Roidin’ Ryan Ruining Kids Lives, Says Champ

Gordon Ryan is one of the few professional athletes to celebrate the “amazing” news that UFC and USADA were parting ways. In fact, the no-gi grappling “King” believes fighters with more testosterone can fight longer, recover faster, and make more money.

Read his entire pro-PED argument here.

That didn’t sit well with Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen, who believes Ryan is setting a bad example for impressionable youth. In addition, UFC fighters like Michael Bisping may stand as evidence to the dangers of increased drug use.

“I just don’t think it’s a good way to promote athletes to do this type of stuff, because you have to understand athletes have a big influence on kids and young athletes, and even college athletes,” Eblen told The MMA Hour. “I just don’t think it’s a route that is sustainable for the long run, for people’s health, and just for sport. One big thing that really pops up to me is when [Michael] Bisping lost an eye to frickin’ Vitor Belfort, he was ‘TRT Vitor.’ Does that happen if he’s not on f****** TRT, I don’t know.”

This marks the second time Eblen has spoken out against Ryan’s PED stance.

“But instances like that can happen because guys are juiced to the gills, and I just don’t agree — I mean, don’t get me wrong, the guy’s amazing at what he does,” Eblen continued. “Gordon is the best of the best. I just don’t agree with him on a certain point when it comes to PEDs. I’m just anti-PED, I just don’t think it’s good for humans, especially for kids to be doing that s***. You might have the influence to have a kid do it, and that might ruin their life in the long run. They might end up a train wreck later on, so that’s just kind of my viewpoint on it, I don’t agree with it, and I’m pretty much anti-PED and just stay away from that s***.”

UFC and USADA parted ways earlier this year after their longtime relationship became “untenable” (blame this former champ). UFC will now rely on the services of Drug Free Sport International (DFSI), which comes with its own baggage.

Eblen (14-0) is expected to make his return at some point in 2024, once PFL figures out how to schedule both promotions in the wake of this blockbuster acquisition. As for Ryan, he’s currently rehabbing a rib injury and will out of action for the remainder of the year.