- Craig Jones appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show and dropped an unexpected claim why Gordon Ryan can’t wear mouthguard
- Jones says the real reason Ryan never pursued MMA is a severe gag reflex that prevents him from wearing a mouthguard
- Jones confirmed Ryan does not wear a mouthguard even in submission grappling
- Pure Craig Jones trolling — but he doubled down on it
Craig Jones Gordon Ryan Feud Takes A Weird Turn
The rivalry between Craig Jones and Gordon Ryan has produced some memorable moments over the years: online callouts, meme wars, canceled matches, and endless social media jabs. But the latest Gordon Ryan Craig Jones story might be the strangest yet.
Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show, Jones offered what he claims is the real reason the world’s top-ranked no-gi grappler never crossed over to MMA — a severe gag reflex that makes wearing a mouthguard impossible. The Gordon Ryan Craig Jones tale is pure trolling fuel, but Jones doubled down when pressed.
“Interesting fact about Gordon Ryan. The true reason he never did MMA is because he can’t wear a mouth guard. He has a very strong gag reflex.”
– Craig Jones, via The Ariel Helwani Show –
When Helwani pressed Jones on whether the claim was accurate, Jones did not waver.
“That’s 100% true.”
– Craig Jones –
Why Gordon Ryan Can’t Wear Mouthguard
According to Jones, Ryan’s aversion to mouthguards is not a new development. Jones confirmed that Ryan does not wear one even in submission grappling competition — a sport where mouthguards are optional but commonly used for dental protection.
The Craig Jones claim paints an unusual picture: the most dominant no-gi grappler in the world, a man who has submitted nearly every top competitor in the sport, allegedly unable to tolerate a piece of standard protective equipment.
The Gordon Ryan gag reflex has allegedly been a lifelong issue that also derailed any Gordon Ryan MMA career ambitions.
“He does not wear a mouth guard.”
– Craig Jones –
Jones, who said he personally wears a mouthguard during training and competition to protect his teeth, suggested the gag issue would create a serious problem if Ryan were to compete in a format that requires one.
“You take some teeth with your crown. You might get submitted, but you’ll take some teeth.”
– Craig Jones –
Whether the Gordon Ryan no mouthguard claim is true or simply Jones trolling his longtime rival is unclear. The Gordon Ryan Craig Jones story has already gone viral in the BJJ community. Gordon Ryan has not publicly responded to the mouthguard allegations, and there is no independent confirmation of the gag reflex issue.
In the Craig Jones Helwani interview, the Australian made clear he was not joking. However, it is well documented that Ryan has expressed interest in MMA in the past, and the fact that he has never made the transition has been a recurring topic in the BJJ community.
Just When We Thought Craig and Gordon Went Quiet
The mouthguard story is the latest installment in the Craig Jones Gordon Ryan feud, one of the longest-running rivalries in modern BJJ.
The Gordon Ryan Craig Jones dynamic has been simmering for years, with both fighters taking shots at each other across every available platform. Jones has built a significant portion of his brand around being the anti-Gordon — the funny, accessible, self-deprecating foil to Ryan’s serious, dominant persona.
Whether the Gordon Ryan gag reflex story is true or just one more piece of Jones’ troll-based marketing genius, it has already accomplished what all Jones’ content does: it got people talking.
