RONIN: The Year of Keenan Cornelius

10 Essential Keenan Cornelius Matches

10 Essential Keenan Cornelius Matches

From ADCC to Worlds and everything in between, here are ten must-see Keenan Cornelius matches from the archives.

May 18, 2020 by Reid Connell
RONIN: The Year of Keenan Cornelius (Trailer)

We've been in awe of Keenan Cornelius's jiu-jitsu abilities for many years here at FloGrappling! 

From his intricate grip sequences that seem to baffle even the most credentialed black belts to his laid back competition demeanor, Keenan simply is a marvel to watch. If jiu-jitsu is the art then Keenan is the auteur. 

Luckily for you, we've watched plenty of the worm guard master over the years and have put together a list of ten matches that any die-hard Keenan Cornelius fan needs to watch. From his strategic battle with his doppelgänger Nicholas Meregali or his 34-point extravaganza against Tex these are all gems from the long career of Keenan Cornelius. Enjoy!

WATCH RONIN: The Year of Keenan Cornelius May 20 ONLY on FloGrappling.com


Keenan Cornelius vs Nicholas Meregali

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If Keenan never competes again this might be the match that defines his legacy. At the time there was no bigger match at Worlds than this one and it lived up to the hype delivering an all-time classic that highlights exactly what I love about jiu-jitsu.

Keenan Cornelius vs Mahamed Aly

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These two have had a number of wars over the years but none was more impressive than Keenan's meeting with Aly at the 2020 IBJJF European Championships. Opting to play on top this time around, the match proved to be very different from their past meetings but displays just how powerful Keenan is when passing.

Keenan Cornelius vs Craig Jones

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Some may forget about this match since Keenan came up short in the finals of ADCC but his match against a red hot Craig Jones in the semifinals is a dominant display of Keenan's no-gi grappling ability. 

Keenan Cornelius vs Tanner Rice

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I'll never forget being mat-side for this match. A picture-perfect arm bar finish against a fellow American black belt.


More matches:

Keenan Cornelius vs Devonte Johnson

Keenan Cornelius vs Tim Spriggs

Keenan Cornelius vs Tex Johnson

Keenan Cornelius vs Adam Wardzinski

Keenan Cornelius vs Manuel Ribamar

Keenan Cornelius vs Matheus Diniz