Jits Magazine will be on hand to provide the live results, play-by-play, analysis, and highlights of the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) World Championships 2024 Superfight Championship matches, Gordon Ryan vs Felipe Pena and Yuri Simoes which will be streamed live on FloGrappling on Saturday, August 17th and Sunday, August 18th. The full competitor list for each regular division can be found here. Additionally, we will also be on hand to deliver a play-by-play of all eight of the regular weight classes at the event and the ADCC 2024 absolute division as well.
For the first time in the history of the promotion, the reigning Superfight champion will be taking on two matches over the course of the same weekend at ADCC 2024. Ryan submitted Andre Galvao at ADCC 2022 to win the Superfight Championship and although this was supposed to be his first title-defense, he will now be facing two opponents. His first match will be the fourth in his rivalry with Felipe Pena on Saturday, August 17th and Ryan will be looking to level the score as Pena currently leads their series 2-1.
The second superfight will see Ryan facing Yuri Simoes, who earned the right to challenge him for the title after winning the absolute division at ADCC 2022. Ryan and Simoes also have plenty of history together, as they have met on the mats four times in the past. Ryan has won all four of their previous matches, so Simoes will be looking to finally get revenge when they meet on Sunday, August 18th.
In the meantime, check out our coverage of ADCC 2024 during the build-up to this historic event that includes breaking news and our picks for the favourites to win each division, the picks for the dark horses that are most likely to reach the podium, and the top matches that we’re hoping to see at the event.
ADCC 2024 Superfights Play-by-play And Results
Gordon Ryan vs Felipe Pena 4
Gordon Ryan and Felipe Pena start the first ADCC 2024 superfight slower at first but Pena latches on to a deep shoulder-crunch and nearly manages to take Ryan down with it. Ryan recovers and breaks free, picking up the fight in the clinch again. They trade heavy collar-ties and Pena gets hit with an accidental eyepoke. He only takes a second before the match resumes and he goes for an underhook again, but Ryan disengages earlier this time. Ryan chases Pena off the mat and tries to work a little faster, but Pena stays calm and keeps working for the inside position with his collar-ties.
Ryan picks up a single-leg and lifts it high, so Pena accepts the takedown and pulls guard, working from half-guard. Ryan’s leaning heavily on Pena but Pena is using a knee-shield to keep him at bay and Ryan decides to pick up the pace as the halfway point of the match approaches. Pena elevates Ryan a little and manages to get into a bear-trap position with Ryan’s leg, but he can’t use it to for anything as Ryan stands up to escape and drops right back on him to work his passing game again.
Pena gets another bear-trap soon after and he uses it to stand up this time, so both men are up while the points are in play. Ryan starts pressuring Pena with heavy collar-ties again and Pena is warned by the referee for inactivity. Pena takes an accidental contact to the face and they stop for a moment. It’s clear that both men are breathing heavy after the reset, but Ryan hits an armdrag shortly after that gives him access to Pena’s back. Pena drops to the ground and turtles to deny the points, before rolling through and ending up on the bottom in butterfly half-guard. Pena uses it to set up another bear-trap, immediately relieving a lot of Ryan’s pressure from the top.
Ryan tries to free his leg but Pena sits him back down and it’s clear that he’s finding it difficult to break free of that control. Pena manages to get an underhook on the free leg and he passes it over his head, exposing Ryan’s back as he reaches around his waist. Ryan takes an overhook and uses it to stay safe, but Pena uses a limp arm to try and find his way to the back. Ryan runs away and Pena opts not to chase him, so the time runs out with Ryan on top and they go to a ten-minute overtime period.
Pena hits an armdrag early in overtime and he gets to Ryan’s back, dragging him to the mat briefly and trying to jump on to his back as he pops back up. Pena slips off and Ryan is able to secure top position in order to score the first two points of the match thanks to that scramble. His legs are trapped on the wrong side of the body to pass effectively though and Pena is trying to come up on an underhook in order to sweep. Pena rocks him back and forth while he’s trying to set up the sweep but Ryan is doing a great job of staying heavy and making it very difficult for him.
Eventually Ryan works his leg free and is able to start passing properly again, keeping a hand posted on his hip as he pressures in. Pena is able to get in on the legs and he applies a heel hook, forcing Ryan to turn and allowing him to get back to the bear-trap again. Pena gets double underhooks and tries to use it to sweep but Ryan stays heavy on top and he’s able to work his arms back inside. Pena gets the double underhooks again and Pena shoves Ryan to the ground as the match ends, but the time has already run out.
Gordon Ryan defeats Felipe Pena via Decision – 2 to 0 on Points
Gordon Ryan wins the first ADCC 2024 Superfight Championship match
Gordon Ryan vs Yuri Simoes
Ryan is aggressive from the start and gets an underhook, powering through to get the takedown from there as they go out of bounds. They get reset with Ryan in half-guard and he’s weighing heavy on top, and he works at a steady pace until he’s able to break past the knee-shield and get chest-to-chest. Simoes reaches his arm across his body and Ryan is trapping it there to increase the pressure on him. Simoes is able to get to his side and he reaches under Ryan’s free leg for an underhook, but Ryan maintains the pressure and isn’t troubled by it.
Ryan walks his legs to the centre to keep Simoes flat and allow him to get double underhooks. That helps him keep Simoes pinned while he slides his knee free and into quarter-guard. Ryan passes to score points and Simoes recovers quarter-guard, but Ryan quickly passes and scores again. They repeat that cycle multiple times before Ryan sits back for the armbar, but Simoes slips free and recovers back to guard in the scramble. Ryan slides into half-guard and works Simoes’ arm across his body again, passing to mount and using it as a giftwrap grip. Ryan does a chair-sit from there to take the back and locks up a body-triangle, immediately handfighting to set up a choke.
Ryan traps an arm but Simoes starts to escape to the side and Ryan transitions to a crucifix to counter that. Simoes scrambles quickly and gets to top side control with a head and arm control, but Ryan is able to steadily work back to guard. Ryan creates distance and Simoes starts to pass, but Ryan wrestles up and quickly transitions to Simoes’ back. He takes a kimura grip and manages to lock up a rear-triangle choke, but Simoes escapes soon after and starts to pass again. Simoes dives on a straight ankle-lock and starts cranking on it to finish but he can’t aply enough breaking pressure to get it before the match ends.
Gordon Ryan defeats Yuri Simoes via Decision – 21 to 0 on Points
Gordon Ryan wins the second ADCC 2024 Superfight Championship match
