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

3. Rodolfo Vieira

Any person that enters the UFC with double-digit grappling championships on their ledger deserves to be considered among the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu players around. UFC middleweight, Rodolfo Vieira is such a competitor.

Vieira’s accolades in BJJ are numerous. From 2011 through 2015 he picked up major championships in nearly every competition. This includes multiple gold medals across the IBJJF circuit, including major tournaments like the Pan American Championship, European Championship, and the Abu Dhabi World Pro. He also won the 99 kilograms division in the 2015 edition of ADCC, perhaps the most important grappling competition available. Vieira’s grappling record includes victories over some of the top names to ever compete including Marcus Almeida, Rafael Lovato, Andre Galvao, Alexandre Ribeiro, and the late Leandro Lo.

Vieira’s style has been known to overpower his opponents. With pressure passing and working his way to the mount, competitors frequently have a hard time keeping him at bay. Once he gets by the guard it was only a matter of time before some variation of choke submission was coming, with the head and arm triangle being one of his go-to maneuvers. Many have complimented Vieira on his ability to get the tap with just the squeeze, speaking to his overwhelming power.

Vieira has brought that style over to mixed martial arts. With 11 fights under his belt, eight of his nine wins have come via submission. Those victories include either a rear-naked choke or the head and arm-triangle choke getting that tap. However, that aggressive style of BJJ has presented some challenges for Vieira in MMA. For example, his fight against Anthony Hernandez at UFC 258 ended disastrously for him when he gassed out and was submitted. Still, Vieira’s pedigree in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu makes him one of the most dangerous competitors in the UFC when the fight hits the floor.