John Danaher could ‘step away from coaching’ Gordon Ryan, other pro athletes – BJJ Beat

Welcome to the BJJ Beat! On this recurring feature, we’ll tackle the biggest news from the professional grappling scene, and roll everything up in an easily digestible and familiar jiu-jitsu format.

Warm Ups

Top BJJ coach John Danaher could ‘step away from coaching’ after multiple surgeries

John Danaher, who is perhaps the most famous BJJ coach today, says he will have to seriously consider his current role. He has coached jiu-jitsu champions like Gordon Ryan, Giancarlo Bodoni, Nicholas Meregali, and Helena Crevar at New Wave, but “could step away from coaching professional athletes” altogether.

Danaher says this is due to him needing four surgeries, including hip and knee replacements. According to the New Wave coach, doctors tell him that these serious surgeries could not only sideline him from jiu-jitsu, but also signal “the end of any kind of jiu-jitsu type movement at a high level.”

Instagram. “I started today with the easiest surgery – a bilateral inguinal hernia repair that I’ve been putting off too long. Then I will have to schedule the much more serious hip and knee replacements (after that I have to get lens implanted my eyes to get my deteriorating vision back in order).

“My last hip replacement took about six months to a year to fully recover from. The issue will be the more complex and generally less robust knee replacement, which in my case will be attached to a femur that already has a hip replacement on the other side of it. The doctors say that generally this is the end of any kind of Jiu jitsu type movement at high level,” he wrote.

“As such I will most likely have to make a reappraisal of my role in Jiu jitsu coaching. I hope that given enough time I can return to high level coaching but it may be that I have to switch focus to more recreational Jiu jitsu coaching. Despite the uncertainty, there is something of which I am very sure. If I do have to step away from coaching professional athletes, my students are without exception, truly outstanding teachers so I am extremely confident that they can represent what we espoused far better than I ever did and contribute greatly to the sports continued growth.”

Drills

Stacked UFC FPI 10 fight card gets three more bouts

The UFC Fight Pass Invitational 10 (UFC FPI 10) line up is shaping up nicely. After staging a bit of a coup and getting one of the best matches possible in BJJ today as the headliner, the rest of the card has been filling up.

As recently reported, CJI champion Nick Rodriguez will co-headline the bout in a tough rematch with five time IBJJF world champion Victor Hugo.

Three more excellent matches were also confirmed. BJJ legend Andre Galvao’s daughter, Sarah Galvao will continue her pro grappling career against the youngest ever black belt world champion in Cassia Moura. Ronaldo Junior, fresh off his win over Jay Rodriguez at WNO 26, will take on Felipe Costa, while IBJJF crown winner Andy Murasaki takes on Daniel Sathler.

Outside of the Ffion Davies vs. Adele Fornarino main event, there are also multiple female BJJ champions on the card as well. Check out the already stacked line up for UFC FPI 10 below.

UFC Fight Pass Invitational 10: Davies vs. Fornarino fight card

Ffion Davies vs. Adele Fornarino
Nick Rodriguez vs. Victor Hugo
Renato Canuto vs. Oliver Taza
Elisabeth Clay vs. Brianna Ste-Marie
Helena Crevar vs. Maggie Grindatti-Lira
Cassia Moura vs. Sarah Galvao
Ronaldo Junior vs. Felipe Costa
Andy Murasaki vs. Daniel Sathler

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Move of the Day

Sarah Galvao following footsteps of BJJ legend father

Andre Galvao’s daughter Sarah Galvao is currently a brown belt world champion, and recently showcased her skills in her professional no gi debut. Watch her nasty attacks after locking up a rear triangle, including a suloev stretch attempt and the Americana finish from WNO 26.

As noted above, Galvao will continue her pro grappling career and will be competing at UFC FPI 10 next.

Rolls

Tye Ruotolo vs. Dante Leon title bout set

BJJ star Tye Ruotolo is set to return against two-time no gi world champion Dante Leon at ONE Fight Night 31. The grappling match happens on May 2, 2025, with Ruotolo’s ONE title on the line.

Both Leon and Ruotolo are considered among the top pound-for-pound grapplers in the world. Despite both being among the smaller grapplers in the tournament, both notably took bronze medals at the ADCC absolute division, with Ruotolo in 2022 and Leon in 2024.

Both BJJ stars are currently 1-1 against each other, with Leon winning a decision in 2020, and Ruotolo winning by guillotine in 2021.

Cooldown

NAGA to give equal pay for male and female champions

The North American Grappling Association or NAGA has revamped their pay structure to give equal prize money for men and women. The long running organization known for their no gi competitions will have new payouts (HT: JitsMagazine) for the champions of their expert absolute divisions, depending on the bracket size.

They’ll give $1000 for winners of brackets with over 16 competitors, $750 for brackets of 12-15 competitors, $500 for 8-11 competitors, and $250 if there are only 4-7 competitors.

It’s obviously not huge money, but this is certainly a step in the right direction, especially considering how there are many larger BJJ events that don’t even give any prize money.