In the latest chapter of a simmering rivalry between two of jiu-jitsu’s biggest names, Gordon Ryan has responded to comments made by Mikey Musumeci regarding his appearance and admitted PED use.
The controversy began when Musumeci, speaking with former UFC champion Mighty Mouse, compared his appearance to Ryan‘s despite their minimal age difference.
“Gordon Ryan’s one year older than me, but he looks like he’s 40,” Musumeci remarked in the interview. “Are we really just one year apart? How is that possible?”
Musumeci, 28, went on to claim that athletes using PEDs experience accelerated aging.
“All the guys that are on ster*ids, their bodies age, like, 20 years,” he said. “My body’s, like, 20. His body’s, like, 40.”
The comments clearly struck a nerve with Ryan, 29, who responded by re-sharing the clip of Musumeci‘s interview on social media. Ryan overlaid text reading “Are PEDs aging BJJ athletes?” with a simple “No..” response.
Not stopping there, Ryan also posted a clean-shaven photo of himself wearing a cap with the caption:
“I’m just not some twerp midget, like you.”
The exchange highlights the ongoing tension between the two elite grapplers who represent different approaches to the sport. Musumeci has been vocal about competing clean and avoiding performance enhancers, while Ryan has been openly endorsing PED use and claiming it’s not against rules.
In the same interview, Musumeci suggested that avoiding PEDs provides long-term benefits for athletes.
“Long-term, we get to enjoy the sport so much longer because we don’t abuse our body like that,” he explained.
The debate around PED use in grappling has intensified as the sport grows in popularity. Musumeci expressed particular concern about young athletes, claiming,
“In jiu-jitsu, there’s kid programs. Like, the biggest teams in the world, they have the kids taking ster*ids.”
Both Ryan and Musumeci are respected champions in their weight classes, with Ryan typically competing in heavier divisions. Musumeci addressed this disparity in the interview, noting he often faces competitors “20-30 pounds heavier” but remains confident in his abilities.
“I can still beat all those guys anyway, so it doesn’t matter,” Musumeci said. “We just have to work harder and get more technical.”
Gordon Ryan has argued that he looks younger without a beard and hair. However, this claim doesn’t quite hold up under scrutiny. For one, he has a noticeably receding hairline, which becomes especially apparent when his hair isn’t carefully styled. Like his father, he exhibits a widow’s peak—a V-shaped hairline that can give the illusion of aging, particularly when paired with hair loss. Additionally, Ryan has visible frown lines, which are typically associated with aging and repeated facial expressions over time.
PED users may also experience a ruddy or reddish skin tone, often a result of increased blood flow. This phenomenon is sometimes amplified by the use of vasodilators like Cialis (tadalafil) and Viagra (sildenafil), which are taken to enhance muscle pump and vascularity before competitions or photoshoots.
In UFC promotional photos from 2022, Ryan has no beard or hair yet he looks substantially older as well. He was 27 at the time:
It should be noted that Ryan has also had extensive issues with his gut microbiome – which can also contribute to aging not to mention stress. The gut microbiome plays a central role in regulating inflammation, nutrient absorption, and immune function—all of which are tied to aging. Nutrient deficits can accelerate aging both externally (skin aging) and internally (organ health, metabolism). Ryan has been struggling to get his gut microbiome issues under control for years, which caused him to retire and unretire on several occasions.
Musumeci has a normal hairline, some naso labial creases but he also looks fairly regular for a 28 year old.
While Gordon Ryan may believe that a clean-shaven look makes him appear younger, the visual evidence—alongside biological effects potentially linked to PED use—suggests otherwise. Facial aging, particularly through skin changes and creasing, is influenced not just by grooming, but also by hormonal factors and underlying physiology.
As jiu-jitsu continues to evolve as a professional sport, calls for more consistent drug testing have increased, with many athletes and fans supporting stronger regulations similar to what exists in professional MMA through organizations like USADA.
