Nicky Rodriguez, better known as Nicky Rod, is a rising star in the world of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He has been making waves in the grappling community with his impressive performances. Rodriguez has gained a reputation as one of the most exciting prospects in the sport. However, one person who has been a constant thorn in Nicky‘s side is his teammate and rival, Gordon Ryan.

The two have faced each other multiple times in training and competition, and their matches have always been highly anticipated. Their rivalry has been a topic of discussion in the grappling community for some time now. It was recently brought up again when Rodriguez appeared on Lex Fridman‘s podcast #363.

Nicky Rod talking about his loss to Gordon Ryan

Nicky‘s appearance on the show was highly anticipated, and fans were eager to hear from him. In the podcast, Nicky spoke about his most painful loss. He revealed that it was his defeat to Gordon Ryan in the finals of ADCC 2022. He admitted that the loss had stung a bit, as he had been confident going into the match that he would come out on top.

“For sure my loss at this past ADCC in the finals, you know, that one stung a bit, cause I definitely thought I was gonna win.”

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However, he also acknowledged that the process of becoming the best in the world was a long one. Rodriguez also said that he was still working on developing the skills and reactions needed to reach that level. He also revealed that he was coming out of an injury, and it took him time to be in his peak mentality at ADCC 2022.

Nicky Rod vs Gordon Ryan

The match between Nicky Rod and Gordon Ryan at ADCC 2022 was one of the major crowd attractions. However, it was not as competitive as fans wanted it to be. The two athletes went back and forth, but Gordon Ryan emerged victorious in the first 3 minutes by securing the heel hook submission.

Nicky Rod‘s appearance on the Lex Fridman Podcast provided insight into his mindset and journey as a BJJ athlete. His loss to Gordon Ryan at ADCC 2022 was undoubtedly a disappointment, but it’s clear that he’s committed to the process of improving and growing as an athlete.

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