Grappling Report: Gordon Ryan injury nixes fight with Werdum

A rundown of the biggest headlines and news from the world of competitive grappling.
Some things are just too good to be true.
Grappling fans around the world have been waiting patiently for Gordon Ryan’s Combat Jiu Jitsu Fight Night debut against Fabricio Werdum, but unfortunately it has been scrapped. According to BJJ news site GrapplingInsider.com, Gordon Ryan suffered a complete tear of his lateral collateral ligament in his victory over Joao Gabriel Rocha at Kasai Super Series.
Ryan’s replacement is unknown at present, but Catch Wrestling world champion Curran Jacobs has been pushing hard to get onto the card. Werdum will be joined in the tournament by Rustam Chsiev and Josh Barnett.
Ryan’s injury is similar to what Tony Ferguson suffered in 2018, so it will be interesting to see if Ryan can get back to 100 percent fitness prior to ADCC, which goes down in September.
GRAPPLING STORIES
Dead or Alive. Narcos director Jose Padilha has signed on to direct a BJJ-centered movie. The Netflix original will center around two of BJJ’s most prominent figures, Mitsuyo Maeda and Rickson Gracie, The movie will span two periods in time and discuss how Maeda’s trip to Brazil lead to the creation of Gracie Jiu Jitsu.
Ross Nicholls. is set to face Vagner Rocha in a title eliminator at Polaris 9. Nicholls is fresh off a victory over Marcelo Garcia academy’s Gianni Grippo and will be looking to impress as he faces his toughest test to date. Vagner Rocha is as tough as they come and he managed to submit Benson Henderson in his last appearance on Polaris.
Austin DeSanto. has been handed a one-match ban by Iowa’s coach Tom Brands after a recent debacle. DeSanto was caught giving his opponent’s bench a “thumbs down” gesture before slamming him and then upon victory, DeStanto gestured to the Nebraska bench further.
VIDEO CONTENT
What a finish
Quick and brutal
That has got to hurt