Nick Ronan
BlackBiography
Nick Ronan is an American Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and elite no-gi grappler from Long Island, New York. He earned his black belt from former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Serra and rose to prominence as one of the standout younger members of the Danaher Death Squad, spending years sharpening his game inside the famed Renzo Gracie Academy “Blue Basement.”
Ronan’s competitive style is built around relentless submission hunting and sharp technical execution. He is known for heavy pressure passing, creative back attacks, and a dangerous front headlock system featuring high-percentage finishes like the darce strangle. He has competed successfully at events such as KASAI Pro and the ADCC Trials, earning recognition from elite peers for his depth of skill and aggressive approach.
Shifting toward leadership, Ronan co-founded the Vanguard Academy of Jiu-Jitsu in Long Island alongside fellow black belt and Danaher-trained grappler Jason Rau. The academy has quickly become known for its world-class, detail-oriented instruction and a growing room of high-level competitors. Ronan continues to influence the modern no-gi landscape as both an innovator and a respected coach.
Personal
* Legend status is reserved for retired athletes with outstanding achievements and a lasting impact on the sport.
Rankings
Submissions Breakdown
| Submission | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| Rear naked | 7 | 2 |
| Inside heel hook | 4 | 0 |
| Anaconda | 1 | 0 |
| Triangle | 0 | 1 |
| Opponent | Result | Date | Event | Method | Weight | Round | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas Valle | Loss | 2024 | Enigma 17 | Points: 3-0 | 82KG | — | — |
| Jeremy Skinner | Loss | 2024 | Enigma 14 | Points: 4-0 | Middleweight | 16 | — |
| Andrew Kochel | Win | 2024 | Enigma | Decision | 175LB | — | 17 |
| Hugo Marques | Loss | 2024 | Enigma | Rear naked | 175LB | — | — |
| Enzo Baptista | Win | 2024 | Enigma | Inside heel hook | 175LB | — | 17 |
| Igor Pessoa | Win | 2024 | Enigma | Rear naked | 175LB | — | 17 |
| Sam Schwartz | Win | 2024 | US Qualifier (AIGA) | Rear naked | 76KG | — | 1 |
| Rodrigo Francioni | Win | 2024 | US Qualifier (AIGA) | Decision | 76KG | — | 1 |
| Jacob Bornemann | Loss | 2024 | ADCC Trials - West Coast North America | Decision | 77KG | 64 | — |
| Ezekiel Clerk | Win | 2024 | ADCC Trials - West Coast North America | Anaconda | 77KG | 128 | 14 |
| Zack Ghalayini | Loss | 2024 | ADCC Open Atlantic City | Unknown | 83KG | Quarter-Finals | — |
| Eman Ayala | Win | 2024 | ADCC Open Atlantic City | Unknown | 83KG | 16 | 2 |
| Joseph Rodriguez | Win | 2024 | ADCC Open Atlantic City | Unknown | 83KG | 32 | 2 |
| Nathan Haddad | Loss | 2024 | EBI 22 | EBI Overtime | Welterweight | 16 | — |
| Kieran Kichuk | Loss | 2023 | Enigma | Triangle | 77KG | Quarter-Finals | — |
| Christian Vukaj | Win | 2023 | Enigma | Inside heel hook | 77KG | 16 | 10 |
| Oliver Taza | Loss | 2022 | EBI 19 | EBI Overtime | 77KG | Semi-Finals | — |
| Oscar De Los Santos | Win | 2022 | EBI 19 | Inside heel hook | 77KG | Quarter-Finals | 68 |
| Omer Emanoely | Win | 2022 | EBI 19 | EBI Overtime | 77KG | 16 | 51 |
| William Tackett | Loss | 2022 | ADCC Trials - West Coast North America | Rear naked | 77KG | 16 | — |
| Alejandro Mayorga | Win | 2022 | ADCC Trials - West Coast North America | Rear naked | 77KG | 32 | 17 |
| Ricardo Pena | Win | 2022 | ADCC Trials - West Coast North America | Points: 6-0 | 77KG | 64 | 13 |
| Paul Garofalo | Win | 2022 | ADCC Trials - West Coast North America | Rear naked | 77KG | 128 | 13 |
| Mahan Zabihi | Win | 2022 | ADCC Trials - West Coast North America | Rear naked | 77KG | 256 | 9 |
| Mica Galvao | Draw | 2022 | Polaris 20 | N/A | Absolute | — | 80 |
| Diogo Reis | Draw | 2022 | Polaris 20 | N/A | Absolute | — | 80 |
| Igor Tanabe | Draw | 2022 | Polaris 20 | N/A | 75KG | — | 80 |
| Marcelo Fausto | Draw | 2022 | Polaris 20 | N/A | 75KG | — | 80 |
| Ross Nicholss | Draw | 2021 | Polaris Squads | N/A | Absolute | — | 57 |
| Oliver Taza | Loss | 2021 | Emerald City | EBI Overtime | Absolute | Finals | — |
| Giancarlo Bodoni | Win | 2021 | Emerald City | Inside heel hook | Absolute | Semi-Finals | 4 |
| Ellis Younger | Draw | 2021 | Polaris Squads 3 | N/A | 75KG | — | 57 |
| Ross Nicholls | Draw | 2021 | Polaris Squads 3 | N/A | 75KG | — | 57 |
| Tye Ruotolo | Loss | 2021 | GrappleFest 10 | Decision | 77KG | — | — |
| Justin Renick | Win | 2021 | F2W 166 | Decision | 82KG | — | 21 |
| Adrian Gonzalez | Loss | 2021 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Decision | 77KG | 64 | — |
| Yanis Belhaj | Win | 2021 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Rear naked | 77KG | 128 | 9 |
| Johnny Tama | Loss | 2021 | BJJ Fanatics | Decision | Absolute | Semi-Finals | — |
| Andy Varela | Loss | 2020 | SUG 18 | Overtime | 77KG | — | — |
| Andy Varela | Loss | 2020 | SUG 18 | EBI Overtime | N/A | — | — |
| Gesias Cavalcante | Loss | 2020 | F2W 157 | Decision | 82KG | — | — |
| Dylan Royce | Win | 2020 | F2W 154 | Decision | 82KG | — | 21 |
| John Combs | Loss | 2020 | Subversiv 4 | Decision | 81KG | Finals | — |
| Andy Murasaki | Win | 2020 | Subversiv 4 | Decision | 82KG | Semi-Finals | 4 |
| Andrew Kochel | Win | 2020 | Subversiv 4 | Rear naked | 82KG | 16 | 1 |
| William Tackett | Loss | 2019 | KASAI Pro 6 | Points: 9-0 | 79KG | — | — |