Former UFC women’s 115-pound title contender Claudia Gadelha, perhaps best known for her epic rivalry with ex-strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk, was recently appointed Senior Director of BJJ and Business Development, where she’ll “help the UFC develop the Jiu-Jitsu division” while “giving Jiu-Jitsu athletes an opportunity to shine under the UFC bright lights.”
UFC BJJ is the promotion’s attempt to “take over jiu-jitsu” and legitimize the sport (stay mad). The means to that end include a long
rumored reality show, a complete rebrand of the UFC Fight Pass Invitational (UFC FPI) series, and a new fighting surface. More importantly, UFC BJJ will implement random drug testing.
That policy could rule out the addition of grappling icon, Gordon Ryan.
“We want to professionalize the sport,” Gadelha told Connect Cast (transcribed by Jits Magazine). “So, it’s the best in the world against the best, right? The best in the world against the best in the clean world. It’s not the most doped, no. No longer doped. And Gordon (Ryan) will never compete in UFC BJJ.”
“If you’re doped, you won’t compete,” Gadelha continued. “So without dope, there is no Gordon. I say this because he says so himself; he refuses to not use (PEDs) because he thinks it is part of an athlete’s package. It’s his philosophy. He is very transparent about this. If he is (on PEDs) he does not compete.”
No more “bowing down” to the jiu-jitsu “King.”
Ryan is widely-considered the best no-gi grappler in the world. Unfortunately, he’s also an outspoken advocate for performance-enhancing drugs, which often overshadows his accomplishments on the mat. In addition, Ryan has been plagued with health issues over the last several years, severely limiting his schedule.
Whether or not drug testing “ruins” UFC BJJ, as Gordon has suggested, remains to be seen.
