Grappling has been crucial in MMA, allowing fighters with expertise in wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and submission techniques to control matches and secure victories on the mat. From Khabib Nurmagomedov’s persistent takedowns to Demian Maia’s exceptional jiu-jitsu, this article highlights the top fighters known for their grappling skills.
The Variety of Grapplers in MMA
One of the best aspects of grappling in MMA is the diversity of styles, with each offering unique advantages. grapplers in MMA like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) practitioners excel in smooth transitions and are particularly effective when fighting from their backs due to their guard techniques.
Another vital grappling style is Greco-Roman wrestling, where grapplers in MMA utilize clinch control and powerful trips and slams to bring opponents to the ground effectively. This style emphasizes strength and technique, making it a favorite among fighters.
Sambo has gained prominence in MMA, especially with the rise of talent from Dagestan. grapplers in MMA who specialize in Sambo are known for their excellent takedown skills, using ankle picks and double-legs. Once on the ground, they apply pressure and trap limbs to weaken their opponents, although fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev also showcase their leg submission skills.
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List of Greatest Grapplers in MMA History
| Fighter | Weight Class | Grappling Style | Signature Techniques | Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khabib Nurmagomedov | Lightweight | Sambo | Wrist control, Top mount | Undefeated career, UFC lightweight champion |
| Charles Oliveira | Lightweight | BJJ | Pulling guard, full guard (bottom) | UFC lightweight champion, most submission wins in UFC history |
| Demian Maia | Welterweight, Middleweight | BJJ | Back mount, Rear naked choke | Title contender, ADCC medalist |
| Georges St-Pierre | Welterweight, Middleweight | Freestyle wrestling | Double-leg takedown, Excellent transitions on the ground | Two-weight UFC champion |
| Fabricio Werdum | Heavyweight | BJJ | Armbar, Triangle chokes | UFC heavyweight champion |
| Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira | Heavyweight | BJJ | Sweeps from guard, Submissions from full guard | Pride heavyweight champion, interim UFC champ |
| BJ Penn | Lightweight, Welterweight | BJJ | Rear naked choke, Excellent transitions and reverses | Two-weight UFC champion |
| Jacare Souza | Middleweight | BJJ | Powerful takedowns and guard passes, Triangle chokes | Strikeforce middleweight champion |
| Jon Jones | Light-heavyweight, Heavyweight | Greco-Roman wrestling, BJJ | Takedowns and foot sweeps, Top control | Two-weight UFC champion, Longest UFC title defence streak at light-heavyweight |
| Randy Couture | Light-heavyweight, Heavyweight | Greco-Roman wrestling | Clinch control and dirty boxing | Two-weight UFC champion |
Creating a list of the best grapplers in MMA is a tough task, given the many elite fighters in the sport’s history and their various specializations. However, here is a list of the top ten grapplers in MMA:
10. Randy Couture
Randy Couture, a two-weight UFC champion, effectively utilized his Olympic wrestling skills throughout his MMA career, showcasing his prowess as one of the top grapplers in MMA. His Greco-Roman background allowed him to excel in the clinch, where he employed various techniques such as dirty boxing, knee strikes, slams, and foot sweeps to take down opponents. Although Couture wasn’t primarily recognized for his submission game, his clinch control and ability to dictate fights firmly established him as a formidable competitor among grapplers in MMA. This dominance in the clinch is a testament to his tactical approach and wrestling foundation in mixed martial arts.
9. Jon Jones
Jon Jones is exceptional at blending various martial arts to create and implement effective game plans, particularly as a grappler in MMA. While he is renowned for his striking creativity, he is also a highly skilled grappler. Against top wrestlers and BJJ experts, Jones has showcased his grappling prowess. Once on the ground, he effectively utilizes his reach advantage to discover submission angles that many fighters struggle to access, demonstrating his versatility as a grappler in MMA.
8. Jacare Souza
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza was a formidable competitor during his peak. His grappling skills in MMA, particularly his outstanding Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) techniques, set him apart. Once he secured a takedown, opponents often faced defeat, as grapplers in MMA struggled to counter his powerful guard-passing abilities. With a powerful grappling style, Souza made a significant impact in the sport, showcasing his strength and skill against various adversaries.
7. BJ Penn
BJ Penn made history as the first American to win a BJJ world championship at the black belt level, showcasing his exceptional skills as a grappler in MMA. His performances in the octagon demonstrated his grappling excellence, often leading to victories over elite wrestlers and grapplers in MMA.
In grappling exchanges, Penn consistently outperformed notable fighters such as Matt Hughes, Matt Serra, and Diego Sanchez. His ability to secure dominant positions and submissions highlighted his background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, making him a formidable opponent for any grappler in MMA.
6. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is a legendary figure in both MMA and BJJ, especially known for his grappling skills. Often, he displayed remarkable resilience, enduring significant strikes before securing submissions for victory. Grapplers in MMA admire his strong guard, which facilitated many successful armbars, triangle chokes, and guillotines throughout his impressive 16-year professional career. His ability to withstand adversity and capitalize on his grappling techniques has made him a role model for aspiring grapplers in MMA.
5. Fabricio Werdum
Fabricio Werdum is considered one of the best grapplers in heavyweight history. He has won several BJJ and ADCC tournaments, but his most notable achievement came when he submitted one of the greatest fighters ever, Fedor Emelianenko, with a triangle armbar in 2010.
4. Georges St-Pierre
Georges St-Pierre is regarded as one of the all-time greats in MMA, excelling in every aspect of grappling. He has strong takedown defense and is skilled in executing his own takedowns with impeccable timing and technique. Unlike many others on this list, GSP did not have a grappling background before his MMA career; he became an elite grappler during his professional journey.
3. Demian Maia
Demian Maia, a BJJ world champion, transitioned fully to MMA in 2005, although he had debuted in 2001. He didn’t suffer his first loss until 2009. Throughout his career, particularly in the early stages, Maia relied heavily on his grappling skills to secure victories, earning the nickname “the human backpack” for his ability to take opponents’ backs and execute rear-naked chokes, which he accomplished nine times out of his 14 submission wins.
2. Charles Oliveira
Charles Oliveira holds the record for the most submission victories in UFC history, with 16 to his name. Known as “Do Bronx,” Oliveira is skilled in takedowns and often pulls guard to bring the fight to the ground. He is comfortable fighting from his back, even against elite grapplers, thanks to his strong full guard. Oliveira also shines in scrambles, executing remarkable transitions to dominant positions or submissions.
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov retired undefeated in his professional MMA career, and his Sambo grappling skills were unmatched. He effectively executed single and double-leg takedowns and could control opponents against the cage, often doing as he pleased. When the fight went to the ground, Khabib would immediately tie up his opponent’s legs and lean into them to trap them. He would then flatten them out while maintaining wrist control, allowing him to unleash ground-and-pound strikes to either finish the fight or set up submissions.
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