Mica Galvao Dominates to Claim Double Championship at WNO 28

Claudio Martin

21-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu star Mica Galvao further cemented his status as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound elite by capturing his second WNO championship belt on Friday night in Costa Mesa, California.

The main event of WNO 28 featured a champion versus champion showdown as Galvao moved up in weight to challenge middleweight titleholder Jonnatas Gracie. From the opening moments, Galvao demonstrated superior skills, particularly with his impressive top game and passing ability that neutralized Gracie’s guard.

Throughout the match, Galvao secured multiple passes and came close to taking Gracie’s back. The young champion also attempted a threatening anaconda choke and face crush in the later stages. While Gracie survived until the final bell, the outcome was never in doubt as Galvao earned a clear-cut decision victory.

Following his dominant performance, the ambitious two-division champion immediately set his sights on making history by challenging WNO light heavyweight champion Pedro Marinho.

“He said he wants a rematch. Let’s do it for the title of the 205 lb division. I want to go and look for my third belt,” Galvao declared, expressing his desire to move up yet another weight class.

Remarkably, Galvao already holds a victory over the larger Marinho, having submitted him with an armlock in 2021. At just 21 years old, Galvao continues to build an extraordinary resume that includes a BJJ Stars 15 Grand Prix championship and a 2024 “Super Grand Slam” title after claiming gold at ADCC worlds and all four major IBJJF tournaments.

The event also showcased impressive performances from Australian competitors. Declan Moody, a recent CJI Trials winner from B-Team, delivered perhaps the most dramatic finish of the night. The heavyweight countered a leg lock attempt from 50-50 position against CJI 1 finalist Fellipe Andrew, securing a heel hook submission in just 63 seconds.

In another notable contest featuring veteran grapplers, CJI Australasia standout Kit Dale defeated legendary competitor Xande Ribeiro by decision. Dale’s strategy of securing takedowns and implementing his top pressure and passing game proved effective as he earned a comfortable victory.

WNO 28: Play by Play

Mica Galvão def. Jonnatas Gracie by Decision

The match began with Jonnatas pulling guard, but Mica immediately responded with a knee cut pass. Within the first minute, Galvão worked his way to mount using beautiful shin pinning technique. Jonnatas managed to recover guard, showing his resilience against the phenom.

In a surprising moment, Mica dropped for a heel hook attempt, transitioning it seamlessly into a back take attempt – showcasing his unpredictable and fluid style.

Throughout the match, Jonnatas consistently attacked Mica’s left arm, attempting arm drags and looking for opportunities for armlocks. However, Galvão’s pressure and passing game proved dominant, earning him judge’s favors throughout the contest.

In the closing moments, Mica stepped up the pace, attempting an arm-in guillotine that transitioned to a face crank attempt. Though Jonnatas survived until time expired, the judges unanimously awarded the decision to Mica Galvão, making him the new middleweight champion.

After the victory, Mica expressed his respect for Jonnatas and called out Pedro Marinho, stating his desire to pursue a third belt at 205 pounds.

Kit Dale def. Xande Ribeiro by Decision

Kit Dale faced 11-time world champion Xande Ribeiro in what proved to be a tactical match. The opening minutes saw both men feeling each other out in the wrestling exchanges, with neither gaining a significant advantage.

Xande pulled guard first, looking to implement his famous guard game, but Dale showed excellent defensive awareness, maintaining good posture and preventing Ribeiro from establishing his typical control. After several minutes of guard work without significant progress, Xande opted to stand back up.

The turning point came when Dale executed a beautiful arm drag and mat return after defending a back take attempt from Ribeiro. Later, Kit scored another takedown with a solid backclinch, earning judge’s favors throughout the match.

Despite Xande’s reputation as one of jiu-jitsu’s greatest guardplayers, Dale consistently shut down his attacks and maintained dominant positioning throughout the contest. When the final bell rang, the judges awarded Kit Dale the unanimous decision victory in what many considered an upset over the hall of famer.

Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa def. Dory Aoun by Decision

Making his return after a 10-month layoff due to shoulder surgery, Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa faced Dory Aoun in a light heavyweight contest that both grapplers took on short notice.

The match began with a feeling-out process on the feet, with both men attempting snatch singles and looking for entries. Neither fighter was able to secure a takedown early, leading to referee warnings for inactivity.

The complexion of the match changed dramatically when Hulk secured a tight body lock and worked his way to Dory’s back. Barbosa maintained back control with a body triangle for several minutes, constantly threatening with rear-naked choke attempts that Aoun skillfully defended.

With just over a minute remaining, Dory managed to escape the back control and showed tremendous heart, immediately shooting for takedowns and even attempting a lateral drop in the dying seconds. However, Hulk’s dominant back control sequence proved to be the difference, earning him the unanimous decision victory.

After, Barbosa expressed his gratitude for being back in competition, stating:

“The Hulk is back. I’m going to put a lot more work in. You’re going to see me more often competing out there.”

Paige Ivette def. Kauane Ramos by Submission (Heel Hook)

Legion AJJ’s Paige Ivette faced Kauane Ramos in a women’s heavyweight match that showcased high-level leg lock exchanges. Paige started strong with a single leg takedown, but Kauane immediately countered by entering into K-guard, setting the tone for what would be a leg entanglement-heavy contest.

The women traded leg lock attempts early, with Kauane showing impressive flexibility and technical defense. Paige eventually worked her way to the top position with a double-under pass, but Ramos’ guard retention skills kept her from establishing full control.

As the match progressed, both competitors found themselves in 50/50 positions multiple times. With about two and a half minutes remaining, Ivette secured a tight heel hook. When Kauane attempted to defend, Paige adjusted by capturing the secondary leg, preventing any escape and forcing the tap with a beautifully executed heel hook.

This marked Paige’s first submission victory on Who’s Number One after a close decision loss to Hapela Gettis in her debut. After the match, Ivette expressed her desire for more superfights, stating that Who’s Number One is

“the main stage” for women’s jiu-jitsu.

Declan Moody def. Fellipe Andrew by Submission (Heel Hook)

In one of the night’s quickest finishes, B-Team’s Declan Moody secured an impressive heel hook victory over two-time IBJJF world champion Fellipe Andrew in just over a minute.

The match began with both grapplers engaging in stand-up, but the action quickly moved to the ground when they entered a 50/50 position. In a lightning-fast sequence, Moody isolated Andrew’s heel, established a deep bite, and extended his hips to secure the submission.

The technical precision of Moody’s heel hook demonstrated his high-level leg lock game, which he attributed to his training with teammate Craig Jones. The submission victory over such a decorated opponent represented a significant statement win for Moody in the light heavyweight division.

After the match, Declan expressed his championship aspirations:

“Let’s make a run for that title. Whatever it takes to get me there, that’s the goal.”

Kyle Chambers def. Victor Silverio by Decision

The main card opened with an exciting welterweight clash between Kyle Chambers and Victor Silverio. Both grapplers showed strong wrestling skills early, with neither gaining a significant advantage in the initial exchanges.

Silverio utilized his judo background, attempting an inside Tsurikomi throw, while Chambers repeatedly looked for leg entries. The match featured several transitions between standing and ground positions, with both competitors hunting for advantages.

As the contest wore on, Chambers became increasingly aggressive with his leg attacks, particularly in the closing minutes. With just over 20 seconds remaining, Kyle secured a deep heel hook attempt that appeared close to finishing the match. Though Silverio survived and countered with his own toehold attempt in the final seconds, the judges favored Chambers’ late submission attempt, awarding him the decision victory.

After the win, which came on the heels of his birthday, Chambers stated:

“Anybody can get it. I always say that respectfully, of course. 170, 185… I’m always here, I’m always ready for that battle.”

The main card delivered a showcase of high-level jiu-jitsu, with three submission finishes and three decisions, culminating in Mica Galvão‘s historic achievement of becoming a two-division WNO champion.

Claudio Martin