The Most Dominant Jiu-Jitsu Fighters Currently In The UFC
Being able to compete in the UFC takes a lot of skill, with some of the world’s most talented fighters in the sport having been able to master a range of different fight styles to ensure they are able to be at the top of their game and compete for the biggest prizes that mixed martial arts can provide them.
One of the fight styles that many have trained in is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), with a number of iconic performers having been able to prove to be more than a handful for their opponents when they enter the Octagon and compete.
For instance, perhaps one of the best UFC fighters in history that have been able to use BJJ to their advantage is Demian Maia who’s BJJ skills were mentioned on this article published on Thai sports news site. Although there might be some questions about whether he is fully retired, the Brazilian is arguably one of the greatest MMA fighters to have used the technique as he managed to compete successfully in the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions and achieve a fight record in the UFC of 28-11-0, making him the Brazilian fighter with most wins ever in the UFC, whilst also being a 5x Jiu-Jitsu World Champion; hence why so many widely regard him as the best grappler to have ever been involved in the sport.
However, whilst Maia is no longer actively competing in the UFC, who could be considered the best BJJ fighters currently involved in the promotion at the moment? Let’s take a look at a couple who could be thrown into that particular discussion?
Charles Oliveira
One of the immediate names to appear will be Charles Oliveira’s due to his accomplishments as a submission specialist. He currently leads the UFC in this particular category, with the BJJ-trained reigning UFC Lightweight Champion having 15 to his name, whilst also holding the record for the most finishes with 18.
Oliveira is an incredibly dangerous opponent for anyone to get into the Octagon with, and when you look at the skill he has in regard to the technique he has mastered, it should not be a surprise to learn his name is always mentioned near the top.
Nate Diaz
Nate Diaz carries a rather formidable reputation around the UFC after being able to achieve a lot between the Lightweight and Welterweight divisions throughout his long and illustrious career with the promotion.
There may be some that would suggest that his time in the Octagon might be coming to an end after suffering back-to-back defeats, however there is no denying that his BJJ skills are exceptional. Let’s not forget, he can box and he can choke out an opponent; just look at what he did to Conor McGregor at UFC 196 in 2016 in a Welterweight bout that saw him earn the Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night accolades.
Mackenzie Dern
Mackenzie Dern is an incredibly accomplished fighter in the UFC that has managed to incorporate Jiu-Jitsu into her fighting style with huge success that has made her extremely dangerous.
Although her time in the UFC has been challenging at times due to her failing to make weights, the grappler has shown that she can hold her own in the ring and has been able to carve a rather successful record thus far having won six of her eight contests as of February 2022.
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