The ultra-heavyweight division at the 2018 IBJJF World No-Gi Championship is insanely stacked, with three ADCC champions, a 2018 World champion, an Olympic gold medalist in judo and a three-time Pan No-Gi champ. 

Overall there are 15 competitors signed up at ultra-heavy and the action should be exciting from the first round on.

Watch the IBJJF 2018 No-Gi World Championships LIVE Dec. 14-16 Live on FloGrappling

Yuri Simoes, Roberto Cyborg, Mahamed Aly and Gordon Ryan

2017 ADCC 88 kg champion Gordon Ryan (Renzo Gracie) made his IBJJF black belt debut at the Pan No-Gi in September and looked as dominant as ever. Ryan submitted all four of his opponents at Pans on his way to double gold. According to BJJ Heroes, Gordon has an incredible 85% submission rate in his 54 black belt victories.

“Bottom line, the only reason people are watching this is because I’m in it," said Gordon. "If you look at the athletes in the ultra-heavy division this year compared to last it’s not even close to the same level." 

"The division this year might as well be an ADCC bracket. Everyone is coming to get a piece of papa… but nobody realizes what that actually entails. I actually feel sorry that everyone wasted their money.” – Gordon Ryan

Veteran Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu (Fight Sports) is also an ADCC champ and has won No-Gi Worlds five times, including the ultra-heavyweight division a year ago. Cyborg came out on top in the 2017 final by an advantage over Joao Gabriel Rocha. Cyborg finished in third place in the 99+ kg division at the last ADCC, and lost to Ryan in the absolute by heel hook.

Yuri Simoes (Brasa CTA) has won the last two ADCC’s and is a four-time No-Gi Worlds champ, with wins in both his weight and the open in 2014 and 2016. In the final of the 99 kg division at the 2017 ADCC Simoes defeated Gordon’s rival Felipe Pena, although he has two losses to Gordon in his career so far.

Mahamed Aly (Lloyd Irvin) has had a breakout year so far in 2018, winning the IBJJF Worlds in the super-heavyweight division in June. Aly is also a frequent No-Gi competitor and currently holds the fifth spot in the IBJJF No-Gi black belt rankings. At the 2017 ADCC Aly fought his way to the semifinal of the absolute before going down to Ryan by heel hook.

While Gordon is so far undefeated against Cyborg, Simoes, and Aly the trio have proven themselves to be successful in the IBJJF ruleset, with both Simoes and Cyborg having previously won No-Gi Worlds double gold before. The victories over Cyborg and Aly at ADCC by heelhook are obviously by a submission not IBJJF legal. Gordon has shown already that he can beat elite grapplers in any rules, but having to get through these IBJJF vets in the same tournament should be a challenge.

Aaron “Tex” Johnson (Unity) is coming in on an eight-match winning streak after winning the No-Gi Pans and ADCC East Coast Trials. Tex has looked on fire lately and could be a potential spoiler in this division. A foot lock victory over Jackson Sousa in the Pans final, decision over Tom Deblass at Fight to Win 91, and four quick submissions at the ADCC trials have Johnson coming into Worlds riding some serious momentum.

Two more athletes that should contend with the big names at ultra-heavy in Anaheim are Satoshi Ishii (Paraestra) and Jared Dopp (Alliance). Ishii was a gold medalist in Judo at the 2008 Beijing Olympic games, and after a long MMA career he certainly has his fair share of No-Gi mat time. Dopp has competed at the last three ADCC events, including his 2015 run to the final and silver medal.

IBJJF World No-Gi Championship 

Dec 14-16 | 9:00am PST start time each day | Click for more