Voting is now open for the 2022 FloGrappling Awards. Read below to see which five athletes have been nominated for Male Grappler of the Year, and cast your ballot in the form at the end of this article.

Tune in live for the official award show on Thursday, January 12 at 2pm CT!

Gordon Ryan

Given the number of times Gordon Ryan has earned a grappler of the year nomination, he has a high bar for consideration on this list. Grappling fans are no longer surprised when Gordon does something exceptional; but this year was transcendent for Gordon, nonetheless.

"The King" had nine matches in 2022. He won each of them, including seven by submission. In those nine wins, he took out career-long rival Felipe Pena, he dominated then-reigning IBJJF No-Gi World champ Pedro Marinho, he defeated a grappling, Andre Galvao, in one of the most anticipated grappling matches ever, and he beat three of the best of the next generation: Victor Hugo, Nick Rodriguez and Roosevelt Sousa.

Gordon made history in 2022, becoming the fist athlete to hold ADCC titles in three separate weight categories; he also became the first to compete in — yet alone win — an ADCC weight category and the superfight in the same year.

He demonstrated new depths to pressure passing and the classic mount position, and once again proved his versatility in every position.

Gordon's star power has been on a vertical track since 2016; but he reached new heights yet again in 2022.

This is Gordon's fourth time being nominated for Grappler of the Year. He was nominated in 2017, 2019, and 2020, but has never won it.

Kade Ruotolo

After receiving his black belt at the end of 2021, Kade Ruotolo had a record-setting undefeated season in 2022. It's no surprise; he won both Male Grappler of the Year and Match of the Year in 2021. But 2022 was something special for Ruotolo. His most notable accomplishment was in his ADCC debut, where he became the youngest athlete ever to win an ADCC title. He also became the first person to win every match by submission since Kron Gracie accomplished the feat in 2013.

It was no small feat; Ruotolo knocked off a who's who of opponents, particularly rival Mica Galvao, the surging PJ Barch (that's a match of the year nominee), and Roberto Jimenez, who previously earned two submission wins over Ruotolo.

Ruotolo also kicked off his One Championship grappling career, where he built and 3-0 record and secured the 170 lb title.

This is Ruotolo's second nomination for Grappler of the year. He won the honor in 2021.

Nicholas Meregali

Amid launching his no-gi career (six months before his ADCC debut), Nicholas Meregali found the time to wreck the opposition at Brasileiros, and to capture his long-coveted IBJJF Worlds absolute title. While reminding the grappling fandom of his dominance in the gi, Meregali acquired the guidance of John Danaher, who helped him soar from an unknown wild card in no-gi competition to a legitimate threat, and a two-time ADCC medalist.

With just six months of no-gi training, Meregali captured third in the -99kg weight category, and secured a silver medal in the absolute division.

Fans have grown to expect big things from Nicholas Meregali; but even for him, this speed of development was impressive. 

This is Meregali's second time being nominated for Grappler of the Year. He was previously nominated in 2019, but did not win the award.

Mica Galvao

Mica Galvao became the youngest-ever IBJJF World Champion in June. That was just a few months after winning the ADCC South American trials — four matches in five minutes of total mat time.

He defeated Leandro Lo and Lucas Barbosa at BJJ Stars 9; he won a Brazilian National title with four submissions in four matches; he appeared in the 77kg division final in his ADCC debut, where, upon victory, he would have become the youngest ADCC champ in history. 

Mica finished the 2022 season with 29 wins and just two losses.

This is Mica's second time being nominated for Grappler of the Year. He was previously nominated in 2021.

Diogo 'Baby Shark' Reis

The Baby Shark went from a deep cut to a ubiquitous fan favorite in the span of a year. 

He flaunted his aggressive pace and strategic mastery to win the South American ADCC Trials.

He showed his love of the submission to win a Brazilian National Title.

He coated the mat in pace, desire and heart to become an ADCC champion — one of the youngest ever.

Diogo Reis is just getting started. But his 2022 season was one of the best of any grappler on the planet.

This is Reis' first nomination for Grappler Of The Year.