Mikey Musumeci and Gordon Ryan continue to trade barbs about steroids.
Gordon Ryan is the biggest star in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and uses that status to pretty much bend various organizations in the sport to his will in recent years. Ryan has routinely picked his opponents, dictated special rulesets at WNO and other promotions, and even convinced ADCC to create a new medal so he can beat their all-time record.
With his accomplishments and status, Ryan basically has a lot of people in BJJ under his thumb. Despite Ryan having a lot to say about him after UFC Fight Pass Invitational 9 (UFC FPI 9), Mikey Musumeci says he’s not bowing down to the “King.”
“Gordon, he calls me a little rat a lot and he’s not wrong,” Musumeci responded after his win at UFC FPI 9. “My Chinese zodiac is the rat, so he’s pretty accurate what he says. I am not a big person and I am a rat, right? That’s my Chinese zodiac so he’s right about that.
“I have nothing against Gordon. He’s grown this sport tremendously and I have the utmost respect for him. We’re both from the same town in New Jersey. Again, what I stand for and what he stands for are a bit different and I’m just keeping it real. I don’t want to just be fake nice and fake and just kiss everyone’s butt like everyone does in jiu-jitsu,” he said.
“So even if he’s mad at me for speaking up, I know he respects that l’m keeping it real and I’m not just bowing and cowing down to him. I have my views and things and other people have theirs. It doesn’t matter what anyone has, I just speak my authentic self.”
The crux of their differences, according to Musumeci, is steroids and how he believes that Gordon Ryan is a bad influence for the kids starting their path in BJJ.
“The people that took steroids in the past, awesome, good for you. That was your generation. Okay. Maybe you didn’t have the rules of steroids in your time, that’s awesome. But now, because it’s a new generation, take a stand and change the sport,” Musumeci explained.
“I have nothing against what you did now, but change the sport and help us grow the sport for the next generation,” he said about Ryan. “Maybe your generation, you did that, that’s fine. Now focus on the next generation and having kids not follow what you did hurting your body doing drugs.”
Gordon Ryan’s serious health issues before even turning 30 have been well documented. Although for the 29-year-old, he believes PED’s is all just part of what he’s willing to do to become “great.”
For the latest Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and grappling-related news click here.