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Quick Facts: The 155lb Division At The WNO Championships

The division is loaded with WNO veterans, top-ranked athletes, and submission hunters across the 135, 145, and 155-lb divisions.

Aug 19, 2021 by Chase Smith

Quick Facts: The 155lb Division At The WNO Championships

On September 25-26, these eight of the most exciting grapplers in the 155lb category will square off in a bracket for $30,000 and the illustrious title of WNO Champion.

The division is loaded with WNO veterans, top-ranked athletes, and submission hunters across the 135, 145, and 155-lb divisions. Read on for the quick facts you need to know about each competitor.

Official WNO Bracket Predictions - 155lb Division

Mikey Musumeci

Ranking #1 135lb / #7 at P4P

Major titles: 3x IBJJF Champ, IBJJF No-Gi World Champ, Pan Champ

WNO Record 3-0

Age: 24
DOB: July 7, 1996
Height: 5’7”
Weight: 55.7kg / 144.8
Team: Boops Garage
From: Marlboro, NJ
Fighting out of: Las Vegas, NV
Started training: Age 4
Got black belt: 2015
Trains with: Tammi Musumeci, Rene Lopez, Roberto Jimenez, Daniel Maira, Nick Salles
Also trained with: Caio Terra

Breakout stats:

3-0 WNO (Marcelo Cohen SUB, Lucas Pinheiro SUB, Junny Decision)
Sub vs Lucas was 1:26 (third fastest in WNO history)
Marcelo Cohen match (March 2021) was first no-gi match since Nov 2016.
Only lost twice in weight class since receiving black belt
Undefeated in no-gi black belt career
Only one career submission loss (Horlando Monteiro, absolute division, 2020 IBJJF Pans, gi match)
70% submission win rate since 2020 | 65% since 2019

Kade Ruotolo

Ranking: #2 155lb / #10 P4P

Major Titles: Combat Jiu-Jitsu World Champion (Lightweight), GrappleFest 70KG Champion (2020)

WNO Record 3-0

Age: 18
DOB: Jan 22, 2003
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 80kg / 176lb
Team: Atos Jiu-Jitsu
From: Huntington Beach
Fighting out of: San Diego, CA
Started training: ge 3 or 4
Got black belt: N/a - recieved brown belt October 2020
Coach: Andre Galvao
Also trained with: Mendes brothers

Breakout stats:

Combat JJ submission over PJ Barch via Buggy Choke
Captured major titles throughout juvenile /teen ranks (World Champ, Pan, Champ, European, Champ, American Nationals Champ, and More)
Began training with his brother Tye at such an early age that they aren't even sure when it began.
Transitioned from heavy gi focus to No-gi competition after 2019.

Geo Martinez

Ranking: #1 145lb / #9 P4P

Major Titles: 3x EBI champion

WNO Record 2-1

Age: 33
DOB : 1987
Height 5’9”
Weight: 145.6lb
Team: 10th Planet
From: San Diego, CA
Fighting out of: Oceanside, CA
Started training: 2011
Got black belt: an 2014
Coach: Eddie Bravo
Also trained with: Richie Martinez , PJ Barch, Kyle Chambers

Breakout stats:

Geo Martinez is the 2014 ADCC trials winner.
3x ADC Veteran + ADCC Super Fight Athlete at the 2017 West Coast Trials
11-9-4 record since 2018
68% career submission rate - one of the highest in the division.

Kennedy Maciel

#1-ranked 155lb

Major titles: IBJJF 2018 No-Gi World Champ, ADCC 2019 Silver Medalist

WNO Record: 1-0

Age: 24
DOB: January 2, 1997
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 155.0
Team: Alliance
From: São Paulo, Brazil
Fighting out of: Los Angeles, CA
Started training: Age 19
Got black belt: November 2020
Coach: Rubens ‘Cobrinha’ Charles

Breakout stats:

49% finishing rate as a Black Belt
Kennedy has a history with many athletes in the division, he's split wins 1-1 With Josh Cisneros, 1-0 over Geo Martinez (At WNO), 1-0 Diego Batista, 1-0 Ethan Crelinsten (Brown Belt, IBJJF).

Cole Abate

#10-Ranked 155lb

Major titles: 2021 IBJJF Pan No-Gi champion (lightweight, closed out absolute)

WNO Record: 3-0

Age: 16
DOB: 11/16/2004
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 149.4 lb
Team: Art of Jiu-Jitsu
From: San Antonio, TX
Fighting out of: Costa Mesa, CA
Started training: Age 5
Got black belt: N/a
Coach: Gui Mendes
Also trained with: Rodrigo Pinheiro

Breakout stats:

3-0 on WNO (competed in Costa Mesa event
Youngest Competitor At The WNO Championships
Has trained with 10th Planet, competed EBI-style
Learned heel hooks since he was young

Ethan Crelinsten

#3-ranked 155lb

Major titles: 2x ADCC Trials Winner (2017, 2018)

WNO Record: 0-2

Age: 27
Birthday: May 14, 1994
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 155.0
Team: The B-Team
From: Montreal, Canada
Fighting out of: Austin, Texas
Started training: Age 19
Got black belt: November 2020
Coach: N/A
Also trained with: John Danaher, Firas Zahabi

Breakout stats:

59% Submission victory rate since 2017
15-3-1 record in 2020, x& y in 2021

Josh Cisneros

3-ranked 145lb

Major titles: 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2020), 1st Place IBJJF American Nationals (2020) 2nd Place IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship (2021)

WNO Record: 0-0

Age: 21
Birthday: May 2, 2000
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 155lb
Team: Elite Team Jiu-Jitsu
From: Visalia, CA
Fighting out of: Visalia, CA
Started training: Age 12
Got black belt: November 2020
Coach: Tom Knox
Also trained with: N/A

Breakout stats:

White to Black Belt Under Tom Knox
From a grappling family: Joe Cisneros — the oldest — was a three-time CIF State medalist. Second oldest brother, Alex, is a three-time state wrestling champion and four-time state finalist. The third oldest brother — Chris Cisneros — was a two-time CIF State qualifier. Josh also has a younger brother who is a skilled purple belt.