Gordon Ryan was born on July 8, 1995, in Monroe, New Jersey, and grew up to become one of the most dominant competitive grapplers in the history of no-gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His introduction to the sport came at age 15 through Miguel Benitez, who first placed him on the mats and ignited what would become a lifelong obsession. Ryan's early development was guided by Tom DeBlass, under whom he built a foundational understanding of grappling, before connecting with Garry Tonon, who became his primary coach and, eventually, his teammate.

Ryan's path to jiu-jitsu was not without near-detours. He has recounted publicly that fellow competitor AJ Agazarm inadvertently played a role in keeping him in the sport at a critical juncture when Ryan had considered quitting altogether — a small turning point that, in retrospect, altered the sport's history. Once committed, his ascent through the belt ranks was rapid and emphatic. As a 17-year-old blue belt, he was already submitting black belts in competition, a detail he has cited when discussing the relative meaning of belt rank. Ryan ultimately became the first student Garry Tonon promoted to black belt — a distinction that reflects both the depth of their relationship and the speed of his development.

No single stage has defined Gordon Ryan's legacy more completely than the ADCC World Championship, the premier event in submission grappling. His record across four ADCC appearances constitutes one of the most decorated runs in the tournament's history.

At 2017 ADCC World Championship, Ryan announced himself at the highest level by winning gold in the -88 kg weight class. He advanced through the absolute division as well, reaching the final before falling to Felipe Pena and claiming silver. In a separate superfight that same weekend, he defeated Yuri Simões — adding a third impressive result to an already historic performance for a competitor so early in his career.

Ryan returned to ADCC in 2019 with a dramatically elevated level of performance. Competing in the -99 kg division, he won the weight class and then captured the absolute championship as well, completing a double gold that confirmed him as the sport's premier competitor.

At 2022 ADCC World Championship, Ryan moved up to the +99 kg division for the first time and again swept the field. He won the +99 kg gold and captured the openweight superfight belt, becoming the first athlete in ADCC history to accomplish that double at the heavier division. Among his victories that weekend was a submission over André Galvão — a result that carried particular symbolic weight given their long-running rivalry.

At 2024 ADCC World Championship, Ryan departed from the standard bracket format and opted to compete in a pair of superfights. During the first, against Felipe Pena, he sustained a Grade 2 LCL tear — a significant injury he competed through. Ryan had also attempted to arrange a second superfight against MMA fighter Khamzat Chimaev for the event, reaching out directly to gauge interest. Chimaev expressed willingness but cited scheduling conflicts, and the match never materialized.

Ryan has been described as a seven-time ADCC champion, with titles spanning weight divisions and superfights across his tenure from 2017 through 2024. Since 2018, he has remained undefeated across all grappling competition — a streak sustained even through severe health setbacks and drastically reduced training.

In February 2026, Ryan announced his retirement from competition while simultaneously leaving the door open for a conditional return centered on 2026 ADCC World Championship in Kraków, Poland, if his health permitted. He described ADCC as "the epitome of the sport" and made clear that any organizational exclusive deal he might hypothetically accept would require a contractual carve-out to compete there.

Beyond ADCC, Ryan built an equally commanding record across the wider no-gi competition circuit. Between 2016 and 2017 alone, he captured four Eddie Bravo Invitational titles — winning EBI 6 and EBI 8 in 2016, then EBI 11 and EBI 14 in 2017 — establishing himself as the dominant force in submission-only competition during that period.

In 2018, Ryan added the IBJJF No-Gi World Championship and the IBJJF Pans No-Gi Championship to his record, the latter achieved with double gold and all victories by submission. He also contributed to a Quintet 3 team victory that year, and in 2019 claimed the Kinektic 1 title. Multiple Grappling Industries titles in 2016 and 2017 further demonstrated the breadth of his dominance across formats and organizations.

Ryan's appearances at Who's Number One events produced some of the most talked-about moments in modern grappling. FloGrappling general manager Ben Kovacs described a recurring ritual: Ryan would predict the specific submission he intended to secure, write it down before the match, and then reveal the slip afterward — having delivered exactly that result. The theater reinforced a perception that Ryan was operating at a level beyond ordinary competition, capable of dictating not just outcomes but methods.

