WNO 26 is approaching fast and now that the full card is finally set, we can start to breakdown what's coming up and what fans should expect. Heading into this show, there's a ton of great matchups featuring some of the very best in the world and a lot on the line.

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So, what are some of the biggest questions surrounding WNO 26? What should fans be on the look out for on February 7th when WNO returns to Costa Mesa? Let's take a look at five things on our mind.

• Subscribe To FloGrappling To Watch WNO 26
• Diego Pato To Defend 155lb Championship Against Keith Krikorian At WNO 26
• Jay Rodriguez & Ronaldo Junior To Meet In WNO 26 Action

1. How Can Keith Make This Match Different From The First Time?

Pato and Keith will be in the main event, with Keith trying to take Pato's lightweight title from him. These two have a history, with Diego submitting Keith at the 2022 ADCC World Championships with a foot lock that actually fractured Keith's leg. Pato is one of the scariest guys in grappling because of his finishing power and it's something Krikorian will have to watch out for at all times.

So, how does Keith make this different? How can he avoid the leg entanglements of Pato and find his own success? I think there's a good chance Keith can make this a very competitive matchup up at 155lbs (where he has done very well in the past) and I expect him to be the larger, stronger grappler on the night. Keith has looked very good lately and showed off a very diverse submission arsenal as of late, so his game plan can take a few different paths.

I also will be interested to see who has more crowd support. This match is happening in Costa Mesa so it's very likely that AOJ has heavy local support but Krikorian is a SoCal boy who will be well represented - especially with so many other 10th Planet grapplers on the card.

2. Is Jay Rodriguez About To Pick Up His First WNO Win?

Jay Rodriguez is one of the best grapplers in the World and over the last few years has developed into someone who is truly must-watch. He constantly delivers exciting matches against the most elite in the world, including the 2023 FloGrappling Match of the Year against Mica Galvão. Despite always delivering on the action, Jay is actually yet to win on the WNO stage. He's 0-5 right now, most recently facing Tainan Dalpra in another wild scrap.

Will this finally be the long-awaited W for Jay on WNO? He's facing Ronaldo Junior who is another elite black belt, and the 2023 IBJJF No-Gi World Champion at medium-heavy. Ronaldo is known for his explosive speed and highlight finishes, but he has developed a strong level of strategic reason that lets him pick his moments better.

I think if Jay will be at his best in this match when he is forcing exchanges and scrambles. A slower, more deliberate pace will favor the older grappler Ronaldo so everything Jay can do to become hard to hold and slow down will be to his favor. Something else to watch out for - Jay is always finding new, fun, innovative ways to attack so don't be surprised if he's got a few tricks in store for us.

3. Who Will Emerge As A Contender At 205lbs?

There are a pair of 205lb matches at WNO 26 that will have enormous implications on the division through the rest of 2025 and beyond. Elder Cruz, fresh off his open class title at the IBJJF No-Gi Worlds, will be taking on the 2024 open class champion Roberto Jimenez. Ryan Aitken, who won both an absolute EBI and the PGF in 2024, will be taking on the Ocean Pro champion Luccas Lira (who's also now 1-0 on WNO). These are major matchups with all four guys ranked in the top-15 in the world at 205lbs.

The champion in the division is Pedro Marinho, who continues to rack up successful title defenses and has been perfect so far at light-heavyweight in WNO action. If one of these four guys can come out, storm the gates, and win in impressive fashion (potentially even by submission) then they very well could be next in line for a title shot. If I had to guess which match ends by submission, I'd probably lean a little towards Lira-Aitken in a battle of aggressive leg lockers (who are well rounded everywhere but habitually chase legs).

This division is looking for that next guy who can wow the fans and create an exciting moments. If we find that at WNO 26, that person could advance right into a match with Marinho and a chance to become the WNO champion. These are serious stakes that I think will help inspire some great performances.

4. Who Wins A Battle Of Physicality Between Rafaela And Paige?

Rafaela vs Paige should be looked at as a matchup between two of the toughest, strongest, most aggressive grapplers in their division (and in the sport). They both bring a super physical, brawling style that is as punishing on the mat as it is fun to watch. Rafaela has also shown a tactical side where she can be more selective about when to attack, but against Paige I just don't think she's going to have that opportunity.

Ivette is a Legion athlete who is still pretty freshly back off of a 2-year layoff from injury but has looked awesome, making the finals of the IBJJF No-Gi Pans & Worlds. She's a straight-ahead, nonstop kind of grappler who combines submission heavy offense with her power. With her and Rafaela, I really think these two are going to scrap.

So who does that favor? Neither one of these women ever tends to lose a match like this, so something is going to have to give.

5. Is Sarah Galvão The Next Big Grappling Star?

Sarah Galvão makes her WNO debut and I am really excited to watch her on this big stage. She's of course notable for her parentage, the daughter of world champions Andre & Angelica Galvão, but now she is earning her own way. She's a world champion at the colored belt level in the gi and in no-gi and has been sterling over the last few years - including an undefeated adult IBJJF record. Sarah just won double gold with all submissions in her division at Euros and now will go right into no-gi competition here against Katie Carr.

Sarah has all of the tools to be a huge star in the sport and this matchup at WNO 26 is likely the start of a great professional run for the young star. Don't miss the beginning of something special.

WNO 26 Full Card

• WNO Lightweight Championship - Diego Pato vs Keith Krikorian
• Middleweight Bout - Jay Rodriguez vs Ronaldo Junior
• Light Heavyweight Bout - Roberto Jimenez vs Elder Cruz
• Light Heavyweight Bout - Ryan Aitken vs Luccas Lira
• Middleweight Bout - Tainan Dalpra vs Rene Sousa
• Women's Heavyweight Bout - Rafaella Guedes vs Paige Ivette
• Welterweight Bout - Daniel Sathler vs Michael Sainz
• Undercard Featherweight Bout - Zach Kaina vs Isaac Cordova
• Undercard Middleweight Bout - Ian Butler vs Victor Silverio
• Undercard Women's Unlimited Bout - Rana Willink vs Solange van Doorn
• Undercard Women's Lightweight Bout - Sarah Galvão vs Katie Carr
• Undercard Youth Bout - Icaro Moreno vs Christoper Sarkissian

How To Watch WNO 26 Stream

WNO 26 will be streamed on FloGrappling and the FloSports app.

Match replays, highlights and breaking news will be on both platforms.

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