Most Submissions in UFC History: Oliveira Leads With 17

Quick answer

As of October 21, 2026, Charles Oliveira owns the most submissions in UFC history with 17. Jim Miller follows with 14. Demian Maia and Gerald Meerschaert share third at 11. Oliveira is also the highest active fighter in this snapshot. These are UFC results, not full professional records.

Data snapshot: AgentMMA analysis of 8,950 UFC bouts, covering every fighter's UFC bouts from 1994-03-11 to 2026-10-17 (computed 2026-10-21).

Most submissions in UFC history

This ranking measures raw submission wins, not submission rate. The UFC wins and UFC fights columns show the career volume behind each total. The status column belongs to the computed snapshot; Meerschaert's later status note appears below.

How this list is counted

AgentMMA counts a bout when the stored UFC result names the fighter as the winner by submission. Technical submissions count too. Those occur when the referee stops a choke or joint attack without waiting for a tap.

Decisions, knockouts, disqualifications and draws don't add to this total. One UFC bout can add no more than one submission win to one fighter.

The scope is UFC bouts from March 11, 1994 through October 17, 2026. Wins in Pride, WEC, Strikeforce, Bellator and regional promotions don't count. Those fights can still appear in a fighter's professional record, which is a different number.

An overturned result follows its final status in the database. If a submission win becomes a no-contest, it no longer counts as a UFC submission win.

There is no minimum number of fights or wins in the underlying population. This page shows the top 25, ending with fighters on six submission wins. Ties remain in AgentMMA's supplied order and aren't broken by submission rate.

Other lists may use another start date or classify early events differently. The UFC's live record book agrees on Oliveira, Miller and Maia as the top three. It often credits Royce Gracie with 10 submissions, while this table gives him 7. AgentMMA's window starts in 1994, so it excludes his three submission wins at UFC 1 on November 12, 1993.

Notable names on the list

Charles Oliveira: 17 submission wins

Oliveira holds a clear UFC submission record at 17. The UFC's athlete profile and live record book report the same total. AgentMMA records 25 UFC wins across 37 fights, with 17 ending by submission.

He remains active in this snapshot. That matters because his record can still move, while several names near him can no longer add UFC results.

Jim Miller: 14 submission wins

Miller sits second with 14 submissions, 28 UFC wins and 47 UFC fights. His position combines finishing ability with a career longer than anyone else in this table.

He is active in AgentMMA's October 21 snapshot. He needs three more submission wins to draw level with Oliveira's current mark.

Demian Maia and Gerald Meerschaert: 11 each

Maia and Meerschaert share third place with 11 UFC submission wins. Maia reached that number across 33 UFC fights. Meerschaert did it across 27.

The supplied table marks Meerschaert as active. MMA Fighting reported that he announced his retirement after UFC Vegas 122 on October 10, 2026. That makes the status cell stale, but it doesn't change his 11 submission wins.

Islam Makhachev: 8 submission wins

Makhachev has eight submissions among 18 UFC wins in 19 fights. He shares that tier with Brendan Allen, Frank Mir and Gunnar Nelson.

The UFC currently lists Makhachev as an active welterweight titleholder. His place here shows why an active champion can matter to an all-time list even when the leader remains far ahead.

Royce Gracie: 7 inside this study window

Gracie's seven is a date-range result, not a rewrite of UFC 1. He submitted three opponents at that 1993 tournament.

Add those excluded fights and the familiar all-time figure becomes 10. This page doesn't add them because its database window begins on March 11, 1994.

Related AgentMMA pages

• Most common UFC submissions

How solid is this data?

AgentMMA searched 8,950 UFC bouts and counted the recorded winning method for every fighter. The population runs from March 11, 1994 through October 17, 2026. That makes the result repeatable within the stated window.

The scope is UFC only. A fighter may have many more submission wins on a professional record because fights from other promotions remain excluded.

Results follow UFC Stats as stored in AgentMMA's database. An overturned result counts as a no-contest, so it contributes no submission win. Early-event coverage and roster-status updates are the main reasons another page may show a different number or label.

This maintained record page changes when a new UFC result alters the order, creates a tie or moves someone into the displayed group. It can also change when a stored result receives a correction.

FAQ

Who has the most submissions in UFC history?

Charles Oliveira leads AgentMMA's UFC table with 17 submission wins as of October 21, 2026. Jim Miller ranks second with 14.

What is the UFC submission record?

The record in AgentMMA's study window is 17 UFC submission wins by Charles Oliveira. The UFC's live record book reports the same leading total.

Who has the second-most submission wins in UFC history?

Jim Miller is second with 14 UFC submission wins. He has 28 wins across 47 UFC fights in the computed table.

Which active UFC fighter has the most submission wins?

Charles Oliveira is the highest active fighter with 17. Islam Makhachev has eight, while several other active fighters sit between them.

How many UFC submission wins does Demian Maia have?

AgentMMA counts 11 UFC submission wins for Demian Maia. He shares third place with Gerald Meerschaert.

Why does this table list Royce Gracie with 7 submissions?

The study starts on March 11, 1994. It excludes Gracie's three UFC 1 submissions from November 12, 1993, which explains why broader lists often show 10.