“I think that doing big deals like this and making them public helps obviously bring a lot of eyes to the sport, helps everyone get paid, and it’s just good.”
However, industry insiders report that the relationship became complicated due to several factors, including Ryan’s selective approach to competitions, rulesets, and opponents. What was initially celebrated as a landmark moment for the sport’s growth ultimately resulted in just three competitive appearances between the two ADCC championships: victories over Nick Rodriguez (in the UFC’s promotion), Patrick Gaudio (by armbar), and Josh Sanders (by outside heel hook).
The contract, which Ryan had specified was “non-exclusive,” appears to have fallen short of expectations on both sides. Sources close to the situation indicate that it remains unclear how much of the contractual obligations Ryan actually fulfilled during the partnership.
Looking forward, the now-vacant WNO Heavyweight Championship will be contested by Brazilian standout Felipe Pena facing Luke Griffith for the title.
Pena, who has been building an impressive resume with four consecutive wins in the organization, expressed his long-standing ambition for the belt:
“I have been chasing that belt a long time,”
describing a potential championship victory as the
“cherry on top of the cake.”
While Ryan has not officially announced retirement, his coach
John Danaher has previously expressed doubts about Ryan’s ability to continue competing at the highest level. This development represents a significant power shift in the heavyweight division and opens new opportunities for emerging talents.
Pena recently praised WNO’s format as “pure Jiu-Jitsu” due to its 15-minute matches with minimal referee intervention. A far cry from his lengthy match with
Gordon Ryan that basically ended with Pena quitting after the 30 minute mark.
