- Gordon Ryan is the most dominant no-gi grappler of his generation. ADCC absolute champ. Multiple-time superfight winner. The face of Danaher Death Squad and New Wave Jiu-Jitsu. And now—possibly, incredibly—he might be done competing.
- In a subtle but seismic revelation, longtime coach John Danaher hinted that Gordon Ryan retiring is on the cards, this time for real.
- The update came with little fanfare, no major announcement, and no black-and-white retirement post. Just a comment made in passing, but one with enough weight to cause a stir across the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community.
Ryan, just 29 years old, has been the undisputed king of no-gi for nearly a decade. But chronic health problems—specifically a long-standing battle with gastroparesis—have kept him in and out of training camps, off major cards, and constantly managing his body just to stay functional.
Danaher Stepping Away Too?
The rumors didn’t stop with Gordon Ryan retiring. Danaher, the architect behind the system that made Ryan, Garry Tonon, and many others, most recently Helena Crevar, household names in the BJJ world, may also be stepping back from full-time coaching.
When announcing the New Wave team for CJI 2, Danaher also hinted that he might be planning to limit his active coaching role. Given his upcoming surgery schedule, this is not surprising.
Whether that means fewer appearances at competition, a shift toward online instruction, or something more permanent is unclear. But if true, it marks the possible dissolution—or at least downsizing—of one of the most influential BJJ coaches.
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“Gordon (Ryan) is very sick at this point, so I don’t believe he’ll be competing again.”
– Danaher
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A Legacy That Might End Without a Rival
With Ryan gone, the sport becomes a lot more open—and a lot more unpredictable. Craig Jones, Nicky Rod, Mason Fowler, Kaynan Duarte, and even newer names like Nicholas Meregali (who transitioned from Gi to No-Gi under Danaher)—all stand to benefit from the shift in power.
But filling the competitive vacuum is one thing. Filling the cultural one is another. Love him or hate him, Gordon Ryan drove traffic, attention, and debate like no one else in grappling. If he’s truly gone, the BJJ world will need a new focal point. And that might be the hardest role to replace.
Ryan’s potential retirement—if confirmed—would go down as one of the most dominant exits in combat sports. He’s beaten nearly every elite grappler of his era, including Felipe Pena, André Galvão, Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida, Craig Jones… He didn’t just beat them—he often finished them.
He rewrote the way people approach No-Gi grappling. He elevated leg lock systems, positional control, and offensive pressure. He made long-form instructionals part of the sport’s economic engine.
And he did it while marketing himself like a WWE heel—complete with brash callouts, relentless social media activity, and a swagger that turned heads whether you loved him or hated him.
But if this really is the end? No retirement tour. No loss. No real rival left standing.
Just a quiet fade from the top of the mountain.
From King of No-Gi to Kingmaker?
The silver lining for fans is this: Gordon Ryan reportedly isn’t walking away from Jiu-Jitsu entirely. According to the same reports, he’s expected to shift toward coaching, especially focusing on younger athletes under the New Wave Jiu-Jitsu banner.
If Danaher’s stepping back, it opens the door for Ryan to become the face—and possibly the brain—of the next generation of elite no-gi grapplers. With years of experience under one of the most structured systems in modern jiu-jitsu, Ryan has the knowledge base and technical language to become a coach in his own right.
The question is whether he can command the same dominance from the sidelines as he did on the mats.
Who Fills the Gap?
With Ryan gone, the sport becomes a lot more open—and a lot more unpredictable. Craig Jones, Nicky Rod, Mason Fowler, Kaynan Duarte, even newer names like Nicholas Meregali (who transitioned from gi to no-gi)—all stand to benefit from the shift in power.
But filling the competitive vacuum is one thing. Filling the cultural one is another. Love him or hate him, Gordon Ryan drove traffic, attention, and debate like no one else in grappling. If he’s truly gone, the BJJ world will need a new focal point. And that might be the hardest role to replace.
Gordon Ryan Retiring: Real, or Just the Latest Plot Twist?
Here’s the thing about Gordon Ryan: he’s not subtle. He thrives on bold claims and viral moments. Which is why this low-key leak from Danaher caught people off guard. It doesn’t fit the usual Ryan brand. No announcement. No big reveal. No hype video. Plus, he already retired once before.
That’s why some in the community remain skeptical. Maybe it’s a break. Maybe it’s strategic. Maybe Ryan returns in 2026 with a “comeback tour” that includes ADCC and a superfight with a new contender. But based on what Danaher said, this wasn’t part of a tease. It sounded real.
And if it is? Then the No-Gi landscape just lost its biggest star, its best technician, and its biggest villain—overnight.
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