Gordon Ryan was tuned in for the AIGA Champions League Final 2025, and while many were focused on the high-level matchups, it was Kaynan Duarte’s performance that caught his attention – for all the wrong reasons.
Ryan, never one to hold back, shared his thoughts on Instagram after the event, signaling clear dissatisfaction with Duarte’s showing.
The two have long been on a collision course in the grappling world, and while their paths have rarely crossed in competition, that could change in 2026.
Still, Ryan’s recent remarks suggest he’s not exactly motivated by the idea.
Their only prior encounter came back in 2018 at the IBJJF No Gi Pan Championship, where Ryan submitted Duarte via rear-naked choke.
Since then, they’ve both collected gold across multiple divisions and earned reputations as the best of their generation – but somehow managed to avoid a rematch.
Their ADCC histories have been largely parallel rather than intersecting.
Ryan first won at 88kg before moving to 99kg in 2019 and eventually claiming the absolute title that same year.
Duarte, meanwhile, debuted at over 99kg in 2019 and earned his own gold.
In 2022, Ryan made headlines again by taking both the superfight and the +99kg division, while Duarte dropped to under 99kg and secured his second title.
By 2024, Ryan was out of the weight divisions, choosing not to compete in the brackets.
Duarte, however, had his most dominant ADCC run yet – winning his third title at under 99kg and then steamrolling through the absolute division to earn his fourth.
That performance has now lined him up for a superfight with Ryan in 2026
And on paper, it’s the perfect clash – two men tied in ADCC titles, representing the pinnacle of the sport.
But according to Ryan, the matchup might not happen.
After watching Duarte at AIGA, he downplayed the potential showdown, stating bluntly that “ADCC 2026 is a complete waste of my time”:
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