Can No-Gi Grappling Thrive Without Gordon Ryan?

Not only is Gordon a huge draw, but he’s a huge personality. Sports need big personalities to succeed, and often see sluggish growth and fan engagement during times where there is no standout name causing a ruckus both on and off the playing field.

As mentioned above, Danaher himself has stated the importance of somebody like Gordon for the future of grappling. It was John who advised against Gordon moving to MMA for the reason that he could help usher no-gi grappling into a brighter future. 

Gordon’s incredible performances and notoriety are impossible to ignore, and his fame is such that in addition to casual grappling fans, a growing number of MMA fans have begun to take notice of Gordon’s career. His recent sit-down with Rogan helped put him in front of millions (tens of millions?) of people worldwide, something few athletes in our sport have ever experienced. 

The sport of no-gi grappling is dynamic and matches are easier to understand than those in the gi, which are slower, subtle, and packed with technical nuance that go over even ardent practitioners’ heads. Visually speaking, no-gi shares a common language with MMA, which has helped educate non-practitioners on the most common positions and attacks our sport has to offer. Increasingly-proficient grapplers in the Octagon have exposed them to the exciting possibilities offered in no-gi grappling, and the WNO ruleset showcases the action in the most transparent, understandable way possible.

No-gi grappling can succeed and even flourish, with or without Gordon on the mat. The timeline may be longer and progress may be slower, but it’s unlikely to stop completely– people have only had a taste so far, and there is plenty more good stuff to come.