The grappling in the UFC is at an all-time LOW

[Power Slap Noob]

A decade or so ago, the top grapplers were insanely accomplished amateur wrestlers, BJJ artists, or Judo practitioners.

Now the top grappler at LHW is a Polish striker with 1.5 rounds of cardio.

 

[swizztony]

Just in shit divisions like lhw and hw, guys like gane and pereira wouldn’t have sniffed the top ten years ago. On the contrary 125-155 is the best it’s ever been by far in terms of all around skill

 

[Qwerty1]

If it's not at elevation I don't think Jan gasses like that lol. That was rough.

 

[Vergilius]

Well, we have Oliveira and Makachev fighting for the title in a minute, so maybe not...

 

[swizztony]

Well, we have Olivera and Makachev fighting for the title in a minute, so maybe not...

LW is the best it’s ever been all around, hw and lhw are the worst they’ve ever been

 

[Fatback96]

I blame Dana White Contender Series. He literally didn’t sign a guy who won the fight because he shot for a takedown.

 

[Clover87]

Seems to me a big part of it is how the rules/scoring system/promotional preference basically disincentivizes grappling.

 

[ExitLUPin]

This has been obvious for anyone with a brain for a while.

But its mainly MW, LHW and HW. Other divisions have strong grappling.

 

[Dickie Greenleaf]

Dana White and the UFC have done a good job of turning the sport into ULTIMATE KICKBOXING and confusing their dumb fanbase that you don't need a ground game in 2023.

 

[b00tysweat]

Dana White and the UFC have done a good job of turning the sport into ULTIMATE KICKBOXING and confusing their dumb fanbase that you don't need a ground game in 2023.

last night's main event was kickboxing?

lol wtf

 

[Speakerbox]

I don't personally even consider anything over welterweight real mma. That's stupid mma slop for goofy lummoxes.

170 and under is good though.

 

[AmonTobin]

UFC grapplers are looking as good as ever.

 

[Sweater of AV]

I wonder why...

They have no interest in signing the actual best mixed martial artists in the world. Dana White's Stand and Bang Contender Series has produced much of the top shelf grappling talent you see in the Ultimate Circus today. Uncle Goof himself could probably be top 10 right now.

 

[FloydMayweatherMMA]

I don't personally even consider anything over welterweight real mma. That's stupid mma slop for goofy lummoxes.

170 and under is good though.

An unranked HW would smash your favourite 170lb fighter.

 

[RockyLockridge]

A decade or so ago, the top grapplers were insanely accomplished amateur wrestlers, BJJ artists, or Judo practitioners.

Now the top grappler at LHW is a Polish striker with 1.5 rounds of cardio.

who said jan is the top grappler?

 

[blaseblase]

A decade or so ago, the top grapplers were insanely accomplished amateur wrestlers, BJJ artists, or Judo practitioners.

Now the top grappler at LHW is a Polish striker with 1.5 rounds of cardio.

Ankalaev is a Sambo world champion

 

[Hellowhosthat]

It doesn't seem to translate quite as well these days. Multiple time world BJJ champ Buchecha lost to fucking Reug Reug on Friday.

 

[RockyLockridge]

LW is the best it’s ever been all around, hw and lhw are the worst they’ve ever been

LHW yes, But HW is FAR from the worst it's ever been

 

[Lee_]

What is happening now is a talent pool issue. Chronic low pay won't bring in talent that will be willing to work hard enough to be well rounded.

ROFL at LW being the best it's ever been. There are 2 good fighters, the rest are not well rounded or don't have great skills. Dustin and Justin are basically number 3 and 4, and any good grappler would tool them on the ground, and already have.

LHW actually now is worse than HW. Pav, Aspinal, Jones Stipe, Blaydes, Almeida are better than the pathetic state of LHW where there are no grapplers in sight.

 

[CalmLlama]

Lightweight and welterweight have pretty good wrestlers.

welterweight: usman ncaa division 2, Colby black belt in bjj, Belal purple belt in bjj, khamzat purple belt in bjj, burns 3rd degree black belt in bjj, shavkat master of sport in combat sambo and mma, Sean Brady black belt in bjj, Luque black belt in bjj and black belt in Luta livre, Holland black belt in bjj, Ian Garry black belt in judo.


Lightweight: Islam international master of sport in combat sambo, Oliveira 3rd degree bjj black belt, Poirier black belt in bjj, Gaethje ncaa division 1, Dariush black belt in bjj, Chandler ncaa division 1, gamrot black belt in bjj, Tsarukyan master of sport in mma and master of sport in freestyle wrestling, rda 4th degree black belt in bjj, Dawson black belt in bjj, Moicano black belt in bjj, Ferreira 3rd degree black belt in bjj