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

2. Charles Oliveira

Charles Oliveira is a submission machine in mixed martial arts. While he doesn’t have the accolades of some others on this list when it comes to accomplishments in grappling, he is the only individual on this list to reach a UFC championship. His 15-year, 44-fight career boasts a ridiculous 21 submission victories along the way. Those skills helped him earn the records for most submission wins and most finishes in UFC history at 16 and 20 respectively.

What is even more amazing about his run of submissions is that he continues to diversify the attacks he uses for these finishes. He has guillotine chokes, anaconda chokes, RNCs, triangle chokes, and calf slicers on his list of victories. It would be difficult to find another fighter with such a varied list of submissions at his disposal.

His abilities on the mat make his fights much more intriguing, even down to the way they are officiated. Oftentimes, referees in MMA will push for action, standing fighters up who pull guard in an attempt to work to their strengths. Not Oliveira, whose skills are so respected he’s given more time to work even from his open guard.

Look at what he did against Beneil Dariush at UFC 289. Oliveira to the action to the ground where Dariush was willing to play. But once Oliveira made his mind up to get the fight back to the feet, there was nothing Dariush, who is a competent grappler in his own right, could do to stop him from doing so and shifting the momentum toward the victory. That all comes from Oliveira’s abilities on the mat.

Oliveira should be the start and finish of any debate around who has the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu game in the UFC and his resume proves that point.