Tag: ADCC

Watch: Gordon Ryan Defeats Felipe Pena and Yuri Simoes in Consecutive ADCC Superfights

Watch: Gordon Ryan Defeats Felipe Pena and Yuri Simoes in Consecutive ADCC SuperfightsGordon Ryan won not one, but two superfights while competing at this year’s ADCC tournament in Las Vegas. As…

Watch: Gordon Ryan Defeats Felipe Pena and Yuri Simoes in Consecutive ADCC Superfights

Gordon Ryan won not one, but two superfights while competing at this year’s ADCC tournament in Las Vegas.

As the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational kicked off two miles down the road, ‘The King’ returned to the stage inside T-Mobile Arena for a pair of big BJJ matchups, the first coming against 2017 Absolute champion Felipe Pena.

Closing out Day 1 of this year’s ADCC, Ryan and Pena wasn’t exactly the most eventful meeting between the two with the bout failing to even hit the ground for the first five of their 20-minute regulation round. Eventually, Ryan snatched a single leg and dumped Ryan. Once on the mat, Ryan settled into half-guard while Pena threatened a footlock, and that’s pretty much where the match stayed for the remainder of the round.

During the overtime period, a scramble nearly ended with Pena on Ryan’s back, but ‘The King’ managed to get the top position, earning him the only two points awarded during the match.

Gordon Ryan becomes a seven-time ADCC World champion

The very next night, Ryan returned and delivered a much more dominant showing against two-time ADCC champion Yuri Simoes.

Ryan racked up points by improving position, going from mount back to half-guard repeatedly. The action was fast and furious in this one as ‘The King’ continuously attacked his opponent’s arm. Simoes ended the bout attempting to cinch in an ankle lock but was unable to force the tap before the clock ran out.

With the win, Gordon Ryan became a seven-time ADCC champion.

Gordon Ryan

Across the street, Nicky Rod completed his impressive run at the CJI, submitting all four of his opponents via rear-naked choke to claim the $1 million prize in the Over 80kg division. Following his seven-figure win over Fellipe Andrew, Rod issued a $2 million rematch challenge to Ryan.

“The only thing better than one million dollars is two million dollars,” Rod said in a post-match interview. “So let’s do this: I want a bet match with Mr. Gordon Ryan. Because I know in my bones that I’m the actual best grappler on the planet, so let’s do this, Bubba. My $1 million versus your $1 million, winner-take-all bet match. Come get some.”

Mackenzie Dern on Craig Jones Invitational Money: ‘I couldn’t say no’

Mackenzie Dern on Craig Jones Invitational Money: 'I couldn’t say no'Mackenzie Dern’s decision to forgo competing at this year’s ADCC tournament in favor of the Craig Jones Invitational came…

Mackenzie Dern on Craig Jones Invitational Money: 'I couldn’t say no'

Mackenzie Dern’s decision to forgo competing at this year’s ADCC tournament in favor of the Craig Jones Invitational came down to one simple motivator.

The CJI will make its highly anticipated debut this weekend (August 16-17) in Las Vegas featuring some of the biggest names in the BJJ game, including ONE world champions Kade and Tye Ruotolo, Renato Canuto, Tommy Langaker, Nicky Rod, and former UFC middleweight titleholder Luke Rockhold.

CJI
CJI

Also featuring on the card will be a pair of intriguing superfights. Craig Jones squares off with nine-time world champion Gabi Garcia in a crossover match while former ADCC champion Mackenzie Dern meets defending ADCC gold medalist Ffion Davies.

Mackenzie Dern at CJI

Originally, Dern was planning to compete at this year’s ADCC tournament, but as the old adage goes, money talks.

“The biggest motivation was the purse and that they were going to pay the women’s fight such a good amount for a super fight,” Dern told the Beasts With Brains podcast. “So, for me, I was going to do ADCC. I already have that title, and then to have my UFC fight scheduled so close, I didn’t think it was fair to pull out of ADCC if anything were to happen.

“I made that clear with Craig: I need to have a backup if I leave. I have a good relationship with ADCC. I’m so supportive. But, it’s at T-Mobile Arena and, like I said, the money is the same as it was 10 years ago. To get this amount of money for a women’s fight, I couldn’t say no” (h/t MMA Mania).

Craig Jones poaches Mackenzie Dern and other ADCC stars with promises of a higher purse

ADCC will also go down this weekend in ‘Sin City,’ but without many of its top stars after the CJI swayed competitors to its tourney with promises of a higher purse. The ADCC only pays its champions $10,000 despite bringing in millions in revenue.

