Ryan Talks Jones’ Retirement, Japan Trying To Kill A Sakuraba – BJJ Beat

This edition of the BJJ Beat covers Gordon Ryan discussing Jon Jones’ UFC 309 win, and the continuing tradition of Japan trying to kill a Sakuraba!

Welcome to the BJJ Beat! On this recurring feature, we’ll tackle the biggest news from the professional grappling scene, and roll everything up in an easily digestible and familiar jiu-jitsu format.

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Warm Ups

BJJ coach Gordon Ryan wants Jon Jones to continue fighting

Gordon Ryan was in Jon Jones’ corner at UFC 309, and the Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) great says Jones still has “so much more” to learn despite already looking dominant on the ground.

As for Jones’ next move, Ryan says he’s a bit conflicted on retirement, but mostly wants the UFC champion to continue fighting.

“It is very inspiring to be around greatness. As a fan, I want to see him continue because hes as exciting as they come and never loses. As a coach, I want to see him continue because despite being better than everyone else, there is so much more for him to learn,” Gordon Ryan wrote. “As a friend, I want to see him to whatever his heart desires. I want him to press forward if he wants or to leave the sport on top after being on top since the very beginning. I want to see him happy regardless of what he decides to do next.

“I can’t take credit for any part of Jons career, but I am very thankful to be a small part of such an amazing legacy. Thank you for choosing me to help you, and thank you for your friendship. Enjoy this time off that you deserve, and don’t let anyone tell you what to do. Not the fans, not the fighters, only you. You’re the one and only.”

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Drills

JMMA tradition of trying to kill a Sakuraba continues!

“The Gracie Hunter” Kazushi Sakuraba is an icon in Japanese MMA, but it was almost a running joke among fans that promoters might’ve been trying to kill him with all those dangerous matches late in his career.

He was KO’d by Melvin Manhoef at 39, then closed out his career deep into his 40s with five straight losses to much younger champions like Marius Zaromskis and Shinya Aoki.

The UFC Hall of Famer’s son, Taisei Sakuraba, is now looking to follow in his father’s footsteps. Unfortunately for him, it looks like that brutal matchmaking will carry over onto the next generation.

“Saku Jr.” is now set to compete in MMA for the very first time, and RIZIN booked him straight away against a veteran title contender in Yusuke Yachi (27-14).

Yachi, 34, is undefeated in his last four RIZIN fights. His only loss in almost three years happened in his Bellator fight against Mansour Barnaoui.

The younger Sakuraba, 26, has been primarily a grappler, with a couple of appearances in Quintet team grappling. He submitted 45-year-old Olympic Judo champ Masato Uchishiba in 2023, and went to a draw with 38-year-old RIZIN vet Kazuma Kuramoto last October. After taking on older grapplers, Saku Jr. somehow got a massive step up now that strikes are involved.

Japan’s storied New Year’s Eve specials typically play on nostalgia. It seems like on the next one, RIZIN is keeping the tradition of brutalizing a Sakuraba alive and well.

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Move of the Day

UFC vet Derek Brunson submitted at ADXC 9 main event

Longtime UFC middleweight contender Derek Brunson kept active in grappling, while waiting on his next PFL fight. He headlined ADXC 9 against a BJJ star turned UFC fighter in Rodolfo Viera. After some early wrestling exchanges, the five-time IBJJF world champ unsurprisingly took over once he got things to the ground.

Viera easily passed then finished Brunson with an arm triangle. Video of the finish is below, and full results can be found here.

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Rolls

UFC FPI 9 and WNO 25 fight cards are shaping up nicely

Who’s Number One 25 (WNO 25) and UFC Fight Pass Invitational 9 (UFC FPI 9) are happening on back-to-back days on December 4 and 5, respectively.

As reported earlier, the first ever official UFC grappler Mikey Musumeci headlines UFC FPI 9, while the two ADCC 2024 double gold medalists are highlighted on WNO 25.

More bouts have since been confirmed for both events, including recent PGF champion Ryan Aitken and CJI vet and decorate wrestler Jason Nolf joining UFC FPI 9 on separate bouts. CJI fan favorite Andrew Tackett unfortunately pulled out of WNO 25.

Both line ups are below.

UFC Fight Pass Invitational 9

December 5, 2024

Mikey Musumeci vs. Felipe Machado
Jason Nolf vs. Renato Canuto
Raquel Canuto vs. Michele Oliveira
Ryan Aitken vs. Gabriel Almeida
Nick Mataya vs. Rolando Junior
Kyle Chambers vs. Jonnatas Gracie
Damien Anderson vs. Sandrey Silva

WNO 25

December 4, 2024

Main card:

Kaynan Duarte vs Roberto Jimenez
Pedro Marinho vs Izaak Michell – WNO light heavyweight title
Adele Fornarino vs Alex Nguyen – WNO strawweight title
Felipe Pena vs Declan Moody
Helena Crevar vs Leilani Bernales
Daniel Sathler vs Fabyury Khrysthyan
Max Hanson vs Carlos Henrique

Prelims:

Julian Espinosa vs Randy Baker
Emelio Hernandez vs Isaac Cordova
Dylan Melton vs Sebastian Attard
Thaynara Victoria vs Kathryn Discianni

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Cooldown

Shinya Aoki being fed to a young BJJ star (again)?

Sakuraba isn’t the only one getting rough matches in Asia. Shinya Aoki, now 41 years old, is seemingly about to be resume fodder to yet another young BJJ star. This time, ONE Championship has booked him against recent signee and AOJ product Cole Abate. It’s a weird match up, especially with a more age appropriate grappler available.

Looking at the bright side, unlike the Sakurabas, at least Aoki won’t be getting strikes to the head.

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Review

To close things out, here are other interesting BJJ stories you might have missed:

• UFC Grappling League! – UFC plans to “take over jiu-jitsu” using the same business model they use in MMA, and Mikey Musumeci warns that it will upset a lot of people.
• Diego Pato shined at the 2024 IBJJF Crown, while BJJ star Tainan Dalpra pulled out due to injury before the finals. Apparently Dalpra came in with a broken hand, and still went 2-0 in the event.
• Sandbagger, or IBJJF blunder? – A decorated wrestling champ will go from facing Gordon Ryan and dominating Luke Rockhold to a… blue belt tournament! It might not be his fault entirely, but a bunch of random hobbyists are about to get rag-dolled.

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