Top 10 Grapplers of All time in MMA History

Just a quick question for the framework here. Does the clinch count as grappling?
 
JustOnce said:
So, we have had many athletes from different grappling background come into MMA and have varying levels of success. I tried listing top fighters in what I consider main grappling arts that's seen in MMA, and I figured I'd come up with the top 10 Grapplers period in MMA history.

The criteria that was used for each respective threads for different grappling arts was the degree of success in their original martial arts and also in MMA, how much weight you put into each being subjective, but for this one, instead of comparing successes in different martial arts, just focusing more on how they were able to apply grappling to the greatest success in MMA.

1. GSP
2. Khabib
3. Werdum
4. Jones
5. Maia
6. DJ
7. Fedor
8. Nog
9. Saku
10. Jacare ?

[For reference: Judo Top 10(https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/top-10-judo-fighters-of-all-time.4148627/)
Wrestling Top 60(https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/top-60-wrestlers-of-all-time-in-mma-history.4148829/)
BJJ Top 30(https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/top-30-bjj-fighters-of-all-time-in-mma-history.4148958/)
Sambo top 10(https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/top-10-sambo-fighters-of-all-time-in-mma-history.4149126/)]
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How did Maia make the list but Jake shields didn't?
Only man to ever sit on hendo's chest for 4 rounds and punch as comfortably as he wants.
He outgrappled Maia as well.
 
gono btw said:
Well, cheeky lil Disciple, was already answered in my original statement... See, ´keep tellin´you that you cant read, in English or... French...

Tell us, tho... When Pride´s American office scouted No Rush & offered him to Pride Japan, what was their reply?
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LOL if they really refused to get GSP then this is the worst business decision ever and no wonder why they got sold out. Why didn't they want GSP? Not asian enough? Tell me one reason why they wouldn't want the most exciting prospect in the sport at the time, a guy with unlimited potential. Only a moron like you would believe that PRIDE didn't want to sign GSP.
 
KillerIsBack V2 said:
How did Maia make the list but Jake shields didn't?
Only man to ever sit on hendo's chest for 4 rounds and punch as comfortably as he wants.
He outgrappled Maia as well.
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Got outgrappled by Fitch and Lombard. Couldnt place Jake over Fitch
 
ThunderStruck said:
LOL if they really refused to get GSP then this is the worst business decision ever and no wonder why they got sold out. Why didn't they want GSP? Not asian enough? Tell me one reason why they wouldn't want the most exciting prospect in the sport at the time, a guy with unlimited potential. Only a moron like you would believe that PRIDE didn't want to sign GSP.
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See, lil Disciple... you dont even know... If you ask your Sensei with the due hespekt, I will educate you.

By the way, while Rampage got 10K in his 1st Pride fight, No Rush was paid peanuts when he signed with them UFC, a few Gs...
 
laleggenda27 said:
Baby Jay was a world champion in BJJ and won UFC titles in 2 divisions by choking people out. He obviously can't be left off this list.
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Bj penn sucks from the bottom tho. Lack of consistency as well. I do think Prime Penn might beat Prime Khabib so not hating.
 
Jake Shields and Palhares should be over Fedor and Nog on that list. I would also consider Barnett over the latter two.
 
gono btw said:
See, lil Disciple... you dont even know... If you ask your Sensei with the due hespekt, I will educate you.

By the way, while Rampage got 10K in his 1st Pride fight, No Rush was paid peanuts when he signed with them UFC, a few Gs...
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Did Rampage give you a part of his pay? If not, why the hell would you care? And why are you deflecting this thread into fighter's pay?

I asked why would GSP's grappling sucks under pride and rings rules as you claimed. Waiting for an answer.

But you deflected the question twice already. Thats typical of you nerd every single times you lose an argument. 47-0.
 
TheBulge said:
Oh yes bud.
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No bud
Fitch outgrappled Shields so did Lombard
Got tapped by Paul
Paul Harris....dangerous but dont belong in top 10.

Arona hasnt fought in like 10 years? Hasnt fought in 11 years.
 
JustOnce said:
No bud
Fitch outgrappled Shields so did Lombard
Got tapped by Paul
Paul Harris....dangerous but dont belong in top 10.

Arona hasnt fought in like 10 years? Hasnt fought in 11 years.
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4 of those guys in your list have been retired, some for years as well so what is your point? You're making up silly rules as you go along.

Arona is easily one of the best grapplers MMA has ever seen and was extremely accomplished in grappling competition as well. Maia and Jacare even more so and you put those two guys @ number 5 and 10? LOL you don't know what you're talking about bud.
 
I guess my definition of Grappling is the unification of both wrestling and submission skills.

Under that definition, you have guys some of the greats that are more wrestlers, without much of a sub game and a sub wrestles without a well-rounded wrestling game.

Like GSP might be the best all-around grappler but Subs weren't strong.
Still one of the great grapplers but hard to set a value on it given there are few that are strong wrestlers and also strong sub guys as well. Might have to go with Jacre if thinking balanced wrestler and submissions.
 
TheBulge said:
4 of those guys in your list have been retired, some for years as well so what is your point? You're making up silly rules as you go along.

Arona is easily one of the best grapplers MMA has ever seen and was extremely accomplished in grappling competition as well. Maia and Jacare even more so and you put those two guys @ number 5 and 10? LOL you don't know what you're talking about bud.
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Not a single one of them has been retired in last 11 years bud

Arona has been good but don't belong in top 10 in my opinion.
 
Thing is this thread is about best grappler in MMA, regardless of credentials. I put Arona at 7th in top 30 BJJ guys, which in hindsight is likely too high in my opinion where we look at credentials too.

Arona is basically a wrestler with good top control. There has been many wrestlers since he retired, which was ELEVEN years ago, with an equal if not better takedown game, and comparable top control.

Has been inactive for 11 years
Don't sub nobody
Don't belong in top 10 listbud
 
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