At the colored belt level, Ryan's trajectory was equally striking. He won the IBJJF No-Gi World Championship as a brown belt in 2015 and the Newaza Challenge that same year, having placed third at IBJJF Pans No-Gi as a purple belt in 2014.

One significant interruption to this run came on February 2, 2019, at the Kasai Super Series, where Ryan competed against João Gabriel Rocha and sustained a strained femoral biceps tendon along with a complete tear of the lateral collateral ligament. The injury required full reconstruction and sidelined him for several months ahead of that year's ADCC — a blow that threatened to derail one of the most anticipated returns in the sport.

Gordon Ryan's development as a grappler is inseparable from his years inside the Danaher Death Squad, the storied training group assembled by John Danaher at the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York City. Under Danaher's guidance, Ryan — alongside teammates including Garry Tonon, Craig Jones, and others — trained within an environment defined by year-round commitment, no rest days, and marathon drilling sessions. Danaher has described the group's 365-days-a-year approach publicly, and Ryan has credited that culture with shaping his analytical precision and technical depth.

In 2021, the Danaher Death Squad fractured in what became one of the most discussed splits in BJJ history. A significant portion of the team — including Jones and others — departed to form B-Team. Ryan, Danaher, and Tonon remained together, ultimately relocating to Austin, Texas, where they co-founded New Wave Jiu-Jitsu. The split marked a pivotal transition: Ryan was no longer purely a student within the system but had emerged as a team leader, responsible for shaping the culture and direction of the new organization.

Ryan formally separated from the Renzo Gracie Academy as of June 2023, operating fully under the New Wave banner. In 2025, he opened Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu headquarters in Austin, Texas. As of early 2026, Ryan was managing and coaching daily at Kingsway alongside Danaher, with announced plans to build the gym to capacity and launch a global affiliation program.

Gordon Ryan has been unusually transparent about the physical and philosophical foundations of his competitive style — an approach shaped as much by his limitations as by his strengths. He describes himself as a "small heavyweight" standing approximately 6 ft 2 in and weighing roughly 230 lbs, with relatively high isometric strength but limited explosive athleticism. He has noted candidly that he would score poorly on generic athletic benchmarks — no fast mile, no explosive 40-yard dash, limited cutting ability due to ankle issues, and a modest vertical jump — which drove him to develop a style that does not depend on those qualities.

The central concept Ryan has articulated is what he calls "inside camping": lying on top of an opponent to force them to carry his bodyweight, reducing his own movement demands and funneling exchanges toward chest-to-chest half guard positions where control compounds over time. His chronic nausea, a byproduct of his gastrointestinal condition, has reinforced this approach by making high-heart-rate, high-movement efforts unsustainable. As he explained in a seminar discussion published in September 2025, as his control has improved, his matches have become more dominant but "less exciting" — a tradeoff he embraces. Against much larger opponents, he acknowledges shifting back toward a more movement-based game.

Ryan insists that guard systems must be interconnected rather than isolated. He links proficiency in Half Guard to Butterfly Guard, seated guard, Back Mount attacks, and Ashikurami leg entanglements, arguing that competitive success depends on chaining attacks and moving fluidly between systems rather than mastering positions in isolation. His innovations in leg lock entries and pressure passing systems have been widely adopted by peers — a form of influence he attributes to the depth of his technical documentation through instructionals.

By September 2025, Ryan had released over 40 instructionals totaling hundreds of hours of competition-proven technique. He has stated he is unconcerned about competitors studying the material because most are, in his estimation, "too arrogant" to purchase and engage with it seriously. His training schedule, as detailed in September 2025 interviews, consisted of approximately 60 to 90 minutes of drilling and 45 minutes of rolling per session, twice daily Monday through Friday and once per day on weekends. He managed intensity by completing most rounds with less-experienced partners and reserving one hard round per day for a high-level training partner — named partners at that time included Giancarlo Bodoni, Nicholas Meregali, and a training partner identified only as Luke.

