5 Fighters With the Best BJJ in MMA | Explained
In this page we will cover which fighters have the best BJJ in MMA, their Brazilian Jiu Jitsu credentials, and how they have been able to transfer their skills into the octagon.
Table of Contents
1. Demian Maia
Maia is known as one of the greatest grapplers in the history of MMA. He is a 5th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, who has won a gold and silver medal in ADCC, World Jiu Jitsu championships, and the Brazilian National championships.
During his MMA career, Maia would get half of his wins via submission (14).
What was most impressive however is that the only imposing part of Maia's MMA game was his ground game, this meant that everyone knew exactly what he was going to do, but many were still unable to stop it.
2. Ronaldo Souza
Souza earned his nickname 'Jacare' which means alligator through his impressive grappling game. Once he got a hold of his opponent, his opponent will be unable to leave his grasp, just like an alligator does to their prey.
Jacare would win several gold and silver medals at ADCC as well as 8 gold medals in 10 events in the World Jiu Jitsu championship. Although his impressive accolades may be greater than Maia's, Maia would defeat Jacare in an epic match.
Souza would obtain 14 of his 26 wins via submission.
3. Mackenzie Dern
Dern is an ADCC No Gi Black Belt World Champion, who has won gold multiple times, and earned gold, silver and bronze medals at every major BJJ tournament.
Dern impressively began competing in the adult divisions of BJJ at only 14 years old. She is also the only female Jiu-Jitsu competitor to have won Gold Medals, at Black Belt level, at each of the 5 principal/highest ranking IBJJF Gi Championships.
She has been able to successfully transfer her impressive grappling skills into the octagon, as 7 of 11 wins have come by way of submission.
Another impressive feat is having defeated Gabi Garcia, despite a massive weight disadvantage.
All you need to know about jiu jitsu is it allows Mackenzie Dern 1.60m to beat Gabi Garcia 1.87m with about a 40kg weight difference. pic.twitter.com/YNMyJK6BWu
β iain (@AnotherSapien) June 15, 2018
4. Fabricio Werdum
Werdum is a 4 time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion, who has won gold at ADCC and the Pan American Jiu Jitsu Championship multiple times.
Werdum famously used his impressive grappling in order to tap out MMA great, Fedor Emelinanenko, ending his 28 fight win streak.
He would also obtain half of his wins via submission (12).
5. Gilbert Burns
Burns has won multiple gold medals at the World No Gi Jiu Jitsu championships, a gold medal at the World Jiu Jitsu championship, and a Bronze medal in the ADCC World Championship.
As Burn's MMA game has developed, he has gone from earning most of his wins through submission early in his career, to recently earning knockouts and decision wins.
Despite this, Burns has won 1/3 of his fights by way of submission.
Honorable Mention
Brian Ortega
Nate Diaz
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