Jiu-jitsu has always played a vital role both in and out of the ring, providing athletes with a path to glory and financial reward, while reminding the world that the most sophisticated grappling art is an indispensable part of any fighter’s arsenal.

The 25th edition of the IBJJF World Championships is just around the corner. The most exciting gi event every year, Worlds is an opportunity for athletes to establish their dominance and build on their legacies. But it’s also a chance for the new guard to ascend to the top of the sport, and to etch their names in the history books.

Update (Sept 23) — Luiz Panza is out; Giancarlo Bodoni is in.

The Road to ADCC was unique in that it was the first time an event ever featured a series of head-to-head matches held under ADCC superfight rules. As Mo Jassim, the 2022 ADCC World Championships organizer, explained, it was conceived to kick start the process that will culminate in September next year at the World Championships.

Grappling fans would have found UFC 258 hard to watch as two of jiu-jitsu's top representatives in the Octagon fell to their opponents. We look at what went wrong.

With the dust settled from WNO: Kaynan Duarte, it's time to look towards the future and what potential matches make sense for the competitors. As the official matchmaker for the event, I'm tasked with deciding the next steps for the athletes on the sports premier superfight event, and there are no shortage of options available.

Who’s Number One is back for one of the most anticipated grappling cards of the year! In the main event, one of most iconic grappling figures of the last decade, Rodolfo Vieira, will return to the grappling mats to take on Kaynan Duarte.

The online betting site BetDSI has released money lines for Who’s Number One: Duarte vs Vieira. 

A truly great grappler is not only defined by the number of titles they have collected, but also the opponents they’ve beaten to earn those titles.

Once in a generation an athlete will appear and do the unthinkable. Barriers will be broken, records will be set and names will be written into history books. 

Who's Number One (WNO) will return on Friday, December 11th, for yet another massive card at WNO: Kaynan Duarte vs Rodolfo Vieira. The event will feature six no-gi matches, all 15 minutes in length and under WNO submission only rules. As always, the best in the world will collide on the WNO mat, establishing who is truly number one in the no-gi scene today.

Competitors at the heaviest weight classes are often associated with heavy, unidirectional passing. We often see the heavy, super heavy, and ultra heavyweights forcing their ways into their opponents half guards and then slowly grinding forward to earn a pass. 

Watch the clash of ADCC champions on December 11 when Kaynan Duarte and Rodolfo Vieira go head-to-head in a submission-only no-gi match. 

Grappling fans are often cursed with short memories. We are always studying the trending techniques and keeping our eyes on the rising stars. It’s easy to overlook the most talented competitors of previous generations.

Generations will clash on December 11th in Austin, Texas, when Rodolfo Vieira and Kaynan Duarte meet at Who's Number One (WNO)! This match will be fifteen minutes of no-gi action, and take place under WNO submission only rules. The weight class will be absolute, but both athletes are expected to weight in a little over 200 lbs. More match announcements will be coming this week!