Craig Jones is no stranger to making bold, controversial statements. In a recent interview on The Mac Life, he made an eyebrow-raising comparison between his rival Gordon Ryan’s frequent injury withdrawals and women’s menstrual cycles.
When discussing the difficulties of trying to organize a matchup between himself and Ryan, Jones stated:
“He [Gordon Ryan] has stomach aches like women have menstrual cramps. You know, they come once a month, He needs a week off. So it’s difficult to set that up because there’s always medical conditions.”
In other words, Jones was implying that Ryan pulls out of matches regularly with minor ailments as excuses.
The inflammatory menstrual cramp comparison is vintage Craig Jones. Known for his brash trash talk and dark humor, he pulls no punches when it comes to his nemesis Ryan.
Jones and Ryan have a long-running rivalry in the world of submission grappling. Fans have been eagerly anticipating a big-money rematch between the two elite grapplers.
However, Jones hinted that Ryan’s frequent last-minute injury withdrawals make organizing the dream match infuriatingly difficult. By likening the situation to menstrual cramps, he clearly implies the injuries are exaggerated excuses to avoid facing him.
This is not the first time Jones has called out Ryan’s tendency to withdraw from matches. After Ryan pulled out of Felipe Pena match due to a seveere bout of diarrhea, Jones publicly doubted the severity of his health situation.
While some may take offense at Jones’ menstrual cramp comparison, others will see it simply as harmless promoter trash talk to hype a future clash. The outspoken Aussie has never been afraid of making bold, controversial statements to drum up interest and speculation.
Gordon Ryan recently shared insights into his health journey, revealing challenges stemming from severe health issues, including a streptococcal infection affecting his throat and stomach.
Ryan announced his hiatus from competitions throughout the 2024 season, excluding the ADCC scheduled for August, due to his health challenges. Ryan challenged the perception that PEDs alone significantly alter an athlete’s body mass.
He emphasized his nearly 10kg (22 lbs) weight loss due to enforced rest in recent months, highlighting the importance of “professionalism in real muscle development.”
Ryan hinted that reliance on PEDs does not shield athletes from losing their physique if they lack regular training or gym sessions.
