Gordon Ryan and Jon Jones stripped of titles in different disciplines within the same week.
Ryan vacated the WNO heavyweight belt amid worsening health and potential retirement.
Jones, under fire for UFC inactivity, faces growing calls to be stripped as the interim title looms large.
Both men have trained together, courted controversy, and dominated eras—now both face uncertain futures.
The King is Sick: Gordon Ryan Vacates WNO Title
Few figures in grappling have cast a shadow as large as Gordon Ryan, but the shadow may be fading. This week, Ryan vacated the WNO heavyweight title, citing his long battle with gastroparesis.
It seems the well-documented Gordon Ryan health issues eventually did cost him his career — as many in the BJJ World expected.
“Gordon is very sick at this point. So, I don’t believe he’ll be competing again.”– John Danaher
While Ryan has not formally announced retirement, WNO quickly moved to fill the vacuum, booking Felipe Pena vs. Luke Griffith to crown a new champion at WNO 28.
This marks the first time since 2018 that Ryan is no longer the active, reigning king of his weight class—a seismic shift in the jiu-jitsu world.
Fans Turn on Jon Jones: “Defend or Vacate!”
In the UFC’s heavyweight division, another storm brews. Jon Jones, arguably MMA’s greatest of all time, has not defended his title since defeating Ciryl Gane in March 2023.
Despite the rise of interim champion Tom Aspinall—and Jones’ own social media posturing—the UFC has yet to schedule a unification bout for Jon Jones UFC heavyweight title defense.
“Stripped? Lol do I come across as the type of person who cares about things like that?”– Jon Jones, via X (formerly Twitter)
The comment didn’t land well with fans. Even Dana White, who initially defended Jones, recently signaled frustration by suggesting that “fights move forward with or without people.”
Some in the MMA media have begun openly questioning whether Jones is “strategically stalling” to avoid a dangerous fight. Regardless, the UFC has a decision to make soon.
When Legends Collide: The Gordon Ryan and Jon Jones Connection
Though they dominate different disciplines, Gordon Ryan and Jon Jones have trained together and long admired each other’s technical acumen. In 2022 and again in 2023, they shared sessions at Ryan’s gym in Austin and later in Albuquerque, where Ryan helped Jones prep his grappling for Ciryl Gane.
“Jon is one of the best people I’ve ever trained with. He’s smart, attentive, and technical.”– Gordon Ryan, via Instagram (2023)
Both athletes have walked similar paths:
Unbeaten streaks broken only by technicalities or medical setbacks
Public controversies (Jones’ legal troubles; Ryan’s online feuds)
Polarizing fan reactions despite dominant performances
That their titles are falling away in the same week feels more than coincidental—it feels symbolic.
Combat Sports at a Crossroads: Who Fills the Vacuum?
With Gordon Ryan and Jon Jones stripped of titles (officially in Ryan’s case, speculatively in Jones’), two generational talents are either stepping aside or being sidelined. And the void they leave behind may take years to fill.
In grappling, Luke Griffith and Nicholas Meregali loom as potential new faces of the heavyweight division.
In MMA, Tom Aspinall has momentum, but a win over Jones is what would make him a star. Unfortunately, Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall is bound to be remembered as one of those “if only it took place” bouts.
For both sports, it’s a rare and raw reset.
Stripped of Titles, Not of Legacy
Gordon Ryan and Jon Jones aren’t done yet—but they’re no longer at the top. And whether by illness or inaction, the result is the same: their belts are no longer theirs.
“This is the fight game. Nobody stays on top forever.”– Dana White, via TalkSport
As fans, we watch greatness stumble. As competitors rise, we look back on these two as titans whose presence defined a generation — even as the next one steps forward.
