Reaching the top is hard enough, but staying there could be even more difficult. However, for the time being, that doesn’t seem to be a problem for Gordon Ryan. The 27-year-old athlete is arguably the best no-gi submission grappler that has ever lived, and he enjoys the pressure he faces every time he steps on the mat – even though he doesn’t feel that he has a worthy rival.
At the moment, Gordon is focused on strengthening the name he has made for himself and essentially wants to “transcend” the sport. This has recently been confirmed by his 7-figure contract with FloGrappling, the first of its kind in submission grappling history. The lucrative deal paints a big target on his back, but Ryan is welcoming anyone and everyone willing to challenge him. He feels that he performs better under pressure. Which is why he’s not intimidated by the attention his contract has brought.
Getting to this point took a lot of hard work and dedication. In an interview with MMA Fighting, Gordon Ryan shared how it used to be for him. Now he’s at the top, he’s determined to stay there. He wants to prove to the world that he’s the best and continue pushing the sport’s limits.
“My Problem Right Now Because I Don’t Really Have Any”
“You need an athlete in a sport that sort of transcends what that sport is and it kind of goes deeper and bigger than what the sport is. A perfect example is Tony Hawk. I never watched a single skateboarding event. Most of my friends never watched skateboarding, but you still know who Tony Hawk is. You need those Tony Hawks, the Michael Jordans, the Muhammad Alis, and you need that one guy that can do it all, that has the persona, that has the charisma and most importantly can win consistently, you need at least one of those guys to really build the sport. You also need rivals, which is my problem right now because I don’t really have any.”
Ryan’s journey to the top is an inspiration to anyone who wants to achieve their goals. It takes more than just talent to become the best; it takes hard work, determination, and the ability to perform under pressure. For Ryan, the pressure is what drives him to be better and to continue to grow as an athlete.
“I remember when I started training, in order to win any money grappling you had a win a Grappler’s Quest absolute and it was like three ADCC champions in the bracket, and if you won, you won like $1,000 bucks.
Then I remember EBI and you had to get submissions in regulation and it was $12,500 per submission and it was like a possible $50,000 grand prize. And everyone was like: “That’s crazy!” That was, like, five or six years ago.”
Gordon Ryan Knows All Eyes Are On Him After Signing 7-Figure Deal
Gordon Ryan’s achievements in the sport of submission grappling are a testament to his hard work and dedication. He has set the bar high for others to follow and has shown that anything is possible with the right attitude and mindset. The 7-figure contract with FloGrappling is just the beginning for Ryan, and the future of the sport looks bright with him leading the way.
“It’s exponential, just getting bigger and bigger each year. More eyes on the sport, the more celebrities are training. It’s growing into a mainstream and worldwide sport. I’m very happy with what we’ve been able to accomplish in a short amount of time. It feels like every match I do, the whole world or at least the whole Jiu-Jitsu world is watching. Every match is the biggest match of my life because I know if I lose, it’s going to be a national news story. I know any time I compete, all eyes are on me, for good or for bad. That kind of puts the pressure on me, which I like. I always do better under pressure.”
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
