Gordon Ryan has responded to a $1 million problem match from former teammate Nick Rodriguez and has offered many stipulations for that match to happen.
A 3rd showdown between former Danaher Loss of life Squad teammates Gordon Ryan and Nick Rodriguez is presently one of many greatest matches to be made in submission grappling.
Earlier this month, Rodriguez gained the +80kg division on the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) with a one hundred pc submission fee, successful the $1 million prize. Instantly following his tournament-clinching victory over Fellipe Andrew, Rodriguez took to the mic to suggest a $1 million guess match towards Ryan.
That very same weekend, Ryan competed in two superfights on the 2024 ADCC World Championships, incomes factors victories over long-time rival Felipe Pena and 2022 ADCC absolute champion Yuri Simoes.
On Wednesday, Ryan formally responded to Rodriguez’s call-out.
In brief, Ryan accepted the $1 million problem however hooked up quite a lot of stipulations. First, Ryan says that the match have to be a no-time-limit, submission-only match. He additionally says that each athletes should put on long-sleeve rash guards and full-length spats in an effort to decrease the possibilities of greasing. Lastly, Ryan says that the match will solely occur on a date of his selecting, on a platform of his selecting, and provided that and when he’s wholesome.
Regarded by many as the game’s prime pound-for-pound grappler, Ryan has competed sometimes over the previous couple of years, typically citing ongoing abdomen points that he claims restrict each his coaching and talent to eat meals.
For his half, Rodriguez has been angling for a match against Ryan for some time. The pair first collided within the closing of the +99kg division on the 2022 ADCC World Championships, the place Ryan picked up a comparatively fast heel hook victory. A couple of months later, they met once more on the UFC Battle Go Invitational. That evening, Ryan earned a slim win by way of EBI time beyond regulation – and shortly accused Rodriguez of greasing after that match.
