While UFC 312 will likely garner the most headlines this weekend, there are also two top notch grappling events that are worth watching before that. WNO 26 and Polaris 31 happens back-to-back on Friday and Saturday, with two stacked cards poised to produce some excellent Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) action.
There will be several elite level talent on this big weekend for BJJ, and if you need a guide on which ones to keep an eye out for, here are the three best match ups from both events.
3. Diego ‘Pato’ Oliveira vs. Keith Krikorian
There’s a bunch of excellent bouts from both WNO 26 and Polaris 31, but an easy pick on this list is the headlining title bout that features one of the top pound-for-pound grapplers today. Interestingly enough, it also coincidentally sticks to the WNO vs. Polaris theme for this weekend.
WNO 26 will be headlined by a WNO champ vs. Polaris champ, with Diego “Pato” Oliveira defending his WNO lightweight title against Polaris featherweight champ Keith Krikorian.
While the current professional scene is filled many no gi specialists and rarely feature the gi, Pato is a throwback to the earlier days when BJJ world champions excelled at both. Pato, a five-time IBJJF world champion across gi and no gi, just won gold at the IBJJF Euros in the traditional kimono last week, and will immediately go back to no gi to headline WNO 26.
Pato previously faced Krikorian in the opening round of ADCC 2022, where the Brazilian submitted him with a straight ankle lock. Both men have improved from that match almost three years ago, with Krikorian coming off a win over Jed Hue at the last Polaris event.
The two-division WNO champion is still going to be the favorite here, as Pato is widely regarded to be among the top grapplers today. With their styles though, the match should be entertaining either way.
2. Roberto Jimenez vs. Elder Cruz
There are arguably bigger names competing this weekend, such as Tainan Dalpra and Jay Rodriguez, who are facing separate opponents at WNO 26. The second spot on this list will go to Roberto Jimenez vs. Elder Cruz though, as this bout could likely be just as fun those two, but also far more competitive and unpredictable.
Both Cruz and Jimenez are high level IBJJF no gi world champions, and they also have some history. The biggest moment of Roberto Jimenez’s career was when he beat bigger opponents and won the absolute division at the 2023 IBJJF No Gi World Championship. The man who stopped him from winning double gold that night was Cruz, who narrowly beat Jimenez by points in their division.
Elder Cruz is also coming off winning absolute gold at the 2024 IBJJF No Gi World Championships.
Jimenez is known as one of the most entertaining grapplers today, and as this match can really go either way, it’s really not one to miss.
1. Polaris Squads: Team Europe vs. Team North America
The card also has BJJ prodigy Helena Crevar defending her Polaris title against no gi world champ Anabel Lopez Beard, but taking the number one spot on this list and a must watch for this weekend is the Team Europe vs. Team North America match up at Polaris 31. Technically that’s not just a single match, but hey, it’s my list and I make the rules!
Anyone who has watched any Quintet event knows how entertaining team grappling can be. Grapplers will be of varying sizes, and winners of each match get to stay on the mat, with the potential to wipe out multiple members of the opposing team. Team Grappling is chaotic and pretty much guarantees entertainment or even potential breakout stars, which is why even CJI shifted to this format.
If this will be your first time to watch this format, you’ll certainly be in for a treat as this Polaris Squads line up is filled with several BJJ champs and notable stars as well.
Team Europe will have Jozef Chen, Owen Jones, Eoghan O’Flanagan, Mateusz Szczecinski, Taylor Pearman and Santeri Lilius, while Team North America will consist of PJ Barch, Chris Wojcik, Kieran Kichuk, Devhonte Johnson, Mike Perez and Julian Espinosa.
On a weekend with two cards and several elite level BJJ talent worth watching, this is the one likely to bring the most entertainment.
