordon Ryan and Patrick Gaudio.

Full Announced Card:

• Men's Heavyweight Championship - Gordon Ryan (c) vs Patrick Gaudio
• Women's Heavyweight Championship - Rafaela Guedes (c) vs Nathiely de Jesus
• Women's Featherweight Championship - Elisabeth Clay vs. Brianna Ste-Marie
• Men's Welterweight Championship Bracket: PJ Barch, Mica Galvao, Jacob Rodriguez, Andrew Tackett
• Men's Featherweight Championship Bracket: Keith Krikorian, Diogo Reis, Gabriel Sousa, Ash Williams
• Heavyweight Bout -Rafael Lovato, Jr. vs Ricardo Evangelista
• Heavyweight Bout - Steffen Banta vs Thomas Bracher
• Women's Strawweight Bout - Thaynara Victoria vs Tiffany Butler