There are a lot of rivalries in the sport of jiu-jitsu and there have been many over the years that caught the attention of the sport. But few have been at the level of Gordon Ryan vs. Felipe Pena. 

Gordon Ryan vs. Felipe Pena 4 was supposed to happen in 2023 at WNO in a 30-minute match. But Ryan’s illness, which cost him most of 2023, stopped one of the most anticipated matches in the sport from happening. 

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But the wait for Ryan-Pena 4 ends on Aug. 17 at 2024 ADCC World Championship inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as the only grappler with a winning record against Ryan, and the only person to submit him, faces the No.1-ranked no-gi grappler in the world. 

So why does Felipe Pena have a 2-1 record against the submission “King” and arguably the best no-gi grappler of all time? FloGrappling analyst Joe Gilpin breaks it down. 

Read More About The Felipe Pena-Gordon Ryan Rivalry

Here’s why to watch Gordon Ryan vs. Felipe Pena. 

There are 2 Reasons Felipe Pena Has Beaten Gordon Ryan. Reason No. 1

The first reason, Gilpin said (and has written about), is stylistically. Pena is just a bad matchup for Ryan. 

“There are several things Felipe does with his guard that specifically frustrates Gordon’s game,” Gilpin said. “The style in which he retains his guard, his use of the 50-50 position, are two elements that are able to give Felipe a lot of leeway in his matches.”

Specifically, it’s all about the leglocks. 

“(Pena) also has an incredible ability to turn someone else’s leglock attack into his own back take and eventual submission. And, obviously, with so much of Gordon’s game being leg locks, that gives him a real stylistic edge here. Gordon doesn’t really face that with a lot of people.”

Reason No. 2 Why Gordon Ryan Has A Losing Record To Felipe Pena: Confidence

The movie “Predator” changed when Dutch, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, saw the alien could bleed. And it was that confidence that led Dutch to take down the Predator, who earlier in the film killed Jim Hopper (Spoiler?). 

Well that same type of confidence is a big reason why Pena has had the success against Ryan, who is 100-5 overall in his Black Belt career. 

“Felipe took that risk early on in Gordon’s career to be one of the first big name black belts to face him,” Gilpin said. "Because of that he was able to face a much early, newer version of Gordon Ryan, pick up that win go to ADCC– Gordon’s debut ADCC– (and) defeat him there as well. And (that) gives himself a lot of confidence in that matchup.”

“We can talk about the power, we can talk about the strength and the size of these guys, technique but so much of this game is mental. And Felipe Pena has a mental advantage, or at least a confidence that so many of Gordon’s opponent can never have, just because they were never able to defeat him." 

Gordon Ryan vs. Felipe Pena 5? 

With Ryan's health issues keeping him from a consistent fight schedule the last two years, the future is always murky when it comes to arguably the greatest grappler of all-time. 

But Gilpin makes it clear that Ryan may never be done until he has a winning record against Pena. 

"I think Gordon will continue chasing this matchup until he has the edge in the series," Gilpin said. "I think if Felipe wins this year and pushes it to 3-1, Gordon is going to want to go best of seven. I think if Felipe were to be up 5-1, Gordon would want to go best of 11. 

"He is competitive to the level that even though his health isn't always in the best place, he desperately wants to even the series and then take the series against Felipe Pena. 

ADCC World Championship Tickets 

The ADCC World Championship begins on Aug. 17 and ends Aug. 18. The event starts at 1 p.m. EST on both days. Tickets can be purchases here.  

When Will The ADCC 2024 Brackets Be Revealed? On Aug. 16

The ADCC World Championship brackets will be released during the second hour of the ADCC Hall of Fame and Bracket reveal show streaming on FloGrappling and the FloSports app at 9 p.m. EST. 

How To Watch The 2024 ADCC World Championship

The 2024 ADCC World Championship will be streaming live in the United States on FloGrappling and the FloSports app. 

Replays, highlights and news also will be available on both platforms.

ADCC Las Vegas Schedule

• August 15: ADCC Las Vegas Open at 12 PM ET 
• August 16: ADCC Youth Championships starting at 12 PM ET 
• August 16: ADCC World Bracket Reveal and Hall of Fame Show starting at 9 PM ET 
• August 17: ADCC Worlds Opening Rounds and Gordon Ryan vs Felipe Pena Superfight starting at 1PM ET 
• August 18: ADCC Worlds Semi-Finals, Finals, Absolute Bracket and Gordon Ryan vs Yuri Simoes Superfight starting at 1PM ET

ADCC Bracket Predictions

Here are the ADCC World Championship Bracket predictions from FloGrappling: 

Women's Brackets 

• FloGrappling Analysts Predict How The ADCC -55kg Bracket Will Be Seeded
• FloGrappling Analysts Predict How The ADCC -65kg Bracket Will Be Seeded
• FloGrappling Analysts Predict How The ADCC +65kg Bracket Will Be Seeded

Men's Brackets

• FloGrappling Analysts Predict How The ADCC 66kg Bracket Will Be Seeded
• FloGrappling Analysts Predict How The ADCC 77kg Bracket Will Be Seeded
• FloGrappling Analysts Predict How The ADCC 88kg Bracket Will Be Seeded
• FloGrappling Analysts Predict How The ADCC -99kg Bracket Will Be Seeded

Once brackets are revealed, track them at FloArena. 

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