Garry Tonon, a top grappler, explains that while it’s exciting to see more grapplers making a living from the sport, he is committed to his MMA career, though open to returning to grappling in the future; he also comments on his previous rivalry with Dillon Danis.
A few years ago, Garry Tonon was considered one of the top grapplers in the world, just beginning to see a significant financial reward from his efforts. At the time, many Brazilian jiu-jitsu experts felt as though various competitions and tournaments offered only negligible financial gain. Tonon used these competitions as a means of self-promotion, a way to establish reputation and subsequently venture into teaching or operating a school.
Recently, however, there has been an increase in financial investments in Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitions. This was clearly evidenced by the significant deal signed by Tonon’s longtime teammate, Gordon Ryan, in 2023, guaranteeing him at least $1 million solely for competing. Tonon shared in an interview that while previous generations of fighters had to seek opportunities outside of competition, he has had the privilege of receiving compensation while also helping to pioneer the sport. He appreciated the fact that grapplers, like Ryan, can now make a living from the sport and aren’t necessarily forced to transition into mixed martial arts (MMA).
Ryan had initially planned to transition into MMA, but instead chose to concentrate on his grappling career. This decision led to his record-breaking contract. Tonon, on the other hand, opted to pursue a career in fighting. He currently holds a record of 7-1 in ONE Championship and his next bout is scheduled against undefeated prospect Shamil Gasanov at ONE Fight Night 12. Although he is still passionate about grappling, Tonon doesn’t foresee himself leaving his MMA career to focus solely on grappling just yet, although he isn’t ruling out a few future competitions. Despite grappling being a core part of his career, Tonon stresses that his main focus will remain on MMA.
During his grappling career, Tonon had several high-profile matches against some of the world’s top fighters. This included a heated rivalry with Dillon Danis, who, like Tonon, transitioned briefly into an MMA career. Tonon famously taunted Danis by mimicking the Conor McGregor strut after winning their match, alluding to Danis’ friendship with McGregor. Although Tonon admits the possibility of revisiting this rivalry in a future grappling match, he also confesses to deliberately ignoring Danis’ social media antics, stating that Danis’ career now mainly consists of creating drama and seeking attention on social media platforms.