In a recent interview that has ignited controversy within the combat sports community, Makkasharip Zauynukov, a teammate of UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, made bold claims about how his fellow fighter would fare against grappling superstar Gordon Ryan.
Zauynukov expressed confidence that Makhachev would dominate in a hypothetical matchup against the multiple-time ADCC world champion Ryan—with one significant caveat.
“If he [Ryan] would be clean, then I think Gordon wouldn’t have a chance,” Zauynukov stated firmly when asked about the potential contest.
The comments came during a discussion about how Makhachev might perform at prestigious submission grappling tournaments like ADCC, where Ryan has established himself as arguably the most dominant competitor in the sport’s history.
Zauynukov further elaborated on his suspicions regarding Ryan’s physical development, pointing to what he perceives as unnatural changes in the grappler’s physique.
“Looking at his photos, a month ago he looked one way, and now he looks completely different,” Zauynukov remarked. “He’s become such a huge hybrid. I don’t know how that’s possible. I don’t know how that’s possible without pharmacological assistance.”
Ryan, who has been open about his use of PEDs outside of competition where testing regulations differ from those in the UFC, has consistently dominated the submission grappling world with multiple championships across various weight divisions.
Meanwhile, Makhachev has showcased exceptional grappling abilities within MMA, utilizing his sambo background and wrestling skills to capture and defend the UFC lightweight championship.
This statement adds fuel to the ongoing debates about cross-discipline matchups and the role of PEDs in combat sports, particularly regarding how athletes from different competition frameworks with varying testing protocols might match up against each other.
Neither Ryan nor Makhachev has directly responded to these comments at the time of publication.
