Comedian and podcast host Brendan Schaub recently publicly challenged Gordon Ryan’s defense of Derek “Moneyberg” on a recent Joe Rogan Experience Fight Companion. The controversy centers around the wealthy businessman’s rapid achievement of black belt status in just three and a half years under Jake Shields.
During the podcast discussion, tensions became apparent when Schaub brought up concerns about “celebrity black belts,” prompting a notable side-eye from Gordon Ryan. The decorated grappler defended Moneyberg by creating what critics call a “straw man” argument. He suggested that people expect the businessman to “go out and beat an ADCC champion.” However, Schaub and others argue this misses the actual point of criticism entirely.
The crux of the debate lies not in Moneyberg’s competitive aspirations, but in the legitimacy of his rapid promotion and the potential consequences of high-profile endorsements from respected figures in the martial arts community. Schaub drew comparisons to BJ Penn, who also received his black belt in three years but earned it by becoming the first non-Brazilian to win gold in the IBJJF black belt division.
“If you’re training with Gordon Ryan, getting privates for 5 hours a day, seven days a week… but if you’re not competing with other guys who are coming up the ranks, you really don’t know what level you’re at,” Schaub argued during his follow-up podcast discussion.
Gordon Ryan attempted to justify the promotion by emphasizing Moneyberg’s work ethic and retention abilities, stating the businessman trains “4 hours a day, 7 days a week” and has “some of the best ability to recall information.”
However, when pressed about actual rolling against diverse opponents, Ryan admitted Moneyberg “doesn’t have like a lot of looks” and primarily trains with paid instructors rather than attending regular gym classes.
While Ryan insisted “belts are irrelevant” and encouraged focusing on “just getting better,” critics question why such vigorous defense is necessary if rank truly doesn’t matter.
Schaub, despite his measured approach to avoid being labeled a “hater,” maintained his position that without competitive validation or regular sparring against diverse opponents, it’s impossible to accurately assess someone’s true skill level. His producer’s blunt assessment that “it just looks like he paid for it” prompted Schaub’s strongest agreement: “Yeah, that’s how it should look.”
