Elisabeth Clay is set to make her first WNO Featherweight Championship defense against rising star Helena Crevar at WNO 27, taking place on April 18 in Round Rock, TX. This highly anticipated matchup will showcase two of the best female grapplers in the world, competing under 15-minute submission-only rules to determine who reigns supreme.
The evening will be headlined by a heavyweight showdown between ADCC Absolute Champion Kaynan Duarte and CJI Champion Nick Rodriguez, in what is being hailed as the biggest match in WNO history.
A Long-Awaited Rematch
This is a rematch years in the making. Clay and Crevar first met at an ADCC Trials event, where Clay secured a submission victory over a then 15-year-old Crevar. Since that match, Crevar has developed into one of the top pound-for-pound talents in grappling, setting the stage for an explosive rematch.
Elisabeth Clay, the youngest athlete ever to win an ADCC Trials, has continued her dominance in the sport. After claiming the WNO title with a decision victory over Brianna Ste-Marie—thanks to her aggressive leg lock attempts and dominant positioning—she took a break in 2024 to welcome her first child. Clay made a strong return later in the year, winning double gold at No-Gi Pans and securing an IBJJF No-Gi World Championship.
Meanwhile, Helena Crevar has been making history of her own. She became the youngest ADCC medalist ever, earning silver in the -65kg division, and followed it up with a Polaris title in the UK. Training under John Danaher at New Wave, Crevar’s guard has evolved into one of the toughest to crack, with relentless offensive attacks on both the upper and lower body.
A Stacked WNO 27 Main Card
This championship bout rounds out the WNO 27 main card, which is loaded with elite talent. Here is what to expect on April 18:
Heavyweight Main Event – Kaynan Duarte vs. Nick Rodriguez
Heavyweight Bout – Victor Hugo vs. Luke Griffith
WNO Featherweight Championship – Elisabeth Clay (C) 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
Stay tuned for the full undercard announcement, featuring some of the best up-and-coming talent from the Austin area.
WNO 27 will be streaming live on FloGrappling.
