The highly anticipated return of Gordon Ryan to the ADCC stage has taken an unexpected turn. Initially, it was widely reported that the grappling phenom would participate in both a division and a superfight at the upcoming ADCC event. However, a recent update on the ADCC official website suggests a different plan.
According to the latest announcement, Gordon Ryan will forgo competing in the division and instead focus solely on two separate superfights. The first will pit him against Yuri Simoes, the reigning ADCC Absolute champion, while the second will be a long-awaited rematch against Felipe Pena.
The decision to opt-out of the divisional competition comes as a surprise, given Ryan’s previous indications of potentially entering the 88kg category to avoid potential clashes with his teammates Giancarlo Bodoni and Nicholas Meregali. This move was seen as a strategic maneuver to navigate the complexities of competing against fellow teammates.
Ryan’s choice to concentrate on the superfights could be influenced by his ongoing health issues, including severe stomach problems that have plagued him in the past. Last year, a bout of stomach flu forced him to withdraw from his highly-anticipated rematch against Felipe Pena, which was ultimately contested between Pena and Nick Rodriguez, who stepped in as a last-minute replacement.
The animosity between Ryan and Pena has only intensified since then, with Ryan publicly criticizing Pena for what he perceives as a “history of quitting” and a tendency to “give up when the going gets tough.” After Pena’s recent loss at a UFC Fight Pass event, Ryan took to social media to blast his rival, accusing him of having a “chronic issue with giving up.”
While the pair have unfinished business, Ryan believes that the longer Pena waits for their rematch, the more one-sided the contest will become in his favor. “The longer that match takes to happen, the worse it’s going to be for him,” Ryan stated.
As the ADCC event approaches, all eyes will be on these two highly-anticipated superfights, where Gordon Ryan will have the opportunity to silence his critics and cement his legacy as one of the greatest grapplers of all time.
