Gordon Ryan Can't Leg Lock Bo Nickal, The Stats Say It Doesn't Even Matter
Gordon Ryan Can't Leg Lock Bo Nickal, The Stats Say It Doesn't Even Matter
Gordon Ryan isn't allowed to leg lock wrestler Bo Nickal – we analyzed the submission statistics to discover what his opponent should really be afraid of.
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Within the past decade, jiu-jitsu's most impactful evolution can be traced back to one gym: Renzo Gracie Academy NYC. The Danaher Death Squad has taken the competition scene by storm with the use of John Danaher's technical leg lock system. They've been so successful applying it that most competitors completely avoid playing leglocks with members of the DDS.
The most infamous display of Danaher's leglock system was when Gordon Ryan submitted Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu during ADCC 2017. It was made viral when John Danaher appeared on Joe Rogan's podcast and conducted a step-by-step breakdown of the match. It was at that moment when the jiu-jitsu community first opened their eyes and saw how deep the rabbit hole goes.
Since then, Gordon Ryan has rapidly gained notoriety as being one of the best leg lockers in the world. Even though this perception is understandable, Gordon's statistics tell a different story.
Source: BJJ Heroes
This becomes highly relevant when discussing his upcoming match against wrestling superstar, Bo Nickal. To make an equal playing field, Gordon agreed not to pull guard and not to use leglocks. Even though the rules were amended to give Bo a fighting chance, statistics show Gordon still is at no real disadvantage.
Although Gordon Ryan may be perceived as a leg locker, he's gained the majority of his success via chokes from the back. In the past, we have seen wrestlers become very susceptible to back takes — something Bo must keep in mind if he wants to remain competitive with Gordon Ryan.