KASAI Pro features two ADCC champions, lightweight tournament

Gordon Ryan and Yuri Simoes do battle in super fight

The sport of professional grappling continues to grow as more promotions pop up with great events. KASAI Pro is yet another name and news broke this week of a major event planned for December 9. On that date, the event will crown its first lightweight champion along with putting on a super-fight between two ADCC champions in Yuri Simoes and Gordon Ryan.

The news of the Simoes versus Ryan bout set the grappling world ablaze this week. Ryan and Simoes are coming off of a very successful year as both men took home gold medals last month in ADCC. Ryan won the 88 kilograms division while Simoes took his second straight ADCC gold medal when he won the 99 kilograms division.

This will not be the first time that Simoes and Ryan have shared a mat. In 2016 Simoes and Ryan competed at EBI 6 where Ryan defeated Simoes in overtime. That talking point has kicked off the trash talk between the two men.

“He’s on a roll now and I’m looking forward to derailing that train and submitting him inside ten minutes,” Ryan said as reported by FloGrappling.

Simoes didn’t hesitate to respond to that statement.

“I almost tapped him with a torn ACL and meniscus the last time we had a match, and this time around I plan to finish him,” Simoes said in a statement to FloGrappling. “Good luck Gordon, because that’s the only way you’re going to win.”

As if that alone wasn’t a reason to watch, the lightweight tournament features some of the best men within that weight class. Six of the eight athletes are announced and they are Garry Tonon, Mansher Khera, Gianni Grippo, Celso Vincius, AJ Agazarm, and “Junny” Ocascio. The final two competitors will be announced in the coming weeks.

KASAI Pro looks to include itself on the list of major promotions along with the likes of Polaris, Fight to Win Pro, ACBJJ and others.

“We can’t wait to unleash Jiu-Jitsu’s most ferocious warriors at KASAI Pro,” said Rolles Gracie, KASAI President in a press release. “Our mission is to create a professional platform under the bright lights of New York City that elevates Jiu-Jitsu to an all-new level.”

KASAI Pro is set for December 9 at the Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse in Brooklyn, New York. The event will be broadcast live on FloGrappling.com.