Garry Tonon, a highly regarded American grappler and mixed martial artist, is rumored to be in talks with the UFC, but there’s a significant hurdle in the way. Tonon, known for his exceptional skills in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling, is one of the top no-gi practitioners globally, celebrated for his aggressive and dynamic approach on the mat. His career has been marked by numerous victories in prestigious tournaments like the Eddie Bravo Invitational and the ADCC World Championships.

As a key member of Team New Wave, under the tutelage of renowned coach John Danaher, Tonon has established himself as a formidable competitor in both grappling and mixed martial arts. He made his MMA debut in ONE Championship, quickly rising through the ranks in the featherweight division. Despite a setback in a title fight in March 2022, Tonon bounced back with three consecutive victories, bringing his MMA record to an impressive 9 wins and 1 loss.

In a recent podcast discussion, Eddie Bravo revealed that Garry Tonon had opened up to him about his ambitions to join the UFC.

“Garry Tonon, man, I talked to him not too long ago, and he said there’s a chance he might go into the UFC. But ONE Championship can match the offer—they have the option to do that. Can you imagine Garry Tonon going up against those Russians? That creativity is what solves the problem, you know what I mean?”

However, the possibility of Tonon moving to the UFC is complicated by his current contract with ONE Championship. Eddie Bravo recently revealed in a podcast discussion that Tonon had expressed interest in joining the UFC, but ONE Championship holds the right to match any offer made to him. This means that even if the UFC shows interest, ONE Championship could retain Tonon by matching the terms of the deal.

ONE Championship, which has been struggling to retain its talent this year, particularly due to its reliance on Muay Thai events in Bangkok, may not want to lose a star like Tonon. The promotion’s contracts are known for being restrictive, often including clauses that give them matching rights during specific periods.

If Tonon were to make the jump to the UFC, he would likely compete in the 145-pound featherweight division. This wouldn’t be a significant stretch for him, as he has previously competed in the 66kg division at ADCC and has experience with the weight cut. The prospect of seeing Tonon, with his creative and unpredictable style, facing off against the tough competition in the UFC, particularly the wave of Russian fighters in the division, is an exciting one for fans.

Tonon’s potential move to the UFC would not only mark a significant step in his career but also stir up the featherweight division, adding another layer of intrigue to the ongoing evolution of MMA. However, whether this move will come to fruition depends largely on how ONE Championship chooses to respond to any offers from the UFC.

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