Gordon Ryan heated responds to Mikey Musumeci’s steroid claims in Jiu-Jitsu: “It’s not cheating”

Gordon Ryan recently delivered a fiery response to Mikey Musumeci, who made controversial claims about performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Musumeci, who recently signed with the UFC to compete in grappling, stirred up a storm during the UFC 310 media day by alleging that 99% of jiu-jitsu athletes are using steroids. Gordon Ryan, one of the sport’s most prominent figures, wasted no time firing back with a passionate response, further intensifying the ongoing debate.

Mikey Musumeci’s Vision for a Clean Jiu-Jitsu

Mikey Musumeci has long been vocal about the need to clean up Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Now that he’s under the UFC banner, Musumeci hopes to push the sport toward professionalism and ethical standards. He expressed his belief that performance-enhancing drugs are rampant in jiu-jitsu and need to be addressed to bring legitimacy to the sport.

During the UFC 310 media day, Musumeci made the bold claim that 99 percent of jiu-jitsu athletes are using PEDs, a statement that garnered a lot of attention. He emphasized that the sport has lacked the integrity and ethics seen in other combat sports, which is why he’s aiming to turn it around with the help of UFC. His ultimate goal is to transform jiu-jitsu into a professionally regulated sport with proper drug testing and a focus on athlete integrity.

“This is definitely the most important thing for grappling—having a stable platform,” Musumeci said. “Jiu-jitsu right now is unstable, with a lot of poor ethics and morals. I hope that with UFC’s help, we can change that and make it a professional sport.”

Gordon Ryan’s Heated Retort

Gordon Ryan wasted no time responding to Musumeci’s claims, taking to social media to hit back at his rival. Ryan questioned Musumeci’s loyalty and ethics, calling him out for hopping from one jiu-jitsu team to another. Ryan pointed out that Musumeci’s moral high ground seemed hypocritical, given his history of switching teams whenever it suited him.

“You want to have my [d*ck] in your mouth constantly and talk about morals?” Ryan said. “How about start with loyalty? This rat’s been on more teams than Keenan. Taking what he wishes, then leaves when he can’t learn anymore. Get off your moral high ground, dork.”

Ryan also pushed back against Musumeci’s claim that steroids are considered cheating in the sport. He pointed out that steroids are legal in most jiu-jitsu competitions, except for the IBJJF, which banned PED use in 2019. According to Ryan, Musumeci’s stance was merely an excuse for why he could not achieve the same level of success Ryan has in the sport.

“Steroids are legal in every competition minus specific IBJJF competitions since 2019. It’s not cheating,” Ryan argued. “All I hear is an excuse for why you could never do what others—specifically I—have done.”

Mikey Musumeci’s Push for Professionalism in Jiu-Jitsu

Despite the backlash from Gordon Ryan, Musumeci remains steadfast in his mission to transform Brazilian jiu-jitsu into a more professional sport. He believes that with the UFC’s involvement, he can help clean up the sport, focusing on drug testing, athletic integrity, and ethical standards. Musumeci envisions a future where grapplers are held to the same professional standards as mixed martial artists.

“We need drug testing, belts, and stability,” Musumeci said. “I want to give us this platform at UFC and become professionals. We need to completely make Darwinism with the people on steroids, forcing them to either get off and adapt or face the consequences. I want to change that.”

The Future of Jiu-Jitsu in the UFC’s Hands

The exchange between Gordon Ryan and Mikey Musumeci underscores the growing divide in Brazilian jiu-jitsu over ethics and professionalism. While Musumeci pushes for a more regulated and clean sport, Ryan defends the current state of competition, pointing out that PED use is legal in most tournaments.

As Musumeci embarks on his journey with UFC, his vision for a professionalized jiu-jitsu sport may spark changes within the grappling community. However, with Ryan’s fierce opposition and the sport’s current landscape, it remains to be seen whether drug testing and professionalism will take center stage in the world of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.