5 UFC fighters with the best Jiu-Jitsu, and 1 with the worst

1. Ryan Hall

Ryan Hall is a perplexing character in mixed martial arts, widely because of the danger his grappling game presents. While his style makes it difficult for Hall to be a fan favorite among both the hardcore and casual groups, he still deserves recognition as one of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitors in the UFC.

Ryan Hall’s grappling accolades are plentiful. Hall earned his Black belt and picked up several wins across the IBJJF circuit after. This includes wins in tournaments like the Houston Open, Miami Open, and Chicago Open. Hall picked up two ADCC tournament victories, the first in 2009 in the 66 kilograms at the ADCC West Coast Trials, and the 2008 ADCC North American Championship. He would earn the Bronze medal in the 2009 ADCC World Championship in Barcelona, Spain.

Hall would start his MMA career in 2006 before deciding to focus on teaching as six years would pass before his second fight in 2012. This led to his appearance on The Ultimate Fighter and his eventual signing with the UFC.

One could never use the word “traditional” to describe Hall’s grappling style. While most focused on getting on top, Hall frequently employed a guard game where he was equally dangerous from his back as he was on top of his opponent. That has translated into his UFC career where his two Octagon wins came via heel hook, a technique that requires the attacker to be in the bottom position. What’s interesting is that his style on the mat is so dangerous that many competitors avoid going to the mat with him, allowing Hall to employ a point-fighting style on the feet that may not be enjoyable, but allows him to pick up valuable wins along the way.

Hall is an interesting individual to study in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He’s never fit within the “norms” of martial arts, but his abilities have consistently shown positive results, both in grappling and mixed martial arts.