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“Sambo Guys Are…” – BJJ Star Gordon Ryan Shockingly Admits Khabib and Islam Makhachev’s Famous Statement on Jiu-Jitsu for MMA

Published 12/22/2022, 3:30 PM EST

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Gordon Ryan is a top-class BJJ fighter. Probably the greatest in No-Gi Jiu-Jutsu. He has been training since the age of 15 and has several achievements in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world under his name. Ryan has expressed his opinion on why Combat Sambo fighters may be the best-suited fighters for the UFC format. Recently, he answered a fan on his social handle, who had asked him a question about why BJJ practitioners were being dominated by “sambo guys“. The fan also wanted to know if a BJJ fighter could ever manage to stop combat Sambo artists in the UFC.

The fan asked, “Gordon. How come BJJ guys keep getting destroyed on the ground vs sambo guys the last few years??? Genuinely keen to hear your input on this. Do you think there are any BJJers that could stop guys like Khabib and Islam in MMA????”

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Gordon Ryan breaks down the reasons behind Sambo’s UFC success

While the fan had asked a very valid question, Gordon Ryan also took the effort to give an elaborate answer. Ryan replied, “Sambo guys” are more well-equipped to wrestle under a MMA rule set. Meaning they dominate the pace and direction of the fight, end on top. And make their opponents carry body weight, forming a discrepancy in the work rate that leads to fatigue over time. plus the guys they’re fighting aren’t, in my opinion, world-level jiu-jitsu that focus on MMA, not specialists.”

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Gordon Ryan, however, said nothing about which BJJ fighter could stop the Dagestani march. It may be interpreted that he doesn’t see any fighters in the current crop of BJJ martial artists who can end the Dagestani fighter’s run.

Why Combat Sambo packs a punch

Combat Sambo starts in a standing position and allows for striking. It also includes grappling, just like the UFC. The only difference is Combat Sambo doesn’t allow striking when the opponent is on the ground. The Russian martial art has given UFC fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dan Severn, and Islam Makhachev.

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via Getty

Sambo is not an Olympic sport, but the International Olympic Committee has recognized it. Sambo may seem to be the closest in terms of format and rules to the UFC, but other martial arts like BJJ, kickboxing and other martial will definitely produce fighters who will end the supremacy of Sambo in the UFC. Let us know your views.

Watch this Story: UFC 280 highlights,Islam Makhachev Tributes Khabib Logan Jake Paul Wish Sean o’Malley, Charles Oliveira vows to get back

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Written by:

Akshay Pallav

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Akshay Pallav is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. Having completed his undergraduation from National Institute of Fashion Technology in Apparel Production, he has been a sports enthusiast all his life and has several medals at the University level across multiple sports including basketball, badminton, track and field. He aspires to interview Conor McGregor and Cristiano Ronaldo someday.
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Edited by:

Vineet Nandwana