Defense! On a roll, Ryan Gandra clarifies controversy after shining at UFC 331.

Ryan Gandra celebrates his UFC victory. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube/UFC

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Promising Ryan Gandra is making his mark in the world's biggest MMA organization. At UFC 331 , an event held last Saturday (19) in California (USA), the Brazilian easily knocked out Osman Diaz in two minutes. Enjoying a great phase in his career, the athlete wants to continue growing in the middleweight division (up to 83,9 kg) and, confident, made such a bold move that it ended up being misinterpreted by many.

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Still in the octagon, Gandra didn't hesitate, challenging Israel Adesanya , the former king of the division, and exuding confidence that he can beat him. And the Brazilian's excitement is understandable, given that he won all three of his UFC fights by knockout in devastating fashion, while the Nigerian is experiencing the worst moment of his career, with four consecutive losses.

In fact, this wasn't the first time the athlete publicly expressed his desire to face the UFC star. Because of his insistence, some fans and MMA professionals believe that the fighter from Minas Gerais is disrespecting Adesanya. However, in the post- UFC 331 press conference , Gandra defended himself and made a point of explaining that he does dream of facing the former champion, but not because he considers it an easy fight.

“He’s a guy I watched fight when I still dreamed of getting into the UFC. I saw him fighting big names that I admire a lot, like Anderson Silva , and even Poatan himself. I wanted to be one of those names, to be challenging, fighting, sharing the same space. It wasn’t disrespectful,” said the fighter.

“It was to fulfill a dream I have of fighting a big name. I know Adesanya is a guy who will give me a fight that everyone wants to see. So, it's not just for me, it's for the business too, for the show we're going to deliver,” he concluded.

Adesanya promotes UFC event. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC

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Ryan Gandra's history in MMA

Ryan Gandra , 31, is a striking specialist and a natural knockout artist. The Brazilian began his MMA career in 2022 and debuted in the UFC in 2026. In the sport, he has built a record of 11 wins, nine by stoppage (eight by knockout and one by submission), and one loss.

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