On the other hand, Jones will pay everyone competing at the CJI $10,001 with $1 million going to the winner of each bracket. Because of that, Jones managed to poach numerous ADCC champions and other high-level grapplers to his inaugural event.

The CJI will emanate from T-Mobile Arena while ADCC heads to the Thomas and Mack Arena across town.

CJI

Craig Jones praises UFC LW champion’s ground skills: “Makhachev’s grappling is superior to what a lot of the traditional jiu-jitsu guys do”

Craig jonesTwo-time ADCC world championship medallist Craig Jones had high praise for the grappling skills of newly crowned UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev. There is no doubt that Makhachev possesses credible striking skills, but it is the Dagestani’s grappling prowess that has seen him roll through the lightweight division. Makhachev’s ability to get the fight to […]

Craig jones

Two-time ADCC world championship medallist Craig Jones had high praise for the grappling skills of newly crowned UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev.

There is no doubt that Makhachev possesses credible striking skills, but it is the Dagestani’s grappling prowess that has seen him roll through the lightweight division. Makhachev’s ability to get the fight to the ground and maintain top control has seen him stop his past five opponents, including submitting Charles Oliveira, who holds the UFC’s record for most submissions.

Craig Jones, who is amongst some of the best grapplers in the world, would credit Makhachev and his system of grappling that he and others from that part of the world use.

“I honestly agree when Makhachev says a lot of people deserve to have their black belts taken away,” Jones said. “I kind of agree with that. I think what those guys are doing is sort of superior to what we’ve been doing for a long time. Cause we build and entire sport around conceding bottom position.

“I’m not one of those guys that says we should grapple with people who ae striking us, but I believe we should grapple as if the top guy knows how to pass and pin,” he added. “A lot of guys don’t mind being on bottom because they’ve never rolled with a guy that knows how to pass guard or pin someone. So they don’t know how fatiguing and horrible it is.”

Jones would continue, saying that Makhachev’s style is a nightmare for some traditional BJJ athletes.

“Everyone thinks they’re good at guard until they come across a guy that really can pass well,” Jones said. “And then suddenly they think, ‘**t. I’d rather be standing, I’d rather be on top.’ But they don’t know to get there and if they do they don’t know how to hold someone down.

“I think Makhachev’s grappling is superior to what a lot of the traditional jiu-jitsu guys do, cause they don’t know how to hold someone down. They have no idea how to do it. So, we really gotta reverse engineer what Makhachev’s doing, which I’ve been trying to do on top, and then I’m trying to teach these guys how to do it so I can practice doing it on bottom.”

Do you agree with Craig Jones?

Video – Gordon Ryan submits rival Andre Galvao to clinch ADCC 2022 superfight championship

Gordon RyanDecorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace, Gordon Ryan has become the first in competition history to clinch gold in three separate weight divisions at ADCC, clinching the 2022 super-fight championship courtesy of a rear-naked choke win over decorated Brazilian rival, Andre Galvao in Las Vegas, Nevada over the course of the weekend. Ryan, 27, a native of […]

Gordon Ryan

Decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace, Gordon Ryan has become the first in competition history to clinch gold in three separate weight divisions at ADCC, clinching the 2022 super-fight championship courtesy of a rear-naked choke win over decorated Brazilian rival, Andre Galvao in Las Vegas, Nevada over the course of the weekend.

Ryan, 27, a native of New Jersey, managed to improve his submission grappling record to 152-9-3 over the course of the weekend in ‘Sin City’ – dispatching Heikki Jussila, Victor Hugo, Roosevelt Souza, and Nick Rodriguez, en route to his rear-naked choke win over Brazilian grappling favorite, Galvao. 

With four minutes remaining following a period of dominant control, Gordon Ryan, who was 12-0 up against six-time ADCC championship victor, Galvao, managed to land a massive rear-naked choke win over the soon-to-be 40-year-old, with Ryan nabbing his fifth title under the ADCC banner, as well as capping off his undefeated weekend with the super-fight championship title. 

Sharing the mats following years of speculation regarding a potential tangle, Ryan and Galvao have shared a distinct rivalry in that time to boot, with the two involved in a rather high-profile physical altercation last year, with the former appearing to slap Galvao during an engagement. 

With the stunning submission win over Sao Paulo native, Galvao, Ryan now holds a staggering 128 separate submission wins as a professional – throughout a decorated submission grappling career. 

Gordon Ryan inked a deal with ONE Championship last year

Linked with a potential debut in professional mixed martial arts, Gordon Ryan penned a multi-fight deal with the Chatri Sityodtong-led ONE Championship back in March of last year, and was open to the possibility of competing in both combat sports and submission grappling. At the time of publication, Ryan has yet to make his debut in professional mixed martial arts competition.

