It appears that Gordon Ryan will not longer be competing in either BJJ or MMA for the near future, or perhaps forever.

Ryan stated on Instagram: “It saddens me to make this post- the hardest post I’ve ever made next to the final big gord post. My stomach isn’t cooperating with me any more. Most of you by now know it’s been an uphill battle for 3 years ever since the staph antibiotics messed up my stomach. Effective immediately, I will be taking a leave of absence from competition. My stomach is at a point now where I can’t train properly. It was always an issue, but it’s been progressively getting worse as time goes on. In training im essentially useless because I’m always so nauseous. While I have been showing up on competition day, I don’t believe it’s professional for me to have camps like i have been and showing up to compete. I feel it is a big disservice to myself, my team, my opponent, and the sport to show up less than 100% of what I am. The future for myself as an athlete is uncertain, but the future as a coach is definite. I was supposed to compete once a month until October, I’ve pulled out of all of them and don’t plan on making a return until my stomach is 100% better, if it ever is…”

Those unfamiliar with Ryan should know that he is widely regarded as the greatest no-gi Jiu Jitsu practitioner in the world right now with numerous world titles to his name. He has taken on and beaten the likes of Craig Jones, Vagner Rocha, and Rousimar Palhares.

Ryan was scheduled to fight Shinya Aoki in an upcoming grappling match, but that will obviously not be taking place anymore. Ryan was planning on taking on MMA next, and his grappling pedigree had many (including myself), believing he was destine for great things. All we can hope now is that Ryan is able to receive the medical attention he needs and make the proper decision for his career going forward.