Two-time IBJJF gi world champion Nicholas Meregali is set to make his much-anticipated no-gi competition debut. On Friday, March 25, Meregali will take on Arnaldo Maidana in a 15-minute submission-only match at Who’s Number One.
FloGrappling announced the match-up on Instagram.
Meregali won the IBJJF Worlds as a black belt in 2017 and 2019. At the 2021 Worlds, he was disqualified from competing in both his weight division and absolute final after he made an obscene gesture during a semifinal match against Victor Hugo.
Since the 2021 Worlds, Meregali has focused his efforts on no-gi competition, training alongside ADCC champion Gordon Ryan and under the tutelage of John Danaher. To the surprise of some, Meregali was granted an invite to compete in the 2022 ADCC World Championships.
Maidana is a veteran black belt competitor. He won the 2017 no-gi Worlds — likely his biggest accomplishment to-date. Maidana is no stranger to the submission-only ruleset, as he is a frequent competitor on the Fight To Win stage. And although Maidana has struggled to win against elite competition lately, he does hold notable wins over Max Gimenis, Fellipe Trovo, and Patrick Gaudio.
How to watch: Who’s Number One takes place on Friday, March 25 and will air live on FloGrappling (subscription required).
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