Chael Sonnen Scores Victory vs. Leo Vieira at ADCC in Finland

Former UFC title contender Chael Sonnen earned a decision vs. Leo Vieira in Finland Sunday during the second day of the Abu Dhabi Combat Club. Following 15 scoreless minutes of action, a referee decision was awarded to Sonnen over the two-time ADCC 145-pound champion in a super-fight. He was bested by Craig Jones in the […]

Former UFC title contender Chael Sonnen earned a decision vs. Leo Vieira in Finland Sunday during the second day of the Abu Dhabi Combat Club. Following 15 scoreless minutes of action, a referee decision was awarded to Sonnen over the two-time ADCC 145-pound champion in a super-fight. He was bested by Craig Jones in the […]

TFC 24: Anthony Johnson to Debut at 205, Braulio Estima to Just Plain Debut


(Why yes, Bas, I *will* have another bear claw.) 

Fresh off a unanimous decision victory over a Carl’s Jr., wait, I meant Dave Branch at Titan Fighting Championship 22, it looks like an opponent, date, and location has been set for Anthony Johnson’s light heavyweight debut. Johnson will be squaring off against 8-3 KOTC veteran Esteves Jones on August 24th at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas, at Titan Fighting Championships 24. The chance to finally see Johnson fighting somewhere around his actual weight has to inspire confidence that he will actually make weight this time, a feat in and of itself that “Rumble” has failed to do in his past two fights, and about every other fight before that.

When asked to comment on his newfound diet, Johnson could only mumble “It’s great” through a mouthful of Steak-umms.

Regardless of his training/diet regimen, Johnson should have little trouble putting away Jones, who holds a notable win over Darrill “Titties” Schoonover and no one else. Then again, his nickname is “Quiet Riot”, who were arguably one of the better mainstream metal bands of the 80’s, so…honestly, I don’t really know where I was going with that. Jones is a dead man.

But even better than the news that Johnson may actually defeat an opponent without having to hand over 20% of his purse afterward is the fact that also on the card, a certain BJJ legend will be making his MMA debut.

Details are after the jump. 


(Why yes, Bas, I *will* have another bear claw.) 

Fresh off a unanimous decision victory over a Carl’s Jr., wait, I meant Dave Branch at Titan Fighting Championship 22, it looks like an opponent, date, and location has been set for Anthony Johnson’s light heavyweight debut. Johnson will be squaring off against 8-3 KOTC veteran Esteves Jones on August 24th at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas, at Titan Fighting Championships 24. The chance to finally see Johnson fighting somewhere around his actual weight has to inspire confidence that he will actually make weight this time, a feat in and of itself that “Rumble” has failed to do in his past two fights, and about every other fight before that.

When asked to comment on his newfound diet, Johnson could only mumble “It’s great” through a mouthful of Steak-umms.

Regardless of his training/diet regimen, Johnson should have little trouble putting away Jones, who holds a notable win over Darrill “Titties” Schoonover and no one else. Then again, his nickname is “Quiet Riot”, who were arguably one of the better mainstream metal bands of the 80′s, so…honestly, I don’t really know where I was going with that. Jones is a dead man.

But even better than the news that Johnson may actually defeat an opponent without having to hand over 20% of his purse afterward is the fact that also on the card, a certain BJJ legend will be making his MMA debut.

Possibly in an effort to finally get that match with Nick Diaz, two time ADCC champion (among many, many other things) Braulio Estima will be making his MMA debut at TFC 24 as well. Fighting at 170 lbs., Estima will try to avoid the powerful hands of Chris Holland, a 5-3 knockout artist who most recently dispatched Phil Baroni in the second round of their ROF 43 scrap back in June. Estima, who last competed and defeated former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo Souza at the 2011 ADCC Absolute Trials, stated that his debut is less about achieving a title and all the glory that comes with it, and more about testing the waters of a whole new sport:

Georges St-Pierre is at the top of this weight class. But still, I like the challenge. I’m already very successful in other areas, I have a successful gym in Birmingham, and I do very well with my grappling career, so this move to MMA is not about the money. It is not about fame. It is about pushing myself and seeing how far I can go in this new area. I am having fun training with the Blackzilians and learning MMA. I want to enjoy the ride, and keep moving forward. 

As long as Estima can develop some solid striking skills, or at least defense, he could find himself in the sport’s highest promotion before too long. The man’s ground game is second to none, and at only 32 years of age, Estima also has a little bit of time on his side to work on his standup and takedowns. Agree or disagree?

–J. Jones