WNO 26 results and video highlights
Main card:
- Diego Pato vs Keith Krikorian
- Jay Rodriguez vs Ronaldo Junior
- Roberto Jimenez vs Elder Cruz
- Ryan Aitken vs Luccas Lira
- Tainan Dalpra vs Rene Sousa
- Rafaella Guedes vs Paige Ivette
- Daniel Sathler vs Michael Sainz
Prelims:
- Zach Kaina vs Isaac Cordova
- Ian Butler vs Victor Silverio
- Sarah Galvão vs Katie Carr
- Rana Willink vs Solange van Doorn
- Icaro Moreno vs Christoper Sarkissian
Jay Rod vs Ronaldo will be a great scrap.
Love that they keep using the buggy fag as cannon fodder to famous people since his hail Mary bullshit win over Kichuk lol. Tainan is going to rape him.
The depth of that euro team is fucking insane. Butter Panther can beat any of them on a good day, but the team doesn’t have the depth to beat Meatus, Jo Chen, and Eoghen.
Great weekend of grapples
WNO Results: Here’s Who Won At WNO 26
Main Card
- WNO Lightweight Championship - Diego Pato def. Keith Krikorian by decision
- Light Heavyweight Bout - Roberto Jimenez def. Elder Cruz by submission (flying armbar)
- Light Heavyweight Bout - Ryan Aitken def. Luccas Lira by decision
- Middleweight Bout - Tainan Dalpra def. Rene Sousa by submission (side katagatame)
- Middleweight Bout - Ronaldo Junior def. Jay Rodriguez by decision
- Women’s Heavyweight Bout - Rafaella Guedes def. Paige Ivette by decision
- Welterweight Bout - Michael Sainz def. Daniel Sathler by decision
Undercard
- Undercard Featherweight Bout - Zach Kaina def. Isaac Cordova by decision
- Undercard Middleweight Bout - Victor Silverio def. Ian Butler by submission (rear naked choke)
- Undercard Women’s Unlimited Bout - Rana Willink def. Solange van Doorn by submission (heel hook)
- Undercard Women’s Lightweight Bout - Sarah Galvão def. Katie Carr by submission (triangle Americana)
- Undercard Youth Bout - Icaro Moreno def. Christoper Sarkissian by submission
Pato Retains WNO Lightweight Title
Pato defeats Keith Krikorian by judge’s decision. Watch the full match replay below.
Polaris 31 Results
SQUADS NA VS. EU – 1ST ROUND RESULTS
– Jozef Chen def. Chris Wojcik via decision
– Jozef Chen def. Mike Perez via decision
– Devhonte Johnson def. Jozef Chen via decision
– Paweł Jaworski def. Devhonte Johnson via decision
– Julian Espinosa def. Paweł Jaworski via decision
– Eoghan O’Flannagan def. Julian Espinosa via outside heel hook
– PJ Barch def. Eoghan O’Flannagan via inside heel hook
– Mateusz Szczecinski def. PJ Barch via armbar
– Mateusz Szczecinski def. Kieran Kichuk via straight ankle lock
– Mike Perez def. Mateusz Szczecinski via decision
– Taylor Pearman def. Mike Perez via decision
– Devhonte Johnson def. Taylor Pearman via decision
SQUADS NA VS. EU – 2ND ROUND RESULTS
– Santeri Lilius def. Mike Perez via RNC
– Santeri Lilius def. Kieran Kichuk via decision
– Devhonte Johnson def. Santeri Lilius via RNC
– Eoghan O’Flannagan def. Devhonte Johnson via decision
– Chris Wojcik def. Eoghan O’Flannagan via decision
– Jozef Chen def. Chris Wojcik via decision
– PJ Barch def. Jozef Chen via decision
– Paweł Jaworski def. PJ Barch via decision
– Julian Espinosa def. – Paweł Jaworski via decision
– Mateusz Szczecinski def. Julian Espinosa via decision
– Mateusz Szczecinski def. Chris Wojcik via decision
SUPERFIGHT
– Helena Crevar def. Anabel Lopez via decision