ONE Championship has added the latest edition to their roster. Three-time ADCC grappling champion Gordon Ryan has signed a contract with the promotion. He will not only make his long-awaited MMA debut with the company but will also participate in submission grappling contests for them as well.
Who should Gordon Ryan face first? 🤔 #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship https://t.co/PV52OzkIKe
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) March 22, 2021
Nicknamed “The King”, Ryan began grappling at the age of 15, training under Montgomery BJJ owner Miguel Benitez before he went over to train under legendary Jiu-Jitsu coach John Danaher. He also trained under Tom DeBlass and Garry Tonon, who also fights for ONE. He won the IBJJF World Championships in the No-Gi competition as a brown belt.
Ryan also won the Newaza Challenge and was therefore awarded his black belt by Tonon in 2016. Later that year, he won the Eddie Bravo Invitational Championship and again in 2017. He also won the IBJJF Pan-American No-Gi in his weight class at 97.5 kg in 2018 and won absolute overall. He also led Team Alpha Male to the 2018 Quintet 5-on-5 team championship.
Ryan, a Monroe Township, New Jersey native decided to move to Puerto Rico to train with his longtime coach, John Danaher, and is opening up a new gym with him. He is scheduled this Friday to face Vagner Rocha in Who’s Number One in a super fight in Austin, TX.
At 25, with over 150 grappling tournaments, 143 wins, with 120 by submission, Ryan is more than up for the challenge. Calling ONE his new home, he will be able to showcase his talents under the watchful eye of chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong. For underground grappling fans and MMA fans alike, it will be interesting to see what Ryan can do to earn his keep inside the cage.
