Francis Pignoti Pana joins the Grapplezilla Podcast for a deep dive into ultra-heavyweight no-gi grappling, elite competition, pressure passing, and the mindset required to perform on the sport’s biggest stages.

From his early days training under Brazilian Top Team to representing Homa BJJ in Montreal, Francis shares the story behind his rise in jiu-jitsu.

He breaks down his world championship run, lessons from competing at ADCC, the influence of boxing on his stand-up game, and how he developed a crushing top-pressure style built around control, patience, and exhaustion.

We also get into his experience facing elite competitors including Felipe Pena and Luke Griffith, the evolution of heavyweight leg-lock defense, recovery for older athletes, cross-training, coaching, gratitude, and why he believes more men need to prioritize fitness.

If you love Brazilian jiu-jitsu, no-gi grappling, ADCC, heavyweight pressure passing, wrestling, combat sports, or the mentality behind high-level competition, this episode is for you.

In this episode:- Francis Pignoti Pana’s journey from France to Canada- Brazilian Top Team, Homa BJJ, and building a no-gi game- Winning at the highest levels of jiu-jitsu- Facing Felipe Pena and competing on major stages- What Luke Griffith taught him about elite top pressure- Boxing footwork, cardio, distance management, and grappling- Heavyweight passing, guard work, and leg-lock defense- Training smarter, recovering better, and staying durable- Coaching, gym culture, brotherhood, and competitive mindset

Here are Francis Pignoti Pana's social media account where you can find him online:

Instagram: @francopana_combateYouTube: @francopana_combate Threads: @francopana_combate

If you want to get some AWESOME Grapplezilla merch, check out our Grapplezilla Store in the link below:

https://grapplezilla-shop.fourthwall.com/If you would like to support the Grapplezilla Podcast and buy me a coffee, I’ll leave a link below as any support is always appreciated:

https://buymeacoffee.com/grapplezilla

Also, if you enjoyed this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, we invite you to subscribe to Grapplezilla’s YouTube channel for more great Grappling and Wrestling content updated regularly.

Until next time…Grab, Throw, Tap!

#grappling #bjj #jiujitsu #adcc #montrealbjj #francispignotipana #nogi #nogigrappling #bjjpodcast #jiujitsupodcast #grapplingpodcast #bjjfighter #grapplezilla

Brett Pastore has fought his way from a New Jersey classroom to the brutal front lines of global combat sports, and his story is as wild as his style.

The American Nomad breaks down why teaching middle school felt harder than MMA, how he ended up training and living in Thailand, and what it really takes to survive across Catch Wrestling, Sambo, Combat Wrestling, Ssireum, MMA, One Championship, and bare-knuckle Lethwei.

Brett is a BJJ black belt, USA Sambo national team member, 2021 Catch Wrestling lightweight world champion, and a professional MMA fighter training out of the world famous Tiger Muay Thai and MMA.

In this conversation, he reveals how he blends catch wrestling pressure with jiu-jitsu guard concepts, why the “gap system” matters everywhere from turtle to guard retention, and how his aggressive, submission-hunting approach changes when strikes, headbutts, and ring ropes enter the equation.

You’ll discover:

- Why catch wrestling and BJJ are closer than people think

- How combat Sambo and MMA overlap, especially with strikes, grips, and takedowns

- What changes when leg locks meet punches

- Why One Championship’s rule set and ring create completely different problems

- How Brett adapts to wildly different rule sets without losing his core game

Brett also shares the story of taking an eight-week camp into bare-knuckle Lethwei against a world champion in Myanmar, what he learned from getting outmuscled and cut open in hostile territory, and why fighting in a ring can be far stranger than fighting in a cage.

Along the way, he and the host dig into rule differences, back-of-the-head strikes, folkstyle vs freestyle wrestling, Korean Ssireum, and the technical details that separate great grapplers from great MMA fighters.If you care about high-level grappling, MMA strategy, or the mindset of a fighter who’s lived the real nomad life, this one delivers.

Essential listening for wrestlers, jiu-jitsu players, and anyone who wants a brutally honest look at what works when the rules stop being theoretical.

Here is Brett Pastore’s social media account where you can find him online:

Instagram: @brettpastore.americannomad

If you want to get some AWESOME Grapplezilla merch, check out our Grapplezilla Store in the link below:

https://grapplezilla-shop.fourthwall.com/

If you would like to support the Grapplezilla Podcast and buy me a coffee, I’ll leave a link below as any support is always appreciated:

https://buymeacoffee.com/grapplezilla

Also, if you enjoyed this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, we invite you to subscribe to Grapplezilla’s YouTube channel for more great Grappling and Wrestling content updated regularly.

Until next time…Grab, Throw, Tap!

#tigermuaythai #mma #mmafighter #mmapodcast #sambo #bjj #jiujitsu #mmatips #brettpastore #onechampionship #onefc #ufc #podcast #grapplezilla

The difference between winning and fading in grappling often comes down to one idea: one stance, one grip, one throw.

Ukrainian Sambo world champion Ivan Vasylchuk reveals the brutally simple system behind elite-level takedowns, submissions, and transitions, and why mastering a few fundamentals beats collecting hundreds of techniques.Ivan has won gold at the 2011 World Championships in Vilnius and the World Combat Games, holds black belts in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and has built a reputation as one of the sharpest technical minds in Sambo.

But what makes this conversation special is how he breaks down world-class grappling into details you can actually use—from grip fighting and leg locks to no-gi throwing mechanics and the mindset that keeps champions dangerous.

You'll discover:

• Why Ivan believes rules matter more than people realize and how they shape 60% of a match

  
  

• The real biomechanics behind the Achilles lock and the common mistakes that kill finishing power

  
  

• How to adapt throws for no-gi, including where to grip when the jacket is gone

  
  

• Why Sambo, judo, and BJJ all reward different pace, pressure, and stance choices

  
  

• How he trains transitions from standing to ground so attack never stops after the takedown

  
  

Ivan also explains how changing judo rules reshaped the sport, why some grapplers are better off learning fewer techniques better, and how the best competitors control not just the body, but the opponent's decision-making.

He shares the coaching philosophy he inherited from Gennady Horokhov, the tactical lessons from silver-medal finishes, and the psychological edge every serious grappler should study.

If you care about standup dominance, ruthless efficiency, or making your top game instantly more dangerous, this episode gives you a masterclass from a true international champion. Perfect for Sambo players, Judokas, BJJ competitors, and MMA grapplers who want practical answers, not theory.

Grapplezilla hosts the conversation, and Ivan Vasylchuk brings the experience, precision, and championship-level insight.

If you want to understand how elite grapplers think, move, and finish, hit play now.

Here are Ivan Vasylchuk’s social media account where you can find him online:

Instagram: @ivanvasylchuk_sp

Instagram: @vasylchuk_academy

YouTube: @IvanVasylchuk_silapartera

Facebook: @SilaParteraIvanVasylchuk

URL: https://www.silapartera.com/

URL: https://gpp.silapartera.com/

If you want to get some AWESOME Grapplezilla merch, check out our Grapplezilla Store in the link below:

https://grapplezilla-shop.fourthwall.com/

If you would like to support the Grapplezilla Podcast and buy me a coffee, I’ll leave a link below as any support is always appreciated:

https://buymeacoffee.com/grapplezilla

Also, if you enjoyed this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, we invite you to subscribe to Grapplezilla’s YouTube channel for more great Grappling and Wrestling content updated regularly.

Until next time…Grab, Throw, Tap!