The UFC is making waves in the world of professional grappling, but one of its brightest stars may not be part of the journey. Gordon Ryan, widely regarded as one of the all-time great grapplers, seems poised to sit out as UFC BJJ tries to redefine the landscape of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ).

UFC BJJ, an exciting offshoot of TKO, aims to bring the UFC's renowned structure and high-quality production into the realm of grappling. Under the leadership of former UFC fighter Claudia Gadelha, this new promotion has already hosted two successful events and has ambitious plans for the future. The current face of UFC BJJ, Mikey Musumeci, has expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, particularly its commitment to cleaning up the sport—a vital step given BJJ's history riddled with performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). Gadelha has echoed this sentiment, stating the goal is to professionalize the sport and ensure the best compete against the best, and this means embracing stringent testing protocols.

While Gordon Ryan boasts an impressive record, including seven ADCC gold medals and a five-time IBJJF championship, his storied career is shadowed by his candid discussions on drug use. He has openly acknowledged that PEDs have played a role in his success, claiming they are essential for progressing the sport of grappling. Despite his past appearances on the UFC Fight Pass Invitational, it appears that unless Ryan alters his stance on these substances, he won’t find a welcome mat at UFC BJJ.

Adding to the intrigue, Ryan hasn’t competed since August and has been plagued by various health issues, making his future in grappling even more uncertain. With UFC BJJ 3 scheduled for October 2 at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, fans are left wondering what this means for Ryan’s illustrious career.

In a bold move, some fans argue that PEDs should not be seen as detrimental to BJJ, comparing their potential benefits to advancements in medical technologies like ACL repairs. However, as the sport moves towards a more professional and clean ethos, it's clear Ryan’s controversial views may keep him from participating in significant competitions.

As the excitement builds for UFC BJJ’s next event, one thing is certain: the conversation around doping in grappling is far from over.