Gordon Ryan criticized Mikey Musumeci’s comments about performance-enhancing drugs in jiu-jitsu, accusing him of hypocrisy and lack of loyalty, following Musumeci’s statements about cleaning up the sport with UFC’s support.
Gordon Ryan fired back at Mikey Musumeci. Musumeci, after parting ways with ONE Championship, inked a deal with the UFC to grapple. His debut match is set for Thursday night in Las Vegas.
During the UFC 310 media day, Musumeci expressed his ambition to clean up the sport. He aims to work with the UFC to curb steroid use and other performance-enhancing drugs among athletes. Bold move, right?
Musumeci claimed that “99 percent” of jiu-jitsu athletes are on PEDs. Wow! That’s quite a statement. Naturally, Ryan, a prominent figure in the sport, took offense. He unleashed a fiery retort on MMA Fighting’s Instagram page.
Ryan didn’t hold back: “The guy talking about ethics and morals has been on 37 [jiu-jitsu] teams,” he said. Ouch! He accused Musumeci of lacking loyalty—jumping from team to team like a grasshopper.
Ryan continued, “Steroids are legal in every competition minus specific IBJJF competitions since 2019.” So, it’s not cheating, according to him. He also questioned Musumeci’s mental fortitude, calling him out for making excuses and ducking ADCC invitations.
Musumeci believes he can lead jiu-jitsu into a new era under the UFC’s banner. “I feel like what I’m doing right now is definitely the most important thing for grappling,” he stated during media day.
He hopes the UFC can help professionalize jiu-jitsu and instill better ethics and morals in the sport. Musumeci wants to see athletes who embody true martial artist values rather than those reliant on PEDs.
In the end, it’s clear both men have strong opinions on where jiu-jitsu should go. Who knows where this clash will lead? Stay tuned!