A big moment is on the rise for WNO 27 as Kaynan Duarte and Nick Rodriguez are set to compete in the main event, which has received the hype of being one of the biggest grappling matches of the year.

• Victor Hugo To Face Luke Griffith In Major Heavyweight Match At WNO 27
• Nick Rodriguez To Face Kaynan Duarte In WNO 27 Main Event In Round Rock, TX
• Elisabeth Clay To Defend WNO Championship Against Helena Crevar At WNO 27

Who's Number One is not like any other grappling promotion. It features 15-minute matches in which victory can only be attained through submission rather than by decision.

Nick Rodriguez has long demonstrated that he is among the upper echelon of top grapplers worldwide, and he has many accolades to prove it.

Here are five things to know about Nick Rodriguez, aka Nicky Rod, ahead of the big match.

How To Watch WNO 27

• WNO 27 is set to be streamed live and archived on FloGrappling and the FloSports app.

1. Rodriguez Has Another Nickname

• Many fans and his peers know Rodriguez as Nicky Rod, but he is also known as the Black Belt Slayer.
• The backstory of this name comes from earlier in his career when he defeated veteran black belts during various competitions.
• It is not crazy to say that Nicky Rod had a quick rise to the top compared to others, which is what makes him great.

2. Nick Was A Division III Wrestler

• Before becoming one of the best grapplers in the world, Rodriguez started as a college wrestler at Ferrum for one year.
• During that season, Rodriguez had an impressive record of 34-7 and would place fourth in the East Regionals in an attempt to make the NCAA tournament, but would come up short.
• Success at the collegiate level gave him the confidence to pursue a professional career in late 2018.

3. He Won One Of His First Competitions As A Blue Belt

• Competing in his first IBJJF World Championships, Rodriguez won first place as a blue belt.
• This was when Nick was a part of the Danaher Death Squad by Coach Regalbuto, and he began to build up for the ADCC Trials.
• One month later, he finished third in the East trials but first in the West to qualify for the ADCC World Championships.

4. Nicky Rod Loves The RNC

• Knowing that Rodriguez has battled in some of the most intense submission grappling events, it is essential to have a go-to move for opponents.
• The rear naked choke has become a staple for Rodriguez. He has used it for 11 of his 17 black belt submission wins, accounting for 65 percent of his wins.
• His last four wins have come from the rear naked choke. However, his first match of 2025 resulted in a loss to Victor Hugo, who used the choke to win.

5. Rodriguez Won The Inaugural Craig Jones Invitational

• In August 2024, Nick Rodriguez won the 80kg+ division over Fellipe Andrew with the rear naked choke to win the grand prize of $1 million at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
• The match ended in only about three and a half minutes in the first round.
• Rodriguez earned his black belt from Craig Jones, his teammate, in late 2023.

How To Buy Tickets For WNO 27

• Tickets for WNO 27 can be purchased here on the behalf of FloSports

WNO 27: Duarte vs Rodriguez Main Card

• Heavyweight Main Event - Kaynan Duarte vs Nick Rodriguez
• Heavyweight Bout - Victor Hugo vs Luke Griffith
• WNO Featherweight Championship Bout - Elisabeth Clay vs Helena Crevar
• Welterweight Bout - Andrew Tackett vs Fabyury Khrysthyan
• Lightweight Bout - Owen Jones vs Julian Espinosa
• Light Heavyweight Bout - Xande Ribeiro vs Richie Martinez

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