A great MMA grappler is about more than just wrestling or submission skills. It means being able to dictate where the fight takes place, secure and defend takedowns, control positions, win scrambles, threaten submissions, and consistently use grappling to dominate opponents. These rankings are based on how effectively each fighter puts those skills together inside the cage. #ufc #mma #charlesoliveira #islammakhachev #khamzatchimaev Not much justification needed here People forget man… Barcelona is nasty on the ground I know Sabatini’s last performance was very controversial but he has proven that he is an elite grappler who is very capable of dictating where the fight takes place I like Arman, but RAF is not the UFC. This decision was heavily based on activity and Charles had been very active over the last couple of years and especially in recent performances has shown the evolution of his wrestling game to compliment his already elite BJJ As for Gamrot, guy fights everyone and has proven he is top tier on the mats No explanation needed here I think Bo hasn’t necessarily fought the best guys yet which is why he’s at 3 but his performances along with his credentials prove he is an elite grappler This one was hard because there’s not really any real grapplers at 205, and although I may be getting ahead of myself ranking Rakhman Yakhyaev this highly I think he really is an elite grappler and will pose a lot of issues for a lot of guys at 205 I think it can go either way. I think Aspinall has shown he overall has the most complete game on the ground but Hokit is right there with him. As for Blaydes he has been consistently showing that he is one of the best grapplers at heavyweight for years. Hope you guys enjoyed! Let me know in the comments who I missed and who you think are the best grapplers from each division.
A community-driven grappling breakdown has been making the rounds in MMA circles, ranking fighters across multiple divisions by how effectively they blend wrestling, submission threats, positional control, and cage grappling into a complete ground game.
The list spans the full UFC roster, from lightweight to heavyweight, and is framed around a specific definition of elite grappling — not just who has the best credentials on paper, but who consistently uses the ground game to dictate terms inside the cage. The author draws a distinction between raw wrestling or jiu-jitsu pedigree and the ability to impose a game plan, win scrambles, and threaten finishes from dominant positions.
At lightweight, Charles Oliveira earns recognition largely on the back of recent activity and a notable evolution in his wrestling to complement what is already considered elite Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Islam Makhachev draws little debate. Khamzat Chimaev features prominently, as does Arman Tsarukyan's teammate and training partner in the conversation around that division, though the author draws a line between UFC-level credentials and performances in other promotions.
Marcin Gamrot gets a nod for his willingness to fight anyone and his proven mat ability. At heavyweight, Tom Aspinall is credited with the most complete ground game in the division, while Curtis Blaydes is acknowledged as one of the most consistently effective grapplers the heavyweight class has produced over several years.
Why it matters
- Rankings based on effectiveness rather than credentials alone offer a different lens for evaluating divisional grappling hierarchies
- Fighters like Rakhman Yakhyaev at light heavyweight are flagged as rising threats despite limited UFC sample sizes
- The list invites debate about how grappling translates across competition levels and how activity factors into assessments of elite fighters
