Gordon Ryan’s Journey to 7 ADCC World Championships!

The King of submission grappling!

Mar 10, 2025

The King of submission grappling? If you follow Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you already know his name. Gordon Ryan.

The trash-talking, submission-hunting, record-breaking grappling machine who has dominated the sport like no one before him.

But his rise to the top wasn’t handed to him. It was built through hard work, pain, and an unshakable belief that he was destined to be the greatest.

This is the story of how Gordon Ryan went from a hungry young competitor to a seven-time ADCC World Champion.

2017: The Arrival of a Future King of Submission Grappling

Every champion has a moment when the world first takes notice.

For Gordon, that moment came in 2017, at his first-ever ADCC World Championship.

At just 22 years old, he entered the -88kg division, where he faced Dillon Danis in the opening round. Danis was already a world champion at the brown belt level, but Gordon? He outworked and outclassed him, winning by decision.

Next up? A true legend — Romulo Barral.

A veteran with multiple world championships, Romulo was expected to give Gordon serious trouble.

Instead, Gordon shot a single-leg, took the back, and sunk in a rear-naked choke.

Then came Xande Ribeiro, another icon of the sport. After a tough match, Gordon won by decision, punching his ticket to the final.

His last opponent? Keenan Cornelius.

And Gordon wasted no time. He secured a tight grip, rolled to mount, and finished the fight by submission.

Just like that, he won his first ADCC gold.

But he wasn’t done.

He also entered the absolute division — a tournament where size doesn’t matter, and anyone can fight anyone.

Gordon fought his way to the final, where he faced Felipe Pena, the only man to ever submit him in competition. This time, Gordon fell short, losing by decision.

A gold medal in his division. A silver in the absolute.

The Jiu-Jitsu world had been put on notice.

2019: Double Gold, Broken Hand, and the Sickest Champion Ever

If 2017 was Gordon’s arrival, 2019 was the year he cemented his legacy.

The ADCC World Championship was back, and Gordon wasn’t just competing — he was dominating.

There was only one problem…

He had a serious stomach infection leading up to the event.

He had also broken his hand.

Most athletes would’ve pulled out. Gordon? He fought anyway.

This time, he moved up to the -99kg division.

He ran through Pedro Marinho, Lucas Barbosa, Tim Spriggs, and Vinicius Ferreira to win his second ADCC gold.

But he wasn’t done.

He entered the absolute division again, facing some of the biggest names in the sport, including his teammate Garry Tonon and the dangerous Lachlan Giles.

Then, in the final, he shocked the world by defeating Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida, a 13-time world champion.

Double gold.

With a broken hand.

While sick.

No excuses. Just results.

The world didn’t just see Gordon as a top competitor anymore.

They saw him as the best.

2022: The Most Dominant ADCC Performance Ever!

Three years later, ADCC 2022 came to Las Vegas.

And Gordon? He had leveled up again.

This time, he moved up to +99kg, taking on the biggest and toughest heavyweights in the world.

His first match? A quick rear-naked choke victory against Heikki Jussila.

Then, against Victor Hugo, he dominated 8–0 in points.

In the semi-finals, he faced Roosevelt Sousa — and won in just 11 seconds with a heel hook.

The final? A showdown with his former teammate, Nick Rodriguez.

Nick knew Gordon’s game. He had trained with him for years. If anyone could challenge him, it was Nick.

But Gordon was a step ahead the entire time.

He secured another heel hook submission, winning his third ADCC gold in a third weight class.

No one had ever done that before.

And then?

He took out a legend.

In a superfight, Gordon faced Andre Galvao, a four-time ADCC superfight champion and one of the greatest competitors ever.

But Gordon was on a different level.

He broke Galvao down, controlled him, and submitted him with a rear-naked choke.

The submission grappling king had arrived.

2024: The Year of Superfights.

By 2024, Gordon Ryan had already solidified his status as the greatest no-gi grappler ever.

But he wasn’t done yet.

Instead of entering a weight class at ADCC, he took on two superfights:

🔹 Felipe Pena — the man who handed him a rare loss in 2017. This time, Gordon avenged the defeat, winning 2–0 on points.
🔹 Yuri Simões — an ADCC veteran and former champion. Gordon utterly dominated him, 21–0 on points.

Two superfights. Two victories. Zero points were scored against him.

But here’s the wild part — Gordon tore his knee during the Pena fight.

The night before facing Simões, he could barely walk.

A torn LCL had left his knee wrecked. Every step was agony. His body, strained to its limits, was battling back.

His team scrambled for a solution. Could they find a doctor to numb the pain? Is it possible for him to reach the mat?

One thing was certain — he wasn’t quitting.

At midnight, Gordon walked into an emergency hospital. A cortisone shot was his only hope to survive the pain for one more day.

The next morning, his knee still wasn’t 100% — not even close. But it was good enough to fight.

He stepped onto the mat. The crowd roared.

Yuri Simões, a dangerous ADCC champion, stood in front of him.

What happened next?

A 21–0 points massacre.

Gordon dominated from the opening exchange. Takedown. Control. Pass. Mount. Submission threats.

Simões never had a chance.

At this point, there was no argument left to make.

Gordon Ryan isn’t just the best.

He’s the greatest of all time.

What Makes Gordon Ryan So Unstoppable?

So, how did Gordon go from a young competitor in 2017 to the undisputed ADCC King in 2024?

🔹 His Mindset: He truly believes he’s the best, and he trains like it every day.
🔹 His Techniques: His leg locks, back attacks, and passing game are revolutionary.
🔹 His Physicality: His strength, endurance, and discipline make him a nightmare to fight.
🔹 His Coach: John Danaher’s system has given him the perfect blueprint for domination.

But most importantly? He never stops improving.

Even after 7 ADCC gold medals, he’s still hungry. He’s still evolving. He’s still looking to prove he’s the best.

What’s Next for Gordon Ryan?

Will anyone stop him? Can he continue his ADCC reign in 2026?

Or will a new generation rise up to challenge the king of submission grappling?

Whatever happens, one thing is clear:

Gordon Ryan has changed Jiu-Jitsu forever.

And his story isn’t over yet.

What do you think? Is Gordon the greatest grappler of all time? Drop a comment — I’d love to hear your thoughts!