The middleweight division at the WNO Championship is full of young blood, and some of the sport’s top rising stars will face off in an 8-man bracket for a grand total of $30,000. 

The average age of this division is only 22, making it the youngest division in the entire tournament. 

The competitors all made weight on Friday, Sept 24 stepping on the scales as follows: 

• Micael Galvao - 184.5
• Jacob Couch - 183.8
• William Tackett - 183.8
• Tye Ruotolo - 178.2
• Roberto Jimenez - 179.8
• Jon Blank - 184
• Johnny Tama - 178
• Dante Leon - 182

Here is the 185lb bracket: 

Tye Ruotolo

#1-ranked 170lb no-gi grappler 

WNO Record:  3-1

Age: 18

DOB: January 22, 2003

Height: 5'10

Team: Atos

From: Huntington Beach, CA

Fighting out of: San Diego, CA

Got black belt: n/a 

Coach: Andre Galvao 

Breakout stats: 

• Most experienced WNO veteran in the 185lb lineup 

• Second youngest competitor in the bracket 

Micael Galvao

#8-ranked 185lb no-gi grappler 

Major titles: 

• IBJJF Pan No-Gi brown belt champion 

• 3CG Middleweight GP winner 

WNO Record: 2-0

Age: 17 

DOB: October 8, 2003

Height: 5'9"

Team: Fight Sports 

From: Manuas, Brazil 

Fighting out of: Manaus / Miami 

Got black belt: n/a 

Coach: Melqui Galvao 

Breakout stats: 

• Youngest competitor in the WNO 185lb division (17 years 11 months, 2 weeks, and 2 days old)  

• Holds win over Andrew Tackett, the younger brother of his first round opponent, William. 

William Tackett

#4-ranked 185lb no-gi grappler 

Major titles: 

• 2020 Breakthrough Grappler Of The Year 

WNO Record: 1-1 

Age: 20

DOB: May 14, 2001

Height: 5'10" 

Team: Checkmat 

From: Austin, TX 

Fighting out of: Austin, TX 

Got black belt: March 2020 

Coach: Rodrigo "Brucutu" Cabral 

Breakout stats: 

• 2020 FloGrappling Breakout Grappler Of The Year

• Looking to avenge loss against Tye Ruotolo AND his brother's loss to Mica Galvao. 

Dante Leon

#3-ranked 170lb no-gi grappler 

Major titles: 

• 2019 IBJJF World No-Gi champion  

• KASAI 170lb champion  

• 2x IBJJF Pan No-Gi champion 

WNO Record: 1-2 

Age: 25 

DOB: May 6, 1995

Height: 5’8

Team: Adamas Jiu-Jitsu 

From: Harlow, Canada 

Fighting out of: Toledo, Ohio 

Got black belt: June 2017 

Coach: n/a 

Breakout stats: 

• Has not fought in the gi since Worlds 2019 

Jon Blank

#5-ranked 185lb no-gi grappler 

Major titles: 

• EBI Combat Jiu-Jitsu 185lb champion 

• 3rd Place 2019 ADCC Trials  

WNO Record:  0-1

Age: 27 

DOB: December 29, 1993

Height: 5’9” 

Team: 10th Planet 

From: Bethlehem, PA 

Fighting out of: Bethlehem, PA 

Got black belt: December 2018 

Coach: Zach Maslany & JM Holland 

Breakout stats: 

• 70% of wins via submission 

Roberto Jimenez

#2-ranked 185lb no-gi grappler 

Major titles: 

• IBJJF World No-Gi champion (brown belt absolute)  

• 2x 3CG Middleweight GP winner (170lb, 180lb) 

WNO Record: 1-2 

Age: 20

DOB: May 19, 2000

Height: 6’0” 

Team: Studio 76 

From: USA / Ecuador 

Fighting out of: Las Vegas, NV 

Got black belt: Jan 2020 

Coach: Raul Jimenez 

Breakout stats: 

• First black belt match was a win over Keenan Cornelius 

• Had 40 matches in his rookie year as a black belt, went 30-10 

• Only had 12 matches this year 

Jacob Couch

Unranked 

Major titles: 

• 2020 IBJJF Pan No-Gi champion (purple belt, weight and absolute) 

WNO Record:  0-1

Age: 22 

DOB: Feb 3, 1999

Height: 6’0” 

Team: Pedigo Submission Fighting 

From: Hazard, KY

Fighting out of: Mount Vernon, IL

Got black belt: n/a 

Coach: Heath Pedigo 

Breakout stats: 

• Holds a submission win (inside heel hook) over 2015 ADCC +99kg silver medalist Jared Dopp 

Johnny Tama

#5-ranked 170lb no-gi grappler 

Major titles: 

• 2019 IBJJF World No-Gi champion 

WNO Record: 0-1 

Age: 28 

DOB: Oct 20, 1992 

Height: 5’8” 

Team: Alliance 

From: Guayaquil, Ecuador 

Fighting out of: San Diego, CA

Got black belt: Dec 2016 

Coach: 

Breakout stats: 

• Came in as the last man in the bracket, as late replacement