ADCC superstar Gordon Ryan will be joining Jon Jones’ corner as the heavyweight champion defends his title against Stipe Miocic. This development was revealed by Jones’ longtime jiu-jitsu coach, Roberto “Tussa” Alencar.
Alencar, who has been honing Jones’ grappling skills since 2015, expressed his enthusiasm for Jones’ strategy of bringing in experts from various martial arts disciplines. “I’m stepping down from the corner, but Gordon will be there for the work he’s done with Jon,” Alencar stated. He went on to praise Ryan’s contribution, in an interview with MMAFighting:”Gordon was a great addition to us. I’ve learned a lot from him, me being a black belt and all the experience I have, and Gordon coming from no-gi, from ADCC.”
Despite Jones’ MMA accomplishments, Alencar previously insisted on a careful promotion approach, which is why he’s never promoted Jon Jones past the Purple belt.
Ryan’s credentials are impressive. Jones has also been training with Olympic gold medalist Gable Stevenson and WBO champion Joseph Parker in preparation for this bout.
Alencar highlighted the strategic importance of these collaborations, stating, “Stipe is a boxer, a wrestler, a complete fighter. We understand that and how dangerous he is. Jon knows that, and he knows to call the right people.”
The decision to have Ryan in the corner is seen as mutually beneficial. “I think it’s going to be good for Jon to have a champion in the corner with him,” Alencar said. “Gordon is in his prime, so I think it also helps his career. It adds a lot to his arsenal to use the day of the fight.”
While Alencar, as a jiu-jitsu specialist, naturally leans towards grappling strategies, he acknowledges Jones’ versatility. “Jon doesn’t have gameplans, he’s ready for whatever comes in all areas,” he explained. “It’s every element of MMA. It’s not just ground game, wrestling, striking. It’s the cage, ground and pound, the mental aspect of it.”
As UFC 309 approaches, this unexpected addition to Jones’ corner adds another layer of intrigue to an already highly anticipated matchup.
