Gordon Ryan, recently shared screenshots of a conversation with a promoter, shedding light on why a much-anticipated grappling match against Olympic gold medalist wrestler Gable Steveson failed to materialize.
In the leaked exchange, the promoter reached out to Ryan about the possibility of organizing a match against Steveson, emphasizing the potential for a high-profile clash between the elite representatives of their respective disciplines.
According to Ryan’s post, the promoter initiated the conversation, stating, “Gable, this is Mike Sears from Flo. You always comment you wanna compete on my ig and apparently had a talk w the fanatics guys about it. If you’re interested, let me know about when and what ruleset. Would be a huge cross over. Best jiu jitsu heavyweight vs best wrestling heavyweight.”
Ryan appears to have been receptive to the idea, responding, “Yeah just let me know if you’re interested and then we can talk dates and money. I make the matches for the FloGrappling WNO events.”
The exchange continued with discussions about potential dates and training opportunities, suggesting an initial willingness from both parties to explore the matchup further.
However, in a separate post, Ryan expressed frustration, claiming that he had repeatedly attempted to make the match happen but was consistently left “on read” by the other side, implying a lack of follow-through or commitment.
While the reasons behind the apparent breakdown in negotiations remain unclear, Ryan’s revelation has fueled speculation and disappointment among fans who had eagerly anticipated witnessing the cross-disciplinary showdown between these two elite athletes.
Steveson reiterated interest in grappling with Ryan and Nicky Rod in a recent podcast appearance despite his lack of experience in submission grappling.
