Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a beautiful art and one of the most effective forms of combat in the world. It involves using leverage and technique rather than brute strength to apply joint locks and choke holds to force your opponent into submission.
Made famous by the Gracie family in Brazil and was introduced to the United States in the early '90s at the very first Ultimate Fighting Championship. Little 176 pound Royce Gracie was submitting everyone that was put in front of him with ease and these were guys who out-weighed him by several pounds.
The sport of MMA has evolved a lot since then so the question remains—who has the best Jiu-Jitsu skills for MMA competition? Who are the top ten best Jiu-Jitsu guys in MMA right now? I’m about to tell you.
Let the countdown begin!
No. 10- Dustin “McLovin” Hazelett
As far as having the best Jiu-Jitsu for MMA competition—Dustin Hazelett is one of the best in the world. He is a BJJ black belt under Jorge Gurgel and he has several highlight reel submission victories on his résumé.
His style of Jiu-Jitsu is very unorthodox and he is able to lock on a submission from almost any position.
Just look back to his most recent fights with both Tamdan McCrory (UFC 91) and Josh Burkman (TUF Season 7 Finale)—in both of those fights Dustin was able to finish off his opponents with an armbar from a very unusual position.
Not only does Dustin have some of the best Jiu-Jitsu in MMA today but he also has the best nickname in all of MMA as well. I mean come on, who isn’t going to cheer for someone with the nickname of “McLovin”? If you don’t like this guy then you obviously don’t have a soul!
At just 22 years of age—Dustin “McLovin” Hazelett has a very bright future ahead of him.
No. 9- Rousimar Palhares
Look up the term “Vicious Bone Breaking Jiu-Jitsu” in the dictionary and you will find a picture of Rousimar Palhares right next to it!
Palhares is a black belt under UFC veteran—Murilo Bustamante and is one of the most aggressive fighters on the ground in MMA today.
His overall record is 9-2 with six of those wins coming by way of brutal submission. Since coming over to the UFC in May of 2008—Palhares is 2-1 with victories over Ivan Salaverry and Jeremy Horn.
Palhares’s only loss in the UFC came at the hands of Dan Henderson via unanimous decision at UFC 88 but in that fight Palhares came very close to finishing Henderson off with a submission on several occasions.
The loss to Henderson proved that Palhares still has a lot to learn in order to compete with the best fighters in the world—but as far as Jiu-Jitsu is concerned he is already among the pound-for-pound greats right now.
No. 8- Paulo Filho
Do not let his recent performances fool you—this guy is still one of the most dangerous ground fighters in the entire world!
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