The AIGA Champions League Final 2025 delivered drama both on and off the mats this weekend, with Team Kasai claiming the championship while retired superstar Gordon Ryan took to Instagram to slam Kaynan Duarte’s disappointing showing at the Kazakhstan event.
Team Kasai Claims Million-Dollar Prize
The two-day event (June 28-29) at Sadu Arena in Kazakhstan saw eight elite teams battle for the massive $1,000,000 prize pool, with Team Kasai emerging victorious in dominant fashion.
Key Results:
- Team Kasai defeated Team Williams Elite 4-0 in the final
- Roberto Jimenez was the standout performer for Kasai, going 2-1 on the weekend with impressive victories over Gabriel Almeida and a two-time ADCC champion
- The event featured free live streaming and high production values
- Notable performances included Fabricio Andrey and Daiki securing crucial wins for their respective teams
- Luccas Lira made his AIGA Champions League debut
Gordon Ryan’s Scathing Instagram Attack
While Team Kasai celebrated their victory, the weekend’s biggest story may have been Gordon Ryan’s brutal criticism of Kaynan Duarte’s performance. The retired king took to Instagram to blast Duarte after the Brazilian suffered a shocking upset loss to unknown competitor Ruslan Abdulaev.
In his Instagram post, Ryan didn’t hold back, calling ADCC 2026 a “complete waste of my time” while referencing Duarte’s poor showing at AIGA. The criticism comes as the two champions were set to potentially face off in a superfight at ADCC 2026, with both holding the same number of ADCC titles.
His full post under
The Backstory: A Rivalry Years in the Making
Ryan and Duarte have significant history despite only competing once – back in 2018 at the IBJJF No Gi Pan Championship, where Ryan submitted Duarte with a rear-naked choke. Their paths have intertwined at ADCC:
- 2019: Ryan won under 99kg and absolute; Duarte won over 99kg
- 2022: Ryan won over 99kg; Duarte won under 99kg
- 2024: Duarte won under 99kg and absolute, earning his ADCC 2026 superfight opportunity
What This Means for BJJ
The AIGA event showcased the growing international expansion of high-level grappling, with Kazakhstan hosting a million-dollar team competition that attracted top talent worldwide. However, Ryan’s criticism highlights the pressure on elite athletes to perform consistently at the highest level.
With Ryan casting doubt on his ADCC 2026 participation, the potential superfight that many considered the perfect main event may be in jeopardy. His Instagram blast suggests the rivalry between these two champions runs deeper than just competitive history.
The weekend proved that while new formats like AIGA’s team competition are gaining traction, individual rivalries and social media drama continue to drive the biggest storylines in modern BJJ.
