Jon Jones is set to make his 24th UFC appearance at UFC 309, and this time, he’ll have the formidable Gordon Ryan in his corner. Jones’ longtime jiu-jitsu coach, Roberto “Tussa” Alencar, revealed the news in an interview with MMA Fighting, praising Jones’ relentless pursuit of greatness by enlisting world-class talents from various combat sports disciplines.

Alencar, who has been instrumental in honing Jones’ grappling skills since 2015, is stepping aside to allow Ryan, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu phenom, to guide Jones. “I’m stepping down from the corner, but Gordon will be there for the work he’s done with Jon,” Alencar shared. “Gordon was a great addition to us. I’ve learned a lot from him, me being a black belt and all the experience I have, and Gordon coming from no-gi, from ADCC. He’s added a lot to Jon’s ground game, alongside with Gable Stevenson. It was great to have the two best from grappling and wrestling working with Jon.”

Having Ryan in Jones’ corner brings an extraordinary wealth of grappling expertise. Ryan, who holds the record for the most titles in ADCC history, remains undefeated in 58 consecutive matches since 2018. His technical precision, innovative submission tactics, and dominance in the No-Gi realm have made him a force in the grappling world.

In addition to Ryan’s contributions, Jones has also been training with Olympic gold medalist and three-time All-American wrestler Gable Stevenson. The combination of Ryan’s expertise in submission grappling and Stevenson’s elite wrestling pedigree creates a formidable grappling-focused support system for Jones. Alencar’s praise emphasizes the synergy between these grappling legends, highlighting how their collaboration has further elevated Jones’ ground game.

Jones has also tapped into striking expertise to ensure a well-rounded fight preparation. Early in his camp for UFC 309, he worked with WBO boxing champion Joseph Parker, reflecting his dedication to mastering all facets of mixed martial arts.

Jones’ decision to invite such decorated specialists underscores his commitment to evolving and refining his skills. The addition of Gordon Ryan marks a significant enhancement to Jones’ ground game as he gears up for what promises to be another electrifying performance in the Octagon. Fans will be eagerly watching to see how this high-caliber training team manifests in his fight, making UFC 309 one of the most anticipated events of the year.