SUMMARY
- Gordon Ryan has come to be known as a No-Gi submission specialist, a five-time ADCC World Champion, and the Tezos WNO Heavyweight Champion.
- Ryan has a legendary record of 93 wins, 5 losses, and 3 draws.
Gordon Ryan is often hailed as one of the modern-day legends of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Owing to his incredibly successful career, accolades, and impressive physique, many believe him to be an incredibly tenured athlete. Whilst it may be true, his age has often been a shocking surprise to many.
For those unaware, Ryan is a Jiu-Jitsu black belt from New Jersey. Throughout his career, he has come to be known as a No-Gi submission specialist, a five-time ADCC World champion, and the Tezos WNO heavyweight champion. Notably, he is the only athlete in ADCC history to hold titles across three separate weight categories.
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Sporting with a legendary record of 93 wins, 5 losses, and 3 draws, it is clear why Ryan has the reputation he does. However, with that said, it is even more impressive considering that he was born on July 8, 1995. Currently, Ryan is 28 and is arguably only entering his prime years. As such, it has often begged the question: Why does Gordon Ryan look so old?
Gordon Ryan’s PED usage and stomach condition
For one, many have surmised that Gordon’s blatant PED usage might be a cause for this. In the past, Gordon has advocated for PEDs in combat sports as they allow the athletes to be healthier and recover more easily. For the most part, PED and steroid usage are not deemed illegal in Jiu-Jitsu and have been openly spoken about by many athletes. Notably, Alexander Volkanovski’s trainer, Craig Jones, has also spoken on the matter in the past.
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Whilst steroids may be the cause behind his impressive physique, it is not the cause for his old appearance. According to numerous experts on the matter, athletes in way more ‘gear’ have looked better than him. As such, his appearance has instead been attributed to his numerous health issues over the years. In 2021, Ryan revealed that he was suffering from stomach ulcers, which were diagnosed as gastroparesis.
However, as it turns out, this diagnosis was deemed incorrect as he had fungal growth in his small intestine and bacterial imbalances instead. Last year, Gordon had also been affected by severe strep throat. As a result, he was put on antibiotics by doctors, which further worsened his condition. Taking to social media, Gordon also posted a picture of himself looking severely depleted. Naturally, many have attributed his stomach problems to PED usage.
Why does Gordon Ryan dye his hair white?
For fans who have witnessed Gordon’s brilliance on the mats, he cuts a very distinct figure. Often seen sporting a blonde, or platinum hairdo, it has become somewhat of a signature for him. As such, many have likely seen him with gray hair and a gray beard, which further adds to the illusion of his age. Thus, many have wondered if that really was the motive behind his hair color.
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Mostly, Ryan’s reasons for the blonde-white hairdo are relatively unclear. In the past, the Jiu-Jitsu ace tried it to troll Dillon Danis. By sporting a similar hairdo to Conor McGregor’s teammate, Ryan intended to draw out Danis for a fight. Although it never transpired, the look stayed with Gordon. Every now and then, the Texas resident shaves off his beard and loses the hair color, appearing more like his actual age.