John Danaher has described Ryan's mental attributes — including a photographic memory for technique and exceptional problem-solving ability — as equally important to his physical tools. Ryan has also demonstrated a willingness to absorb lessons from defeat: after Felipe Pena used the same back-take against him twice in major matches, Ryan adopted the technique himself, stating plainly, "That sucked… but that was a good move, and now I also use it."

On the question of gi versus no-gi training, Ryan has been direct. He prefers no-gi and has predicted that gi competition in the United States will be largely phased out by roughly 2035, reduced to occasional novelty tournaments as the no-gi side of the sport continues to grow.

From approximately 2018 onward, Gordon Ryan has battled a complex and persistent gastrointestinal condition that has repeatedly threatened and ultimately curtailed his competitive career. The condition encompasses gastroparesis and chronic Candida infections, requiring experimental treatments including strong antifungals and specialized GI care. Ryan has been unusually open about the toll it has taken, framing it as an ongoing battle rather than a recoverable setback.

In early 2023, his condition worsened severely. He was bedridden for nearly a month, lost 20 pounds, and stated publicly, "I've been embarrassingly weak" during the flare-up. As a consequence, he fought only once in 2023 and announced he would enter only the 2024 ADCC World Championship, skipping all other events for the year. "My body quit on me," he explained, describing how an intensive training camp triggered a relapse.

Ryan competed at ADCC 2024 without a training camp and at what he described as roughly 10 percent capacity, having been unable since January 2024 to train or lift hard without experiencing immediate dry heaving. Despite these limitations, his reputation as the consensus top no-gi grappler in the world remained intact throughout the period.

In February 2026, Ryan shared DNA sequencing results provided by molecular biologist Ryan Rossner via Instagram, disclosing that he carries one copy of an extremely rare Cystic Fibrosis mutation alongside a cluster of high-risk IBD/Crohn's mutations. He linked these genetic variants to massive mucus buildup in his upper gastrointestinal tract, which he characterized as creating conditions that complicate digestion and permit fungal and bacterial overgrowth — compounded by extensive prior antibiotic use for recurrent staph infections. He described the situation as creating a problem "impossible to fix with just medicine" and noted that current medical technology does not correct the underlying mutations. These disclosures are self-reported claims sourced from Ryan's social media and summarized by BJJDoc rather than independently verified medical diagnoses.

On February 16–18, 2026, Ryan officially announced his retirement from competition, citing the persistent stomach condition and his inability to train or lift hard since January 2024. He attributed the decision in part to having competed at major events with essentially no preparation. He was 30 years old at the time of the announcement and left the door open for a return if his health improved, with 2026 ADCC World Championship cited as a conditional target. Days later, in a podcast recorded in February 2026, he described being on the mats nearly every day — completing one hard round with a high-level partner — and framed a potential ADCC 2026 appearance as genuinely plausible if his stomach allowed sufficient preparation.

In a podcast appearance reported as of July 15, 2026, UFC BJJ matchmaker Claudia Gadelha characterized Ryan's competitive future as effectively over, citing his acid buildup condition, his shift toward business and coaching, and his transition into a commentary role. She stated: "I think he doesn't compete anymore," framing the absence as a natural evolution rather than a self-declared closing of the door. Her remarks represent her attributed perspective rather than Ryan's own declared position.

The 2021 fracture of the Danaher Death Squad planted the seeds of what became one of the most publicly contested rivalries in BJJ. When Craig Jones and other teammates departed to form B-Team, Gordon Ryan remained with John Danaher and Garry Tonon — and the split did not stay quiet. Ryan publicly offered cash bounties targeting Jones and Nick Rodriguez in the aftermath, establishing a combative dynamic that escalated significantly over the following years.

In January 2026, Ryan publicly criticized Jones over the handling of Jacob "Jay Rod" Rodriguez's removal from B-Team — an event announced in May 2025 — and alleged that Jones had attempted to undermine Simple Man Martial Arts, a competing organization. The rivalry sharpened on a technical level on January 28, 2026, when Ryan released a YouTube video announcing a full instructional dedicated to countering Craig Jones's Octopus Guard 2.0, also referred to as the "overback/octopus" system. Ryan demonstrated specific counters: hip positioning to prevent elevation, posting on the opponent's knee to deny hip rise and close off back-attack routes, and an "elbow cut" alternative. Jones's Octopus 2.0 instructional had reportedly surpassed $300,000 in sales within its first three to four weeks of release.

