Dream Matchups For Gordon Ryan
Dream Matchups For Gordon Ryan
Who could dethrone Gordon Ryan in 2020? Here are the top contenders to the No-Gi P4P crown.
Who Can Claim The No-Gi P4P Crown?
Gordon Ryan is running out of worthy opponents and even said so himself after winning double gold at ADCC 2019. Today we identify who still has a chance at claiming the top spot from Gordon.
Rodolfo Vieira
After winning ADCC, Gordon said Rodolfo was one of the only competitors that still had a chance in challenging him. There's no denying that Rodolfo Vieira is a jiu-jitsu icon who will forever be known as one of the best competitors to ever step on the mat. However, Rodolfo has been pursuing his MMA dreams and stepped away from the jiu-jitsu spotlight. Can Rodolfo hang with the new generation? Fans and Gordon are curious. In the meantime, checkout Rodolfo's most recent jiu-jitsu match for the finals of the Sypder Invitational Championship.
Felipe Pena
Gordon has only lost to four competitors during his time at blackbelt: Aaron "Tex" Johnson, Leandro Lo, Vinny Malgalhaes, and Felipe Pena.
Felipe has successfully shut down Gordon's game twice. Most recently during the absolute final of ADCC 2017 and again during Studio 540 SPF via RNC. After winning ADCC absolute in 2019, it's no surprise fans want to see them meet for the third time in 2020.
Kaynan Durate
Previously ranked P4P #1 overall, Kaynan Duarte had one of the best black belt debuts in jiu-jitsu history. Despite his battle with USADA, Kayan still remains a top contender for the #1. Although these two fought as colored belts, fans are curious to see how they've evolved since earning their black belts.
Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida
Fans everywhere waited in anticipation for their chance to see Gordon take on Buchecha during ADCC 2019. However, after a lackluster meetup in the absolute final, spectators were left unsatisfied by the performance. After collecting his metals, Gordon walked backstage disappointed.
Gordon and fans would both love to see a rematch between these two, except this time with higher intensity and a submission finish.
Matheus Diniz
Marcelo Garcia's top protege, Matheus Diniz, did the unthinkable in 2019 by taking gold during his ADCC debut. Now he's fired up and looking for a greater challenge. What's tougher than ADCC gold? Taking the P4P #1 spot from ADCC absolute champion, Gordon Ryan.
After remaining undefeated in no-gi competition, there's no reason why Matheus wouldn't be a suitable matchup for Gordon in 2020. However, he's not waiting around for his chance for someone to notice. Diniz has been pro-actively texting Gordon Ryan, eagerly awaiting his shot at the crown.
Honorable Mention: Andre Galvao
After winning his super fight at ADCC 2019, Galvao has left the door open to a possible matchup against Gordon Ryan. This battle between the no-gi GOATs would have grappling fans on the edge of their seats. While Gordon is confident that Andre will remain retired, spectators are anxiously waiting for a definitive answer.
