The Berimbolo Kid's Match of the Week - Week 19 - Ryan Hall vs. Zak Maxwell - 2009 Worlds (Brown Belt)

(The previous edition can be found HERE)

Another week, another edition of Match of the Week. This week’s match is Ryan Hall vs. Zak Maxwell from the brown belt featherweight semi-finals of the 2009 World Championships.

Ryan Hall is a black belt under Felipe Costa and fights for Fifty/50 Jiu-Jitsu. Since his blue belt days, Ryan has been a major force on the competition scene, especially in NoGi competition. Since then he has made his mark by winning and taking medals in some of Jiu-Jitsu's most prestigious tournaments. As of now, Ryan is widely considered by many to be one of the best American-born grapplers today and one of the best in the featherweight division. 

Ryan is a twenty four time Grapplers Quest Champion, a fifteen time Superfight Champion (NAGA, US Grappling, Grapplers Quest, etc.), and a one time World (2008 purple), World NoGi (2008 purple), European (2008 purple), Brazilian National (2008 purple), and ADCC West Coast Trails Champion (2009 -66kg). He is also an ADCC (2009 -66kg) and World (2009 brown) bronze medalist. Also, Ryan has had over 275 victories in competition by submission, over 200 of which were by triangle choke.

In Jiu-Jitsu, if I think of flexibility, I immediately think of Ryan Hall. It's crazy how flexible he is! Such immense flexibility allows Ryan to have a very tricky guard. In particular, Ryan is known for two guards, those being the 50/50 guard and the inverted guard. As you can see above, Ryan seems to favour the triangle choke quite a lot. He is extremely successful with that submission. Another submission Ryan has major success with is the heel hook. Although this submission is illegal under IBJJF rules, it is legal in ADCC and some NoGi competitions.

Ryan Hall

Zak Maxwell is one best American grapplers on the scene today. He is a black belt under Regis Lebre (black belt under Saulo Ribeiro) and fights for Gracie Humaita. Zak has been making headlines since his earliest days in competition. At the lower belts he was consistently on the podium of many major IBJJF tournaments. In 2011, after only being a black belt for a few months, he shocked everybody by winning the Las Vegas World Pro Cup Trials by defeating Marcelo "Lapela" Mafra. The year later he would make headlines again by defeating Kron Gracie. 

Zak is a four time Pan American Champion (2010 and 2009 brown, 2008 purple, 2006 blue juvenile), and a one time World (2009 brown) and Las Vegas World Cup Pro Trials Champion (2011 black). He is also a two time World silver medalist (2007 purple and 2008 purple absolute), and a World bronze medalist (2006 blue, 2008 purple). 

One submission which Zak uses frequently throughout his matches is the omoplata. He sets it up very well from collar and sleeve grip from the closed guard, especially if his opponent stands. Zak is very comfortable on top and on bottom. He doesn't seem to have a preference, but is very dangerous from both.   

Zak Maxwell

  

I guess this will be kind of a marmite match. You will quite literally either love it or hate it. For me, I love it! However, I can see how some of you won't, but that's all good with me. Most of the match takes place in the 50/50 guard, which I'm aware lots of you are not a fan of. At the time of this match, it didn't seem like anyone could pass Ryan's 50/50 guard, but Zak weathered the storm and eventually passed and beating the ultimate 'stalling' guard. I guess that's why this match sticks out in my mind so much. 

The video of the match can be found below. I hope you guys enjoy!

See you next week!

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