On February 7, 2026, Ryan publicly disputed a darce-grip escape shown in volume three of Jones's Octopus Guard 2.0, posting a technical breakdown video. Jones reposted Ryan's analysis with the jab: "Buddy wrote a thesis and he cant even count to 3." The pair had also agreed, as of January 28, 2026, to fight each other "on sight."

Jones formally departed B-Team in July 2025 and described himself in an August 2025 interview as an "absent father" managing B-Team operations remotely. Ryan's commentary on Jones's events continued through August 2025, when he criticized the Craig Jones Invitational 2 in Las Vegas, including its matchmaking and the circumstances surrounding Gable Steveson's withdrawal from the card roughly six days before the event.

The rivalry extended into the Ukraine seminar episode of September 2026. On September 14, 2026, Jones publicly posted about Ryan's planned seminar appearance in Ukraine, describing himself as a "Ukrainian ambassador" and making jokes about Ryan's low profile. Jones also referenced past Ryan commentary that Ukrainian fans had found offensive, including remarks about Mariupol fighters and "wasting American taxpayers' money." The hosts ultimately rescinded Ryan's invitation following the backlash, and a video emerged showing Ryan being informed he was no longer welcome. Jones framed the episode as an Australian versus an American dispute playing out on Ukrainian soil.

FloGrappling general manager Ben Kovacs, speaking on the Jits and Giggles podcast as of August 28, 2026, offered a pointed contrast between the two figures: Ryan built his following through unmatched, singular dominance — a draw structure Kovacs compared to Floyd Mayweather in boxing — while Jones cultivated a large following through personality. Kovacs summarized the distinction: "There's only one Gordon, so many Craigs."

Ryan's transition from student to coach and team builder has been one of the defining threads of his post-DDS trajectory. From daily sessions at Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu in Austin, Texas, alongside John Danaher, Ryan has taken an active role in developing the next generation of grapplers under the New Wave Jiu-Jitsu banner.

Among the athletes he has mentored, Helena Crevar has drawn particular attention. Ryan singled her out in a July 2026 Overdogs USA podcast appearance as the competitor with the clearest upward trajectory among active grapplers, noting that all of her matches across a recent stretch ended by submission. Crevar is the youngest-ever ADCC podium placer, having won silver at the 2024 ADCC World Championship at age 17. Ryan predicted she is positioned to claim an ADCC title outright.

At 2026 ADCC World Championship, Ryan was present in a coaching capacity despite not competing, simultaneously cornering Dorian Olivarez at one mat while coaching Dominic Mejia at another. His involvement extended beyond mat-side — he intervened in a physical altercation during Olivarez's match and returned immediately to coaching afterward.

Ryan's coaching reach has extended into MMA as well. He assisted Jon Jones in preparation for Stipe Miocic ahead of UFC 309 and was present in Jones's corner during the fight. He has also trained with and shared footage of sessions involving Brian Shaw and Martins Licis, both multiple-time World's Strongest Man titleholders.

His published coaching philosophy emphasizes situational and positional training over standard ego-driven rolling. He advocates exposing athletes to neglected positions through structured constraints, forcing the development of competency in uncomfortable situations rather than allowing athletes to default to familiar territory. He has also shared targeted advice for female grapplers, recommending a focus on leg entanglements and lower-body submission systems — specifically Cross Ashi-Garami and 50-50 guard variations — as a means of neutralizing size and strength advantages.

In August 2025, Ryan publicly claimed to be the "second-best jiu-jitsu coach of all time," a statement that prompted widespread debate within the community about the distinction between producing instructional content and actively developing athletes in a competition environment.

In mid-2022, Ryan published Top Game: Domination in the Jiu-Jitsu World, an autobiography offering an unusually candid look at his mindset, training anecdotes, and the mental strategies underpinning his championship career. The book gave readers an inside perspective on the psychology of a competitor who has described legacy — not money — as the primary driver of his career decisions.

