Tezos WNO 21: Pedro Marinho vs Rafael Lovato Jr.

Marinho Set To Defend Title vs Rafael Lovato Jr. At Tezos WNO 21

Marinho Set To Defend Title vs Rafael Lovato Jr. At Tezos WNO 21

After falling through earlier this year, Pedro Marinho vs Rafael Lovato Jr. for the 205lb WNO Championship is rescheduled for Tezos WNO 21: Ryan vs Barbosa.

Oct 10, 2023 by Joe Gilpin
Marinho Set To Defend Title vs Rafael Lovato Jr. At Tezos WNO 21

After initially being set to compete against each other in early October, Rafael Lovato Jr. will challenge Pedro Marinho for his WNO light heavyweight title at Tezos WNO 21: Marinho vs Lovato Jr. The two will face off in the co-main event in a match that will mark Marinho's second title defense.

Get your tickets here for Tezos WNO 21: Austin, TX on Nov. 30

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Pedro Marinho currently occupies the top spot in FloGrappling's no-gi rankings, with Lovato ranked No.4. Marinho initially won the belt against Craig Jones before defeating ADCC World Champion Giancarlo Bodoni in his follow-up bout. Now, the Gracie Barra champion is set to face off against the most experienced veteran of his career when he takes on Lovato.

Rafael Lovato Jr. is a legend within the sport, who has returned to submission grappling after his full-time MMA career paused. He has continued to win at the highest levels of the grappling since. The former Bellator World Champion, currently No.4 at 205lbs in our rankings, is fresh off of two submission victories under the WNO banner, including one at Tezos WNO 20 over Ricardo Evangelista.

The two were originally set to face off on Oct. 1 at Tezos WNO 20: Night of Champions, but Marinho was forced to withdraw from the event with an injury. Now, he returns ready for a fifteen minute title fight against one of the top talents at light heavyweight.

Tezos WNO 21: Pedro Marinho vs Rafael Lovato Jr.

  • Light Heavyweight WNO Championship Bout - Pedro Marinho (C) vs Rafael Lovato Jr.
  • Welterweight WNO Championship Bout - Mica Galvao (C) vs Kody Steele
  • Featherweight WNO Championship Bout - Diogo Reis (C) vs Diego 'Pato' Oliveira
  • Heavyweight Bout - Luke Griffith vs Roosevelt Sousa
  • Featherweight Bout - Helena Crevar vs Julia Maele
  • Middleweight Bout - Tainan Dalpra vs Troy Russell
  • Tezos WNO 21 Undercard

    • Featherweight - Owen Jones vs Dominic Mejia
    • TBA vs Caleb Tackett
    • Ian Butler vs Nick Mataya
    • Mia Funegra vs Janice Russell