Those who claim that ADCC silver medalist Nick Rodriguez has enjoyed his success in the jiu-jitsu world because of his wrestling experience will get to see that theory tested in March of 2020.
3rd Coast Grappling has announced on the eve of their third major event that 3CG IV will feature a match between Rodriguez and wrestler Pat Downey. Downey, a member of Team USA and one of the top wrestlers in the country, has been taking jabs at Rodriguez and his teammate Gordon Ryan on social media, claiming last week that he’d stake a lot of money on his belief that he could dominate Ryan on the mats.
This won’t be the first time that Rodriguez and Downey have faced off. Downey won via tech fall when the two competed against each other in a wrestling “superfight” set up between FloGrappling and FloWrestling on the Who’s #1 card back in October. Despite Downey’s dominant 12-0 victory over Rodriguez, the match was under wrestling rules, and many submission grappling fans will have their fingers crossed that the modified 3CG rules will turn the tables for Rodriguez this time around.
This won’t be the first match between a jiu-jitsu athlete and wrestler that 3CG will have hosted — tomorrow, at 3CG III, the main event will see Gordon Ryan going up against Bo Nickal in a highly anticipated match that will also take place under modified 3CG rules.
The main event for 3CG IV has yet to be announced, but we’ll keep you updated with all the big matches to look out for as the event approaches on March 14.
