
Yes, there is gear based matchmaking.
Just for those who are wondering... yes, there is gear based matchmaking.
But if you dropped in with green gear and get steamrolled by chaps decked out in legendary gear, then it's likely due to not enough players of similar gear level playing on that particular map/mode/solo/trio combination in your region during the same queue timing... so the game eventually resorts to mixing in a wider range of gear levels.
You'll usually see the "expanding matchmaking range" message pop up when that happens.