The tension between grappling titans Gordon Ryan and Mikey Musumeci escalated dramatically following the UFC Fight Pass Invitational 9. Musumeci, who recently made waves with his statements about PED use in professional grappling, sought to clarify his position during the event’s post-match press conference. However, Ryan’s fiery response on social media has kept the spotlight firmly on their ongoing rivalry.
Musumeci’s Clarification on PED Comments
After securing a points victory against Felipe Machado, Musumeci addressed the controversy surrounding his remarks on PEDs. Initially seen as a critique of athletes like Ryan, who is widely speculated to have used enhancements, Musumeci’s comments ignited a backlash. He sought to temper the tension, stating:
“I have nothing against Gordon. He’s grown the sport tremendously, and I have the utmost respect for him. We’re both from the same town in New Jersey. What I stand for and what he stands for are a bit different, and I’m just keeping it real.”
Musumeci attempted to bridge the generational divide in grappling, emphasizing a forward-thinking approach:
“If you take PEDs you’re definitely an athlete, I would just say you’re a super athlete. You don’t count as a regular athlete.”
Rather than condemning past choices, he pointed to a broader vision for the sport:
“The people that took ster*ids in the past – awesome, good for you, that was your generation. Maybe you didn’t have the rules of ste**ids in your time. Now because it’s a new generation, take a stand and change the sport… Focus on the next generation and having kids not follow what you did hurting your body doing dugs.”
Despite his respectful tone, Musumeci’s remarks did little to soothe Ryan, who took to Instagram to fire back.
Gordon Ryan’s Scathing Response
Ryan, a polarizing figure in the grappling world, wasted no time addressing Musumeci’s statements. Fresh off his commentary duties at the event, he unleashed a series of harsh criticisms on social media. In his Instagram stories, Ryan mocked Musumeci’s performance and credibility:
“PSA: the fact I was able to call little Mike’s f*ck ups like five seconds before they happened just goes to show you that he was never as good as you guys thought. Sucks to suck.”
The jab highlighted Ryan’s disdain for what he perceives as Musumeci’s posturing, framing the exchange as yet another chapter in their ongoing feud.
Musumeci’s Vision Amidst Controversy
Musumeci remains undeterred, focusing on his ambitions for the next season. With plans to compete six times in the coming year, he is optimistic about making a broader impact on the sport. Reflecting on Ryan’s commentary during his match, he acknowledged the duality of their relationship, noting Ryan’s positive remarks while grappling with the fallout of their public clash.
UFC Fight Pass Invitational 9 Results
While the Ryan-Musumeci spat stole the headlines, the Fight Pass Invitational 9 featured a night of intense matchups.
- Mikey Musumeci def. Felipe Machado via points (2-0)
- Renato Canuto def. Jason Nolf via points (0 to -1)
- Rolando Junior def. Nick Mataya via submission (anaconda choke)
- Jonnatas Gracie def. Kyle Chambers via submission (anaconda choke)
- Raquel Canuto def. Michele Oliveira via submission (rear-naked choke)
- Ryan Aitken def. Gabriel Almeida via points (2-0)
- Maggie Grindatti Lira def. Giovanna Carneiro via submission (heel hook)
- Damien Anderson def. Sandrey Silva via submission (rear-naked choke)
- Luccas Lira def. Michael Pixley via points (0 to -3)
- Lavinia Barbosa def. Shelby Murphey via decision
