Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu star Craig Jones has made a surprising revelation about his former teammate Gordon Ryan‘s future claiming the grappling legend has stepped away from competition for good and is now setting his sights on a political career.
During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show Jones was asked about Ryan’s potential participation in his upcoming CJI 2 event in Las Vegas this August. When pressed about whether Ryan would be part of John Danaher‘s New Wave team (now rebranded as King’s Way) Jones delivered unexpected news about his former training partner’s career path.
“He will not compete. I don’t believe he’ll ever compete again. I think this time it’s real. This time it’s a real retirement because of his health. I think he’s going into politics actually. I’ve heard. I think he’s going to run for Congress.”
The update comes as a significant development in the grappling world where Ryan has long been considered one of the sport’s most dominant and widely discussed figures. Known for his technical prowess and active presence on social media Ryan’s transition from grappling mats to political campaigns represents a dramatic career shift.
When Helwani expressed surprise at the news and asked if it was true Jones confirmed the information.
“That’s true.”
Though he appeared unsure when asked if he would vote for Ryan admitting he wasn’t confident about his former teammate’s political beliefs.
Jones suggested that Ryan’s health concerns have played a major role in the decision to move away from active competition. The Australian grappler noted that Ryan has been dealing with ongoing physical issues that have affected his ability to train and perform consistently in recent years.
The political ambitions add another layer to Ryan’s already complex public identity. Known for his outspoken online presence Ryan’s potential entry into politics would likely draw attention and discussion from both inside and outside the grappling community.
This move also impacts the competitive scene significantly as Ryan has been one of the sport’s biggest names and most accomplished athletes. His absence from high-profile events like CJI 2 creates a clear gap at the top level.
Jones who has had a complicated relationship with Ryan since their departure from the Danaher Death Squad seemed to believe the retirement was real this time unlike previous announcements.
The timing is notable as Jones prepares for his own major bout against Olympic gold medalist Gable Stevenson at CJI 2 possibly marking the end of an era for both men though for very different reasons.
If this is indeed the end, it’s a sad close to an era—one marked, at the very least, by growing interest in BJJ, and at its peak, by an overwhelmingly technical grappler who was able to defeat almost everyone in his path. Ryan celebrated his 30th birthday this week.
