Nicky Ryan and Gordon Ryan are two of the most successful and popular Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) athletes in the world. They are both black belts under John Danaher, the legendary coach of the Danaher Death Squad (DDS), a team of elite grapplers who specialize in leg locks and back attacks. But are they really brothers? And what is the story behind their split and reunion?
Contents
The Early Years: How Nicky Ryan Followed Gordon Ryan into BJJ
Nicky Ryan is the younger brother of Gordon Ryan. He was born on August 29, 2001, in New Jersey, USA. He grew up admiring his older brother, who started training BJJ at the age of 15 and quickly became a prodigy in the sport. Nicky Ryan wanted to follow in his footsteps and avoid working a full-time job doing something he hated.
He started training BJJ at the age of 13, joining his brother at the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York, where they learned from John Danaher and trained with other DDS members like Garry Tonon and Eddie Cummings. Nicky Ryan showed a natural talent for grappling and soon began competing in local tournaments.
The Rise to Fame: How Nicky Ryan Became a BJJ Star
Nicky Ryan made his name in the BJJ scene by winning several prestigious titles as a teenager. He won the IBJJF No-Gi Pan American Championship as a blue belt in 2016, becoming the youngest person to ever do so. He also won the ADCC North American Trials as a purple belt in 2017, earning a spot at the ADCC World Championship, the most prestigious no-gi grappling event in the world.
At ADCC 2017, Nicky Ryan faced some of the best grapplers in his division, including AJ Agazarm, Geo Martinez, and Cobrinha. He lost to Cobrinha by points in the quarterfinals, but impressed many with his performance and potential. He also competed in several super fights against high-level opponents, such as Masakazu Imanari, Phil Harris, and Urijah Faber.
Nicky Ryan received his black belt from John Danaher in 2019, at the age of 18. He continued to compete at ADCC 2019, where he faced Paulo Miyao in the first round. He lost by points again, but showed improvement and maturity. He also won the Polaris Featherweight Championship by defeating Ash Williams by decision.
The Split: How Nicky Ryan and Gordon Ryan Had a Falling Out
In 2020, Nicky Ryan and Gordon Ryan had a major disagreement that led to their separation. The exact details of their conflict are not clear, but it seems to have been related to their personal and professional choices.
Gordon Ryan decided to move to Puerto Rico with some of his DDS teammates, including Craig Jones, Ethan Crelinsten, and Nicky Rodriguez. He also signed a lucrative deal with ONE Championship, a Singapore-based MMA promotion. Nicky Ryan chose to stay in New York with John Danaher and other DDS members, such as Garry Tonon and Oliver Taza. He also focused on his BJJ career and did not pursue MMA.
The brothers stopped talking to each other for almost two years. They also unfollowed each other on social media and made some subtle jabs at each other online. Nicky Ryan said that they “definitely hated each other” during the initial split.
The Reunion: How Nicky Ryan and Gordon Ryan Reconciled
In late 2021, Nicky Ryan and Gordon Ryan finally buried the hatchet and reconciled their relationship. The catalyst for their reunion was a social media beef between Nicky Ryan and Nick Rodriguez, who used to be their teammate but switched sides after the split.
Gordon Ryan reached out to Nicky Ryan to support him during the drama and offered him some advice. They also talked about their personal issues and cleared the air. They realized that they still loved each other as brothers and that their differences were not worth losing their bond.
Nicky Ryan said that they started to “calm down” and “crack jokes” with each other again. They also followed each other back on social media and posted some positive messages about each other. They even planned to train together again in Puerto Rico.
The Future: What’s Next for Nicky Ryan and Gordon Ryan?
Nicky Ryan and Gordon Ryan are both still active and successful BJJ competitors. They have different goals and styles, but they share a passion for grappling and a respect for each other.
Nicky Ryan is currently focused on improving his skills and winning more titles in BJJ. He is one of the best featherweights in the world and has a bright future ahead of him. He is also open to trying MMA in the future, but only if he feels ready and motivated.
Gordon Ryan is currently recovering from a stomach illness that has sidelined him from competing for a while. He is still considered the best no-gi grappler in the world and has a dominant record in super fights and tournaments. He is also eager to make his MMA debut in ONE Championship, where he hopes to become a champion.
Nicky Ryan and Gordon Ryan are both related by blood and by BJJ. They are brothers who have overcome their differences and reunited their bond. They are also two of the most talented and influential grapplers of their generation. They are both an inspiration for anyone who loves BJJ and wants to achieve greatness in the sport.
