In a highly anticipated main event that saw him battle both a significant LCL injury and a formidable, three-time ADCC champion, Gordon Ryan put on a clinical performance to defeat Yuri Simões and cement his status as the most decorated grappler in ADCC history. The match on August 18, 2024, at the T-Mobile Arena, a special second superfight for Ryan, ended with a commanding 21-0 points victory, a testament to his tactical mastery and unwavering dominance despite a challenging preparation. The Match: A Masterclass in Control The bout, which served as the official superfight championship match, saw Ryan methodically dismantle the reigning ADCC Absolute champion, Simões. In a strategic shift from some of their previous encounters, Ryan chose to lean heavily on his wrestling and top pressure to avoid risking further injury to his already torn LCL, sustained the day before in a separate superfight against Felipe Pena. From the outset, Ryan controlled the pace, surprising many by quickly securing takedowns and transitioning through dominant positions. He expertly navigated Simões' strong, tight passing defense, consistently scoring points through guard passes and back takes. Simões, a future Hall of Famer known for his grinding style and ability to win tough matches, found few opportunities to mount a significant offense. While Simões managed a late-match ankle lock attempt, Ryan defended effectively, and the pressure was never enough to force a tap before the clock ran out.
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Historic Stakes and Health Challenges The victory was Ryan's seventh ADCC gold medal, officially making him the all-time leader in ADCC history. This achievement is made even more remarkable by the circumstances surrounding his 2024 appearance. Ryan revealed post-fight that his training camp was the "worst in his career" due to an ongoing stomach illness that had plagued him for eight months, limiting his full training capacity to a mere 10 days before the event. This health crisis, coupled with the torn LCL, painted a picture of a champion operating far below his peak athletic condition, yet still capable of a dominant performance against one of the world's best. The grappling community watched as Ryan authored a story compared to a "Michael Jordan Flu-Game" performance, overcoming physical adversity through sheer technical superiority and strategic brilliance. The Aftermath and Future For Simões, the loss marked his fifth consecutive defeat to Ryan in their career rivalry, a tough pill to swallow for the otherwise stellar champion. Despite a focused preparation aimed specifically at defeating Ryan, he could not overcome the depth of Ryan's game on this night. Ryan, ever the record-breaker, now looks ahead to his next challenge, which will be against the 2024 Men's Absolute champion Kaynan Duarte at ADCC 2026. The performance at ADCC 2024, a demonstration of an athlete pushing past physical limits to re-write the record books, will be dissected by grapplers for years to come and is available for viewing on FloGrappling and YouTube.
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