Khabib Nurmagomedov and Khamzat Chimaev face surprising ADCC verdict as Gordon Ryan shares honest view

Gordon Ryan, one of the most respected names in modern jiu-jitsu, has shared his honest opinion about two of MMA’s most feared grapplers, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Khamzat Chimaev. Speaking on Mike Perry’s OverDogs Podcast, Ryan said that while both fighters are dominant in mixed martial arts, they would not have the same success in ADCC, which is considered the highest level of submission grappling competition. His comments quickly drew attention because Khabib and Chimaev are widely praised for their wrestling pressure and control inside the cage.

Still, Ryan made it clear that his criticism was only about pure jiu-jitsu competition, not MMA. According to him, their skill sets are built for fighting, not for specialist tournaments. He explained that MMA grappling and ADCC grappling demand very different styles, and success in one does not automatically mean dominance in the other. His statements have sparked fresh debate among combat sports fans about what truly defines elite grappling.

Gordon Ryan explains why Khabib Nurmagomedov, Khamzat Chimaev and Islam Makhachev succeed in MMA grappling

During the podcast, Gordon Ryan said, “Nurmagomedov and Chimaev aren’t the best wrestlers. They’re not the best freestyle wrestlers in the world, and they’re not the best jiu-jitsu guys in the world. If you put those guys into ADCC, they would get beat pretty easily. But what they’re doing is submission grappling… they’re supposed to be the best MMA fighters.”

He then clarified that their real strength lies in how they blend wrestling and control inside the cage.

Ryan explained that fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Khamzat Chimaev use pressure, body weight, and smart positioning to wear opponents down.

Instead of chasing flashy moves, they focus on keeping opponents on the ground and striking or finishing from the top. Ryan has also spoken earlier about Islam Makhachev, placing him in the same category.



At a UFC 310 media event, he explained that their fence control and ability to force opponents to carry weight make their grappling extremely effective for mixed martial arts.

He said this style works because fighters struggle to stand up while constantly carrying pressure.

In simple terms, Ryan believes there is a big difference between competition jiu-jitsu and MMA grappling. While ADCC rewards specialists, MMA rewards control, endurance, and damage.

That is why, even if they may not dominate in pure jiu-jitsu tournaments, Ryan still considers Khabib, Chimaev, and Makhachev among the most effective grapplers in fighting today.





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