Grappling icon Gordon Ryan has announced he may not compete at the 2026 ADCC World Championships, citing health concerns as a critical factor in his decision. During a recent press conference, Ryan opened up about the physical and mental toll that competitive grappling has taken on him.
“I had um a ACL and PCL sprain and then a LCL grade 2 LCL tear uh in the first match, the match with Penna. And then um my stomach, I always have a belly ache, so um you’re just trying to get that back to normal.”
Ryan explained that his persistent stomach issues have been a major obstacle to his performance and recovery. Despite these challenges, he chose to compete in the last ADCC out of loyalty to former organizer Mo Jassim.
Paying Tribute to Mo Jassim
The 2024 ADCC tournament was a significant moment in Ryan’s career, not only for (sorta) breaking gold medal records but also as a gesture of gratitude to Mo Jassim, who had a profound influence on the event’s success.
“I wasn’t going to do this ADCC this last time, but uh you know I felt like I kind of owed it to Mo to do it. I really thought that it would be important for me to break the all-time gold medal records for John as our coach, for him to say that he has a student that did that.”
However, with Jassim stepping away from ADCC, Ryan has expressed uncertainty about his motivation to participate in future events, particularly if his health does not improve.
Uncertainty Surrounding ADCC 2026
Looking ahead, Ryan is taking a cautious approach to his involvement in the 2026 ADCC. He emphasized that his decision will depend on two factors: his health and the tournament’s direction under new leadership.
“The next one we’ll see, we’ll see how it plays out. Number one, the main thing is my health, you know, just getting my stomach to a point where I can actually, you know, grapple well. And then number two, we’ll see what ADCC becomes in 2026.”
Ryan hinted that without the influence of Jassim or a compelling incentive to compete, he might choose to sit out the event altogether.
Reflections on Modern Grappling
Critiquing Kron Gracie’s performance in MMA, Ryan contrasted it with the success of fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov, who have adapted traditional jiu-jitsu into a hybrid “submission wrestling” style.
“Traditional old school jiu-jitsu just isn’t enough to translate into mixed martial arts.”
“If you look at Khabib, he used pretty much only jiu-jitsu, but he just kind of transcended wrestling and transcended jiu-jitsu where it was like more of a submission wrestling game,” Ryan explained.
Ryan praised Khabib and others, like Islam Makhachev and Khamzat Chimaev, for their ability to adapt grappling techniques for MMA, emphasizing strategies like controlling opponents against the fence and making them carry body weight.
