MMA's Elite Grapplers: Past and Present

Grappling in the world of mixed martial arts may be the most important skill one could possibly have, whether it be a simple but effective takedown defense, sweet sleek submissions or a dominant top wrestling game you simply have to have it.

It is what seperates the boxers and the kickboxers from becoming an mma superstud, just look at Roman Zentsov, and without you will sink to the bottom of the rankings in quick and furious fashion.

With this article I look to examine some of the best grapplers in mma both past and present-detailing specialities, and backgrounds.

10. Bas Rutten

Looking at this former King of Pancrase early matches you would never know that he would become a submission wizard. Fighting in the early days of mma Rutten was a Durtch kickboxing star that finished most of his opponents with strikes. However, with no takedown defense or knowledge on the ground Bas was forced to learn submissions.

Having self taught himself Rutten who has one of the weakest sprawls in mma was the inventor of the pretzel submission that has become a sort of forgotten. With wins over Maurice Smith, Frank Shamrock, Minoru Suzuki and Masakazu Funaki- Rutten maintained one of the best undefeated streaks in the sport today having not lost a fight since 1995 and his last fight that happened in 2006 against Rubin Villareal.

9. Royce Gracie

Nowadays Royce could probably be humbly submitted by the BJJ best but when mma had first started he was the best. Despite lacking in punching Royce was a motivated and talented BJJ star coming out of Brazil and went on to inspire thousands of people to take up BJJ and become fans of mma.

With wins over Kimo Leopoldo and Ken Shamrock-Royce had cemented his reputation as a legend.

8. Tito Ortiz

As funny as this may sound Tito Ortiz did what he did as a grappler very well. Whether Ortiz was a great wrestler or had a physical talent can be questioned but one thing was for sure once he got on top of you he was never getting off.

Ortiz as loud mouthed and over hyped as he was a force when he got on top of you. Relying on old Dan Severn lay and pray tactics Ortiz was the one who did this best with snoozer wins over Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva Ortiz.

With some decent matches in the Abu Dhabi Ortiz proved that he was not all wrestler as well and almost nearly submitted Lyoto Machida in his last fight.

7. Ronaldo Souza

Better known as Jacare- Souza is one of the worlds best BJJ compeitors in mma today. Having transitioned to mma Souza began his career fighting in the Jungle Fight organization ran by former Pride fighter Wallid Ismael. Jacare made a splash though when he transitioned to Japanese promotion Pride where he submitted all of his foes in spectacular fashion.

With wins over Jason Miller and Zelg Galesic- Souza is someone to  look out for and may someday take the number one spot.

6. B.J. Penn

Probably deserving a much higher rank on this list B.J. is a legend in the world of American BJJ- being the first American to win the Mundials black belt division. Penn has a good striking game and flexibility that is completely unreal. Penn who has dominated his opponents all his life without really ever training has beaten great fighters like Takanori Gomi and Matt Hughes. Taking competition in higher weight classes Penn may also be one of the craziest fighters on the planet as well.

5. Masakatzu Imanari

This Japanese fighter is one of the craftiest leg lock masters on the planet, having no real submission game besides the ability to break dance right into a leg lock. Although Imanari has failed to beat big league star Joachim Hansen and flamboyant Dokonojousuke Mishima, he has amassed a winning record despite his in-ability to box.

Having wins over Brazilian Jean Silva,Hiroyuki Abe and new WEC featherweight champ Mike Brown, Imanari proves that if you can have only one skill in mma make sure it is grappling.

4. Kazushi Sakuraba

This master submission technician has his background in professional wrestling, but evolved it to become one of the best combat grappling styles of today. Sakuraba was at one point the greatest fighter in the world and was constantly pioneering mma with his tricky fighting style.

Whether it be standing Kimuras, that broke Renzo Gracies arm, or a cartwheel guard pass Sakuraba was a genius and is very deserving of his nickname the IQ wrestler. Having beat guys like Royce Gracie, Quinton Rampage Jackson, Vitor Belfort, and many others it wasn't until his match with Wanderlei Silva when he was forced to retire his status as the worlds greatest.

3. Shinya Aoki

Aoki possesses one of the most techincal games today, with a mixture of judo and Brazillian Jiu-jitsu, Aoki posseses some of the best grappling highlight reels ever. Despite lacking an opposing striking game, and a lack of an intimidating physique, Aoki has shown that he deserves to be called one of the greatest lightweight fighters on the planet.

With standing twisting arm breaks, several finishes with a gogopalata, and flying armbars and triangle chokes some have dubbed him the master of flying locks. With wins of JZ Calvan-Aoki was the favorite to win the DREAM lightweight tournament but was later upset by alternate and eventual winner Joachim Hansen.

2. Volk Han

This Russian Sambo master had probably one of the best submission games ever in mma. Originally starting as a professional wrestler in Japan, Han later transitioned to mma where he fought in the now defunct Japanese RINGS promotion. Having a deadly leg lock game, Han who was a good Judoka had perfected and invented almost any leg lock variation a person could ever think off.

Still very influential today in the Japanese mma community Han was the Sambo teacher of Fedor Emelianenko. Having finally met his match in RINGS Han's only loss in his short career came to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira by a split decision.

1. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

One of the best heavyweight in the world Nogueira a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu blackbelt has shown that heavyweights can be just as slick on the ground as the lightweights. With career defining "How did he do that?" moments Nogueira has pioneered the sport by overcoming odds and inventing new submissions.

Nogueira was the inventor of the anaconda choke and possesses one of the best chins in the sport of mma second only to Mark Hunt. Nogueira whose striking defense is often times is lets get hit in the head as many times as it takes for me to get an armbar has worked for him throughout his entire career.

With an incredible win over Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic and Bob 'The Beast' Sapp that saw him being power bombed onto his head shows that with will power you can accomplish anything.