Gordon Ryan is coming back to the 3rd Coast Grappling stage, and this time around, he’ll be fighting for a good cause.
Ryan will be participating in a special superfight against the We Defy Foundation‘s Brian Marvin in hopes of raising money for the aforementioned organization. 3rd Coast Grappling promoter Ryan McGuire says that neither competitor will receive money for the match, and their efforts on the mat will instead go toward raising awareness and financial donations to We Defy.
The We Defy Foundation is among the most well-known BJJ-based charities and states that its mission is to “provide combat veterans coping with military connected disabilities a long term means to overcome their challenges through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and fitness training.”
The cause is personal to McGuire, who is a veteran himself. “We are excited to partner with the number-one grappler in the world to raise money for a foundation that changes lives daily,” he told the Jiu-Jitsu Times. “For veterans with PTSD, sometimes jiu-jitsu is all that works for them. The more veterans we can get training, the more the suicide rate goes down, the chances at a much better quality of life are much higher, and in a way, you can be reborn and given a new lease on life… just by living the jiu-jitsu lifestyle. If you’re a veteran and struggling, give jiu-jitsu a try over the VA, or maybe in tandem.”
While Ryan has established himself as being among the top grapplers in the world, winning double gold at ADCC last year, Marvin is a serious force to be reckoned with on (and off) the mats as well. In addition to spending twenty years in the Army, Marvin is also a BJJ black belt and the owner and head instructor of Renzo Gracie. He also boasts an impressive competitive record that includes a silver medal at the 2016 Euros.
Gordon Ryan vs. Brian Marvin will be part of a planned 3CG: Kumite IV event that is scheduled to take place on July 11. Donations can be made directly to We Defy, and the money raised from the day before the event to the end of the event will be counted as funds raised directly through the superfight. You can watch the event live on Saturday, July 11 on FloGrappling.
@wedefyfoundation July 11th. 3CG Absolute Kumite The post Gordon Ryan To Face Brian Marvin In 3rd Coast Grappling Charity Match To Benefit We Defy Foundation appeared first on Jiu-Jitsu Times.