WNO 27: Duarte vs. Rodriguez

Xande Ribeiro vs. Richie Martinez: 5 Things To Know About WNO 27 Match

Xande Ribeiro vs. Richie Martinez: 5 Things To Know About WNO 27 Match

Richie Martinez and Xande Ribeiro are going against each other at WNO 27 on April 18; Check out these five things before the two legends square off.

Apr 17, 2025 by Cameron Belcher
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Xande Ribeiro and Richie "Boogeyman" Martinez will battle against each other in the most staked card in the short history of Who's Number One for WNO 27 on April 18 in Round Rock, Texas.

Aside from the main event between Kaynan Duarte and Nick Rodriguez, this matchup is the match that fans are looking forward to the most, which is expected when two veterans are going at each other.

Both these competitors have been in the sport for so long that they have accomplished so much, and it should surprise nobody that their paths have crossed.

View these five things to know about the matchup before WNO 27 on April 18.

How To Watch WNO 27

1. There Is A First-Time For Everything

  • April 18 will mark the first time that Xande Ribeiro and Richie Martinez will be on the same mat together.
  • Although Ribeiro and Martinez are around the same age, Martinez began his grappling career much later, not taking an interest in the sport until 2011, when Ribeiro became a black belt.
  • Both veterans are viewed as legends in grappling, so it is tough to say who will win between them.

2. Xande Ribeiro Makes His Return To Jiu-Jitsu

  • The ADCC and IBJJF Hall of Famer, Xande Ribeiro, will enter his first professional match in almost four years.
  • Ribeiro competed in a pro setting for the last time in 2021, when he won over Fellipe Trovo by referee decision.
  • However, the absolute last time he was in action was during the IBJJF Euro championships, where he won gold in the Masters division.

3. Both Of These Grapplers Are Doing It For The Love Of The Game

  • Knowing the record and catalog of these two legends, it is clear that neither of these competitors have to battle each other or anyone for that matter.
  • Ribeiro and Martinez have made a great living off grappling around the world and have built up multiple achievements after the other.
  • That still doesn't make them shy away from a challenge as they look to assert dominance over each other hoping to add another signature win to their record.

4. The Result Of This Match Could Be Telling For Xande Ribeiro and Richie Martinez's Future

  • Both grapplers have been doing this for many years and have begun to pay it forward to the next generation by training up-and-coming grapplers.
  • This raises the question of how much each competitor has in the tank for the coming years.
  • The result of this match could cause fans to wonder about that exact answer because depending on who loses, they may feel as if they can't compete at the high level they once were at.

5. One Man's Strength Is Another Man's Weakness

  • Submission moves are significant in grappling as submission moves are the only way competitors gain wins other than by points or decisions.
  • Xande Ribeiro has 80 submission wins out of 162 career wins, and his signature hold is the Armbar, which has granted him 21 wins, 26 percent of all his submission victories.
  • In his career, Martinez has had 18 submission losses, losing the most to the armbar and the Inside Heel Hook. This could be notable heading into the first match among these legends.

How To Buy Tickets For WNO 27

  • Tickets for WNO 27 can be purchased here on the behalf of FloSports

When Is WNO 27?

  • Who's Number One (WNO) will have its 27th event on April 18 in Round Rock, Texas.

WNO 27 Main Card Career Records At WNO

  • Kaynan Duarte: 4-2
  • Nick Rodriguez: 1-3
  • Victor Hugo: 2-0
  • Luke Griffith: 3-0
  • Elisabeth Clay: 4-3
  • Helena Crevar: 2-0
  • Andrew Tackett: 4-0
  • Fabyury Khrysthyan: 1-0
  • Owen Jones: 1-0
  • Julian Espinosa: 1-0
  • Xande Ribeiro: N/A
  • Richie Martinez: N/A

WNO 27: Duarte vs Rodriguez Main Card

  • Heavyweight Main Event - Kaynan Duarte vs Nick Rodriguez
  • Heavyweight Bout - Victor Hugo vs Luke Griffith
  • WNO Featherweight Championship Bout - Elisabeth Clay vs Helena Crevar
  • Welterweight Bout - Andrew Tackett vs Fabyury Khrysthyan
  • Lightweight Bout - Owen Jones vs Julian Espinosa
  • Light Heavyweight Bout - Xande Ribeiro vs Richie Martinez

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