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. 

Diego ‘Pato’ Oliveira Batista

#2-ranked 145lb

Major titles:  1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship NOGI (2021)

WNO Record: 0-0

• Age: 22     
• Birthday: October 2, 1998
• Height:  5’9” 
• Weight 155.0
• Team: Cicero Costha Jiu-Jitsu
• From:  Parintins, Brazil 
• Fighting out of: Sao Paulo, Brazil
• Started training: Age 13
• Got black belt: June 2019
• Coach: Cicero Costha
• Also trained with:: N/A

Breakout stats: 

• Submitted Josh Cisneros in No-Gi Pan finals (2021) with a kneebar.