Ryan's instructional output has been prolific. By September 2025, he had released over 40 instructionals totaling hundreds of hours of competition-proven technique, covering leg lock systems, pressure passing, and guard sequences built on the interconnected framework he employs in competition. He has stated he is not concerned about competitors using the material against him, because most are in his view "too arrogant" to purchase and seriously study it.

His media footprint has grown correspondingly. Regular appearances on the Joe Rogan Experience, the Overdogs USA podcast with Tim Kennedy, and other major platforms have placed Ryan's opinions — on BJJ's future, PED policy, sport economics, and broader social topics — in front of audiences well beyond the grappling community. FloGrappling general manager Ben Kovacs, speaking in August 2026, compared Ryan's draw power directly to Floyd Mayweather: audiences tuned in either to see Ryan continue to dominate or in hopes of witnessing his first loss, and his polarizing persona ensured viewership regardless of sentiment. Kovacs cited Ryan's WNO appearances — where he would write down a predicted finishing submission before the match and reveal it afterward having delivered exactly that result — as exemplifying an aura of total control that is rarely achieved in combat sports.

A compilation circulated in September 2025 revealed a more self-deprecating dimension of Ryan's persona: across multiple instructional openings, he repeatedly apologized for his disheveled appearance, offering a vulnerability that contrasted with his characteristically sharp public posture. A resurfaced 2022 podcast appearance also generated widespread online mockery after Ryan claimed to have been in "dozens" of real-world altercations; video mashups pairing his remarks with those of Brendan Schaub circulated widely as satire.

Viktor Doria, manager of Mica Galvão, compared Ryan's impact on no-gi jiu-jitsu to Conor McGregor's impact on MMA — not merely as a champion but as a figure who transformed the economic model of the sport by generating pay-per-view numbers, sponsorships, and mainstream attention while demonstrating that elite grapplers could build lucrative careers without transitioning to mixed martial arts.

On the Joe Rogan Experience MMA Show recorded with UFC bantamweight Ethyn Ewing, published September 3, 2026, Rogan praised Ryan's openness about PED use and defended his early career results as evidence of genuine skill: "when he was younger and when he was much smaller, he was winning tournaments left and right and beating world champions." Ewing added that Ryan's technical proficiency was "unquestionable" and noted the competitive disadvantage facing athletes who abstain if others in the field are enhanced.

Gordon Ryan has been one of the most forthright figures in professional grappling on the subject of performance-enhancing drugs — a stance that has generated both praise for its candor and controversy for its implications. His engagement with the issue has spanned public disputes with fellow competitors, commentary on organizational policy, and broader arguments about the structural conditions that make uniform testing impractical.

Ryan has responded publicly to PED-related remarks from Kron Gracie and engaged in a direct dispute with Mikey Musumeci over the use of performance-enhancing drugs in the sport. He has also publicly criticized WWE figures Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and John Cena in the context of PED use.

On a podcast segment as of February 15, 2026, Ryan argued that uniform testing across the sport is structurally infeasible in the absence of a single governing body. Testing one promotion while others remain untested, he contended, creates mismatches that disadvantage clean athletes who compete across organizations. He added that if a promotion demands exclusivity — particularly in conjunction with a testing requirement — it must compensate athletes at three to five times standard rates. He further argued that there is more money available in defeating testing protocols than in implementing them, which advantages wealthier athletes, and suggested that permissive policies might level individual choices while acknowledging the legitimate safety concerns involved.

Joe Rogan, appearing on the JRE MMA Show as of September 3, 2026, framed the elite no-gi landscape as "an enhanced sport" and noted that major events including Abu Dhabi competitions do not conduct PED testing. Rogan defended Ryan specifically against the claim that steroids alone explain his dominance, citing his early career results: "he was winning tournaments left and right and beating world champions." UFC bantamweight Ethyn Ewing echoed the structural argument, noting that athletes who abstain while others are enhanced face a competitive deficit that is difficult to justify accepting.

Gordon Ryan has used his platform across multiple podcast appearances to offer detailed and sometimes provocative assessments of where Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is headed — commercially, competitively, and geographically.

