Multiple-time ADCC world champion Gordon Ryan has fired back at Roberto Jimenez following accusations related to PEDs.
The controversy began after Ryan appeared on the JRE UFC London Companion podcast, where he discussed the relationship between technical efficiency and cardiovascular conditioning in jiu-jitsu. Ryan explained that superior technique allows him to conserve energy while forcing opponents to work harder, stating:
“It doesn’t matter how good your cardio is, like how high your VO2 max is. If you’re working twice as hard as I am, you’re gonna get tired faster than I am.”
Jimenez, known for promoting his natural approach to the sport, responded to Ryan’s comments on social media with a pointed reference to PEDs:
“Definitely matters how good your cardio is… especially when you’re not taking ster*ids that are f***ing your health.”
Ryan wasted no time crafting a lengthy rebuttal addressing both Jimenez’s performance in their previous match and his PED accusations.
“Interesting… seeing as you’re supposed to be one of the guys with the absolute best cardio in the sport yet you were the guy who seemed to have a heart attack before tapping to a submission,”
Ryan wrote, referencing their bout which ended with Ryan securing an armbar in under five minutes.
In his response, Ryan claimed that the technical gap between them forced Jimenez to work “5x as hard,” leading to his fatigue. He drew an analogy that even a “world championship marathon runner” would be exhausted in a five-minute jiu-jitsu match against a technically superior opponent due to the discrepancy in work rate.
Perhaps most notably, Ryan directly addressed the PED allegations, stating:
“Not only was I 100% natural when I submitted you, and ster*ids have nothing to do with my health issues, but I was also in the hospital 3 days before our match getting an IV.”
Ryan added that despite being ill before their match, he still managed to execute a submission he had “called publicly” before the match.
The match took place on Friday 02.26.2021 – Gordon Ryan previously admitted he started using PEDs in 2016. It depends on several factors, but generally, PED users retain some, but not all, of their gains after stopping a cycle—especially in a sport like professional jiu-jitsu, where endurance, strength, and skill all play a role. Long-term PED users may have permanently higher muscle density, better tendon strength, and enhanced fast-twitch muscle fibers compared to someone who was always natural.
