Gordon Ryan, the largest name in no-gi grappling recently inked a historic deal with one of the biggest streaming services in the industry. Ryan signed to the multi-fight contract to participate in FloGrappling’s Who’s Number One (WNO) tournament series, the broadcast company FloSports announced earlier today via social media.
“At 27 years old, Gordon Ryan is already the best no-gi jiu-jitsu grappler in the world,” FloSports Co-founder and CEO Mark Floreani said in a statement for Flo’s website. “His participation in our WNO Series helps us create the biggest stage possible which will highlight male and female athletes from across the globe on a more consistent basis. We are committed to helping grow the sport for the fans and athletes. This requires an investment in terms of events, content, our digital platform and more.”
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Gordon Ryan becomes the highest earning grappler
In grappling, earning potential of that kind has typically been greeted with scepticism. When Andre Galvao demanded $1 million to compete against Ryan at the ADCC world championships in 2021, he raised a lot of eyebrows. Also making news is Ryan’s previous contract, which he inked with the now-defunct Third Coast Grappling promotion in 2020 for a six-figure sum for five fights.
The contract’s exclusivity clauses, which might conflict with Ryan’s future performances at UFC Fight Pass events or for other grappling promotions, have not been addressed by either Flo or Ryan.
“I don’t have to teach a single private, a single seminar. I don’t have to run a school or teach any instructionals. I can get wealthy now just from being an athlete,” Gordan Ryan wrote.
“This is a big step for all athletes of the sport,” said Ryan. “After signing a multi-fight contract of this magnitude, today marks the first day in history in which a jiu-jitsu competitor can live like a real athlete just from competing. Seven-figures without one private class, one seminar, or one instructional. We aren’t the NBA or the NFL, but we are getting there, and I won’t stop until we are. This is as good for all current and future athletes of the sport as it is for me.”
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