Best at takedowns USA and Brazilian fighter without a formal wrestling background?

[wolffanghameha]

We all know GSP, so no Canadians.
Aldo is the GOAT for takedown defence without a wrestling background (maybe GOAT TDD in general).

Who were the best Americans and Brazilians at securing takedowns without a wrestling background?

 

[AndrewGolota48]

Jailton Almeida

 

[AndrewGolota48]

Also honorable mention to Tibau for outwrestling Khabib without a wrestling background.

 

[MetaIIica]

khabib

 

[JustBleed69]

Without a takedown based background USA Donald Cerrone actually had some solid reactionary based takedowns, not sure if he's the best, but just off the top of my head.

For Brazil maybe Maia or Burns at 170?

 

[Megatronlee]

2008 ass question.

 

[don't ask]

Maia for Brazil

 

[nostradumbass]

Also honorable mention to Tibau for outwrestling Khabib without a wrestling background.

What did you think TIbau's background was in? He was a state champ wrestler in Brazil.

 

[wolffanghameha]

2008 ass question.

Not really. A lot of MMA between 2008 and 2025. We already have a thousand variations of the "who's the GOAT?" threads in that time.

One I didn't see come up is Beneil Dariush.

 

[Megatronlee]

Not really. A lot of MMA between 2008 and 2025. We already have a thousand variations of the "who's the GOAT?" threads in that time.

One I didn't see come up is Beneil Dariush.

Super really. Khabib outwrestled American wrestlers and khalil knocked out goku

 

[Human Bass]

The first answer is the right one. Jailton has the best double along with Chimaev.

 

[mkess101]

You'd probably need to quantify what counts as a "background". Dude wrestles a couple years in HS, does that count?

 

[hbombbisping]

What did you think TIbau's background was in? He was a state champ wrestler in Brazil.

He had statistically better tdd% than GSP as well. He was like Aldo only with no offense.

 

[AndrewGolota48]

What did you think TIbau's background was in? He was a state champ wrestler in Brazil.

Is this even real or some bizarre myth that Khabib fans made up to cope with the reality they witnessed?

 

[Rallarsvingare]

Is this even real or some bizarre myth that Khabib fans made up to cope with the reality they witnessed?

What did you think TIbau's background was in? He was a state champ wrestler in Brazil.

He started with BJJ and MMA not wrestling. He won wrestling competitions with skills he got from other styles but wrestling.

 

[nostradumbass]

Is this even real or some bizarre myth that Khabib fans made up to cope with the reality they witnessed?

I asked you and question and now you're trying to cope after embarrassing yourself. What did you think his background was in? Did you think the guy with 92% TDD, took down almost everyone he fought multiple times, 15 sub wins, 20 decision wins with like 1 knockdown in 50 fights came from a striking background?

 

[AndrewGolota48]

I asked you and question and now you're trying to cope after embarrassing yourself. What did you think his background was in? Did you think the guy with 92% TDD, took down almost everyone he fought multiple times, 15 sub wins, 20 decision wins with like 1 knockdown in 50 fights came from a striking background?

I don't know I just can't find anything on it other than a wiki with no citation. He could come from BJJ and just be a natural wrestler like Jacare or Jailton, or Aldo or Barao defensively, for all I know.
No one said anything about a striking background Hyperbole Sanders.

 

[theincognito]

Sean Brady

Maia

 

[MMACro]

He was like Aldo only with no offense.

Thats not true
Guy has i think the 3rd most takedowns in UFC history just behind GSP and now Merab
He was a legit wrestler