On the Overdogs USA podcast with Tim Kennedy, as of July 19, 2026, Ryan acknowledged Brazil's foundational role in the sport while predicting a decline in its dominance if Brazilian competitors fail to adapt. "If the Brazilians don't start making adjustments," he stated, "if they just are hard-headed and they do everything they've been doing for the last 30 years that has worked because the sport wasn't really progressing that much, they'll be phased out." He contrasted the historical prestige of the Brazilian Trials with the standing of the American Trials: "Back when I started, when you were competing, the Brazilian Trials was the big trials. Now it's the American Trials. If you win the American Trials, you're seated way higher." He attributed part of this shift to greater access to instructional content and match footage in the United States, noting that the cost of such resources in Brazil presents a significant barrier.

Ryan also flagged Russian athletes as a coming force, predicting difficulties for the broader competitive field once wrestlers with Olympic-level credentials fully invest in world-class jiu-jitsu: "Once you get guys who are just that good at wrestling and also really envelop themselves in jiu-jitsu, so they're like world-level black belt jiu-jitsu and Olympic level at wrestling, that's going to be an issue for everyone."

On the commercial side, Ryan expressed concern that jiu-jitsu may lack the transcendent male stars needed to sustain its momentum, stating that the sport "could potentially be headed back to the dark ages" and identifying the 2026 ADCC World Championship in Kraków, Poland — staged in a 22,000-person arena — as a key test. He said he would have preferred Las Vegas, citing prior sellouts at T-Mobile Arena and the Thomas & Mack Center. For heavier men's weight classes, he identified Nicholas Meregali as the athlete most capable of carrying the division, contingent on Meregali returning to full health following injuries to his shoulder, elbow, and knee — pointing to Meregali's submission victories over Felipe Pena, Kaynan Duarte, and Rudson Mateus as evidence of elite potential. At lighter weights, he pointed to Mikey Musumeci as holding the strongest public profile.

Regarding the UFC's entry into submission grappling under the UFC BJJ banner, Ryan called the development "incredible" and credited the competition between UFC, ONE Championship, and FloGrappling with improving athlete leverage and pay — contrasting the current era of six-figure single-match paydays with his own early career experience of earning roughly $1,000 for winning an absolute against elite opposition circa 2016. He predicted fewer submissions under UFC BJJ's round-based format of three five-minute rounds compared to continuous 15-to-25-minute formats. He also opined that Khabib Nurmagomedov and Khamzat Chimaev would be beaten "pretty easily" at ADCC because their grappling is optimized for MMA rather than sport submission grappling — while elsewhere offering a nuanced technical breakdown of Chimaev's strengths from chest-to-back positions and areas for refinement in negating opponent movement.

On the question of organizational exclusivity, Ryan stated as of September 2026 that if he were still actively competing for titles, he would accept a UFC BJJ exclusive deal on the condition of a contractual carve-out to compete at ADCC. "ADCC is the epitome of the sport," he said, emphasizing that legacy was always the primary driver of his career decisions over money.

Ryan also pushed back on the Ecological / Constraints-Led Approach in BJJ associated with Greg Souders. In an interview published September 11, 2026, he asserted that Souders derived the concept of positional rounds from training at the Renzo Gracie Academy circa 2016–17: "Greg got that stuff from us. Greg came to Renzo's and trained with us back in 2016, 17, somewhere around there. And we were doing positional rounds back then." He characterized the Ecological framing as rebranding rather than genuine innovation, contrasting the label with the objective, mat-provable nature of combat: "If I say something works, and you say it doesn't, there's a really easy way to prove that. You just get on the mat."

Gordon Ryan's public persona extends well beyond the competition mat, encompassing outspoken social commentary, business ventures, personal controversies, and physical confrontations that have kept him at the center of BJJ discourse long after his last competitive appearance.

