Gordon Ryan managed to outlast Nicky Rod after a nail-biting grappling match this week. Ryan is arguably the biggest star in the Brazilian jiu-jitsu world, and certainly didn’t disappoint last night. Ryan took on Nick Rodriguez in the main event of the UFC Fight Pass Invitational 3 card.
Initially, Ryan was slated to face off against fellow legend Vinny Magalhaes, however, he was forced to withdraw at the last second. Instead, Ryan’s ex-teammate, Rodriguez, stepped in to fill the void. Rodriguez was attempting to avenge a Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) defeat. The pair certainly put on an entertaining contest.
Gordon Ryan Edges Rodriguez
For the majority of regulation, both Ryan and Rodriguez were able to essentially stalemate each other. However, at one point, Ryan had Rodriguez in real danger when he got ahold of his leg. In the end, Rodriguez was able to escape and get things back to an even position. The contest found its way to overtime, where the pair battled from back control.
When it was all said and done, Ryan was able to score the win after getting enough control time. Despite Ryan picking up the victory, Rodriguez gave him a serious run for his money. You can check out the highlights from the matchup below:
Ryan vs. Rod pic.twitter.com/GQSkbcxJyl
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) December 16, 2022
So close for Nicky Rod!!! But we are going to escape time!! #FPI3 pic.twitter.com/3ObYx8OmBu
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) December 16, 2022
Gordon Ryan defeats Nicky Rod via fastest escape (0:45) in triple overtime#FPI3 pic.twitter.com/u88XVRica1
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) December 16, 2022
The co-main event featured a familiar face for UFC fans. Former women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate took on 10-time World Champion Beatriz Mesquita. While Tate was able to keep up with Mesquita in regulation, she was finished with an armbar in overtime.
What a match! Bia gets it done!
Incredible effort from @MieshaTate! #FPI3 pic.twitter.com/K5naz4qAbS
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) December 16, 2022
