FloGrappling has announced three more matches on their next Who’s Number One card.
The promotion’s upcoming event, which will feature Craig Jones vs. Tye Ruotolo as the main event, will also host matches between Rafael Lovato Jr. and Gilbert Burns, Grace Gundrum and Jessa Khan, and Nicky Ryan and PJ Barch.
Often considered a legend in the sport, Lovato needs no introduction. This will be his WNO debut, also marking the first time that he and Burns will have faced off. Lovato is so far undefeated in 2021, winning gold in both gi and no-gi at the Dallas Open earlier this year. He most recently submitted Gabriel Almeida in the main event of F2W 166, and he’ll be hoping to continue his winning streak at WNO.
This will be Burns’ first time competing in a grappling event since 2019, when he competed at 3rd Coast Grappling, Polaris, and Submission Underground. His focus has recently centered on his career with the UFC, where he defeated Demian Maia and Tyron Woodley in 2020 to earn a title shot against Kamaru Usman earlier this year. There’s no doubt that fans will be excited to see this gi and no-gi world champion return to the mats for this big co-main event.
Both Gundrum and Khan always put on a show when they take to the stage, and we can expect no different this time around. Gundrum, who earned her black belt last year at just eighteen years old, is a WNO veteran, most recently taking on Mayssa Bastos back in December. Prior to that, she made her black belt debut at F2W 155 in spectacular fashion by submitting Pati Fontes with an armbar.
Khan is another young black belt, having earned the rank just a couple days before her nineteenth birthday last year. Indeed, her black belt debut took place at another WNO event back in February, where she defeated Danielle Kelly via decision. This will be a rematch between the two athletes; they’ve faced off at a NAGA tournament as kids, and most recently, Gundrum defeated Khan in overtime at EBI 4.
Ryan, who earned his black belt from John Danaher in November, is making his third promotional appearance with his match against Barch. He was originally slated to face off against Roberto Jimenez on WNO’s February card, but after being forced to withdraw due to injury, his older brother Gordon replaced him in the co-main event. He is currently 1-1 for WNO, dropping a decision to Tye Ruotolo in his first appearance and most recently submitting Tony Ramos with a heel hook.
Barch is one of the top athletes from out of 10th Planet and a fellow WNO veteran, having gone up against Andrew Wiltse at the last installment. An Onnit Invitational and Sin City Series champion, this leg lock specialist is a great choice of opponent for the younger Ryan brother.
Who’s Number One: Jones vs. Ruotolo will take place on Friday, April 30.
