UFC BJJ Draws a Hard Line: Claudia Gadelha Says Gordon Ryan Won’t Compete Under New Anti-Doping Policy

UFC’s new jiu-jitsu project is already making headlines. Newly appointed Senior Director of BJJ & Business Development Claudia Gadelha says UFC BJJ will use random drug testing—and that policy, as stated by Gadelha, would exclude no-gi superstar Gordon Ryan.
Gadelha explained the initiative’s aim is to “professionalize” the sport with the best facing the best “in the clean world,” adding that Ryan “will never compete in UFC BJJ” because he has openly endorsed PED use as part of his training philosophy.

The rollout is part of a broader push to “take over jiu-jitsu”: a rebrand of the Fight Pass Invitational, a new competition surface, and a long-rumored reality series—all under the UFC banner. Ryan, widely regarded as the best no-gi grappler alive, has also battled health issues that have limited his schedule in recent years, but his star power—and his public stance on PEDs—sits directly at odds with UFC BJJ’s testing-first approach.

MainEvent.News | Backstage Take

• The playbook is clear: UFC wants a regulated, TV-ready grappling product with mainstream sponsors. Random testing is the price of admission.
• Star power vs. standards: Gordon is the biggest box-office draw in no-gi; drawing a line that excludes him is a statement that the brand comes before any one athlete.
• Follow the implementation: The real test will be who runs testing, how it’s enforced, and what the sanctioning looks like. If UFC BJJ sticks to it, expect a talent realignment—athletes who want a tested stage will migrate; others will lean harder into untested circuits.
• ADCC contrast: This sets up a philosophical split with events that do not use year-round random testing. Fans may get two distinct ecosystems—clean, broadcast-friendly UFC BJJ and the “anything-goes” prestige of other shows.
• Could the door reopen? If Ryan ever chose to compete under a testing regime and passed, that would be a blockbuster pivot. For now, the message from UFC BJJ is unmistakable.

What’s Next

Expect matchmaking and roster announcements that emphasize credibility and parity under testing. The moment a high-profile athlete is flagged—or cleared—in public will define how seriously fans and sponsors take this new lane.