In the wake of Leandro Lo’s tragic murder in Brazil this past weekend, yesterday’s WNO event headlined by Gordon Ryan and Felipe Pena took on a somber tone. Many of the athletes on the main card had personal connections and rivalries with the grappling legend, and post fight interviews, like those of Nicholas Meregali and Rafael Lovato Jr., filled with expressions of sadness, remembering his life and decrying the horror of his death. That said, the card out of Austin, Texas delivered memorable matches that culminated in a somewhat bizarre main event finish.
Ryan defeated Pena after a 44-minute nogi brawl.