Few events have stirred the pot quite like the split of the Danaher Death Squad (DDS). Once the most feared team in the sport, their sudden disbanding left fans and competitors alike scratching their heads. Speculation ran rampant, with many attributing the breakup to internal conflicts and clashing egos. Now, Craig Jones has hinted at some of the real reasons behind the split—and it seems the story is far from over.
The saga began in 2020 when the DDS moved from New York to Puerto Rico. Under the guidance of John Danaher, the team was poised to dominate the BJJ world. But beneath the surface, tensions were brewing. The team, which included superstars like Gordon Ryan and his younger brother Nicky Ryan, seemed unbeatable from the outside. However, cracks soon began to show, particularly between the Ryan brothers themselves.
In an appearance on the Lex Fridman podcast, Craig Jones alluded to the underlying issues within the team, though he was careful not to spill all the details.
Nicky Ryan shed some light on the personal dynamics that contributed to the team’s downfall during the same podcast. He admitted that the initial split left him and his brother Gordon at odds. “We definitely hated each other at the beginning,” Nicky confessed, adding that the animosity has since cooled down. But despite the recent thaw in their relationship, Nicky stands by the decision to break up the team, citing the uncomfortable training environment as a significant factor.
During the CJI promotional tour, Jones went on Sean O’Malley’s podcast and clarified that John Danaher took Gordon’s side in the conflict further alienating Nicky and pushing him towards forming B-Team.
“He probably felt more attached to us on a friendship level than even to his brother and his coach. So, I think some beef obviously went down between him and his brother. John picked a side, and I guess for Nicky, John was his guy—the one he looked up to so much. But seeing John choose Gordon’s side probably pushed him further in our direction. He likely felt more safe and secure coming with us.”
But the conflict between Craig Jones and Gordon Ryan hit a whole new gear once Gordon decided to brag about his earnings this past weekend.
With superior prizes, marketing, and production, Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) has forced ADCC to up its game, particularly in offering better rewards for female competitors as well as show money. Gordon Ryan, despite his continued loyalty to ADCC, acknowledged that he reaped the benefits of Jones’s efforts, securing a substantial pay increase for his participation.
The text exchange between Jones and Gordon Ryan, which Jones shared publicly, revealed a bitter back-and-forth laced with personal jabs and veiled threats. Jones even hinted at possessing damning evidence that could land Ryan in serious legal trouble—a threat that Ryan seemed to dismiss, albeit with a hint of nervousness.
Jones followed up these revelations with a cryptic story on Instagram, suggesting that an influential figure—likely John Danaher himself—was aware of the alleged misconduct but chose to remain loyal to Gordon Ryan. “If we did drop the nuke, you would be surprised at who knows, and did f**king nothing about it,” Jones wrote, leaving fans to wonder just how deep the rift goes.
With Craig Jones hinting at more to come, it seems we’ve only scratched the surface of what really led to the downfall of one of the most dominant teams in BJJ history.