Physical Altercation at 2026 ADCC

At 2026 ADCC World Championship, on the first day of competition, Ryan was involved in a physical altercation following a match between Dorian Olivarez and Bekzat Kapashov. Ryan was simultaneously cornering Olivarez and coaching Dominic Mejia at a separate mat when he observed a significant numerical imbalance: his group — which included John Danaher, another individual he identified as Mike, Olivarez, and Olivarez's father — faced approximately 15 individuals associated with Kapashov's team. In a detailed public statement, Ryan described his decision to intervene: "I'm like, oh, it's just 15 Kazakh dudes on John and Mike and Dorian. So I jumped in, I cracked the first guy." He was subsequently tackled and struck by multiple opponents, including being soccer-kicked on the ground. He described getting back to his knees and attempting a single-leg stand before the confrontation was broken up, then returned immediately to coaching Mejia and closed his statement: "Thanks to the Kazakh guys for the scrap. That was fun."

Ukraine Seminar Controversy

In the weeks surrounding the same ADCC event, Ryan had confirmed plans to conduct a seminar in Ukraine following a training camp in Hungary and the Kraków competition. Ukrainian fans expressed backlash over his support of ADCC 77 kg champion Dzharbaev and past commentary that some found offensive — including remarks characterized as dismissive of fighters from Mariupol and referencing "wasting American taxpayers' money." On September 14, 2026, Craig Jones publicly posted about the planned seminar, describing himself as a "Ukrainian ambassador" and joking about Ryan's low profile. The hosts ultimately rescinded Ryan's invitation, and a video circulated showing Ryan being informed he was no longer welcome. Jones framed the broader episode as a dispute between an Australian and an American playing out on Ukrainian soil.

Personal and Political Controversies

In October 2025, Ryan's partner Nathalia Amato Santoro faced two separate arrests in Travis County, Texas. The first followed a high-speed chase reportedly exceeding 120 mph, during which police found two loaded firearms in her vehicle. A second arrest came days later on a reckless-driving charge after a collision that snapped a utility pole. Bond was reported at $3,000 in each case. As of November 22, 2025, Ryan had not publicly addressed the situation.

In November 2025, Ryan used Instagram to share political commentary that included endorsement of rhetoric referencing "Public hangings of politicians who do nothing but raise cost of living," with a caption expressing support for President Donald Trump's direction. The post drew community discussion and mockery from Craig Jones. Ryan attended Trump's inauguration in January 2025, and reporting as of September 2026 noted speculation — characterized as rumor rather than confirmed fact — that he was considering a run for political office following his competitive retirement.

Also in late November 2025, Ryan partnered with Derek "Moneyberg" Buskowski on a business course promotion, including joint social media content and in-person meetups with purchasers, with a live web training launch on December 1, 2025. Ryan had previously defended Moneyberg's black belt promotion, stating he trained more than 99 percent of professional grapplers and that "Belts dont matter. I was submitting black belts in competition as a 17 year old blue belt," while clarifying he had provided instruction without compensation and would not personally award the belt.

On November 23, 2025, amid a renewed debate over what constitutes a legitimate world championship in BJJ following Kron Gracie's July 2025 comments privileging the IBJJF adult black belt gi Worlds, Ryan replied on Facebook: "they also couldnt beat me in the gi lmao" — a rejoinder that commentators noted was delivered by someone who had not entered a gi match since his purple belt years.

In February 2026, Ryan addressed allegations involving André Galvão on the Overdogs USA podcast, stating that behaviors normalized within Brazilian culture are unacceptable in the United States and characterizing the moment as a necessary wake-up call for the sport. He noted that his personal rivalry with Galvão concluded after their ADCC match and that the two had even discussed running training camps together.

Ryan also commented on the UFC's White House anniversary card marking America's 250th anniversary, calling the absences of Sean Strickland and Jon Jones from the event roster "two big fuckups" — describing Jones as "the greatest American obviously of all time" in the sport's context. He suggested there may have been vetting complications related to Strickland's background and praised the main event — Justin Gaethje versus Ilia Topuria, in which Gaethje handed Topuria his first professional loss — for salvaging what might otherwise have been a significant misstep.

Articles published in September 2026 noted reporting of inconsistency in Ryan's handling of extremist symbolism, specifically referencing the Wolfsangel depending on context — presented as part of a broader pattern of controversial social media behavior rather than an isolated incident.