Look, I’ve seen Gordon Ryan throw some brutal verbal beatdowns over the years, but his latest attack on Ffion Davies is something else entirely. The King just launched an absolutely savage assault on Davies after she announced she’s stepping back from competition due to mental health struggles, and honestly? This one’s hard to watch.
Here’s what triggered Gordon’s meltdown: Davies revealed she’s taking a temporary break from competing and social media because of recent struggles with online harassment and mental health issues. Instead of showing even basic human decency, Gordon went completely nuclear, blasting her for what he called a “social media cry for help.”
The specific beef Gordon has: His attack centers on Davies pulling out of ADCC (reportedly wanting more money) and her lack of interest in competing at CJI 2, despite having a UFC contract exemption that would allow her to participate. Gordon sees this as Davies being inconsistent – complaining about opportunities while simultaneously turning them down.
My honest take after 25 years in this sport: This is exactly the kind of toxic bullshit that’s driving people away from competitive grappling. Mental health struggles are real, and attacking someone for being vulnerable about them is just fucking wrong.
What makes this worse: Davies isn’t some random weekend warrior – she’s an elite athlete who’s achieved more in grappling than most people ever will. The fact that she’s dealing with online harassment serious enough to affect her mental health should be a wake-up call, not ammunition for more attacks.
The community reaction: The beef has completely split the grappling community, with many calling out Gordon’s lack of empathy toward a fellow elite athlete dealing with legitimate mental health challenges. Some are defending his “tough love” approach, but most people are disgusted by the timing and tone.
Why this matters beyond the drama: We’re seeing more and more elite athletes speak openly about mental health struggles – from Simone Biles to Naomi Osaka. The fact that our sport’s biggest star responds with attacks instead of support says something troubling about where we’re headed as a community.
The Instagram evidence: All the drama is playing out on Gordon’s Instagram (@gordonlovesjiujitsu), where he’s doubling down on his position instead of backing off. It’s uncomfortable viewing, but it shows exactly where his head is at.
Bottom line: Gordon Ryan might be the GOAT on the mats, but this attack on Davies shows he’s got a long way to go as a human being. Mental health isn’t weakness – it’s something that affects everyone, including elite athletes who seem invincible from the outside.
Sometimes the biggest battles happen off the mats, and this isn’t Gordon’s finest moment.
All the drama can be followed on Gordons IG here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DLDf-2OJyXP/
