The Tezos Who's Number One light heavyweight champion is ready to defend his title at Tezos WNO 21, which takes place on Nov. 30 at the Palmer Event Center in Austin, TX. Pedro Marinho will put his strength and technique to the test against the experienced Rafael Lovato Jr. in the co-main event of the Thursday night card, which will be headlined by Gordon Ryan and Lucas Hulk.

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Initially scheduled to face Lovato at Tezos WNO 20, Pedro withdrew from the card due to an injury. Despite Marinho's absence, Lovato still showed up for the card and submitted Ricardo Evangelista, who took the fight at the last minute. 

With another submission victory under his name on WNO, Lovato once again set his sights on the 205 lb title and, consequently, the reigning champ.

A Gracie Barra black belt, Pedro Marinho will face an experienced and dangerous opponent. An IBJJF Worlds and Brasileiros Champion, and a multiple-time ADCC medalist, Lovato might be in his best form, as he brings his extensive arsenal to the title bout. However, whether it's with or without the gi, Marinho is dangerous, as he boasts an explosive game and sharp wrestling to defend his crown. 

In the interview below, Marinho talks about his plan to emerge victorious in his second title defense, his efforts to entertain the crowd without putting himself at unnecessary risk against a dangerous opponent, and how this fight against Lovato will mark a step taken toward his legacy in the sport.

Check it out and don't miss Tezos WNO 21, on Nov. 30, live and exclusively on FloGrappling.

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FLOGRAPPLING: A champion and veteran of the event, you're returning to Tezos WNO after an injury and are to put on a show. How do you feel about facing Rafael Lovato Jr. in the upcoming match?

PEDRO MARINHO: I'm very excited, I've wanted this fight for a while. My goal has always been to fight against athletes whom I idolized, and now I have the chance to face Lovato, who is a world champion and a reference who has been fighting and winning for several generations. He challenged me for the title right after beating Elder "El Monstro" Cruz and I immediately got hyped. I feel honored to be able to fight a legend and to start building my own legacy.

Lovato might be masters eligible, but he often competes and excels against younger men. He's full of energy and classic moves that may bring some surprises. Have you studied his game? What did you analyze?

I've followed Lovato's career for a long time, so I know he's an explosive athlete, with great wrestling and a very good foundation in Jiu-Jitsu. People talk about his age, but all I see is one of the best fighters of all time, a guy who found victory in both Jiu-Jitsu and MMA. But my focus is not on his strong suits, but mine. I know my fighting style is dominant and I intend to use that in the match. I'm training to face the best version of Lovato because that's the one I want to beat.

How do you intend to strike the right balance between entertainment in the fight and not overexposing yourself to such an experienced and dangerous opponent?

I always try to entertain the crowds without forgetting about Jiu-Jitsu itself, which must always be executed in a calm, well-thought, and strategic fashion. While Lovato's experience may bring him some degree of comfort, I feel like I've also been through a lot of ups and downs in my career. I've won and lost memorable fights against great athletes, so I know that nothing can shake me. This knowledge keeps me calm and confident to just get on the mat and focus on doing my best. I just want to put my game into practice and bring home another win. Take down, pass, and lock, that's always the plan.

You have shown great performances both with and without the gi. What do you think is the main difference between these fighting styles, and how can one improve upon the other?

I think each style has its own particularity. A no-gi athlete who intends to switch to the gi needs to learn about lapels and grips. A gi fighter who's looking to try his hand at grappling needs to work a lot on his wrestling and how to pull guard without grips, because it's very different. I'm always looking to fight against the best in the sport, so I just can't choose between these styles. I really like fighting in both of them.