Best grapplers

[Stephan Pepin]

Who do you think are the best grapplers in the world?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4ASonA9t6c&feature=search

[NelsonLucca]

Since you already put Eddie...
Jacare, Roger, Marcelo

[Stephan Pepin]

My favs are Jacare, Roger, Marcelo, Pablo, Estima, Drysdale, Werdum, Xande Ribeiro, Leo vieirra and Rickson(back in his prime) . Eddies the best to learn from cause hes taking everybodys shit at putting it all together.

[Jon Watkins]

Competitors: Roger Gracie, Marcelo Garcia, Cobrinha, Jacare, Josh Barnett, Leo Vieirra

Teachers: Erik Paulson, Billy Robinson, Eddie Bravo, Saulo Ribiero

[Wyatt Zornes]

I love watching that video I can watch that it over and over again!!!!! EDDIE IS MY HERO!!!!!

[Mike Nall]

Right now in the competition scene alone I would have to say: In no particular order, except that Roger Gracie is absolutely number one.

Roger Gracie
Braulio Estima
Romulo Barral
Marcelo Garcia
Cobrinha
Rafael Mendes
Xande Ribeiro
Ricardo Abreu
Andre Galvao
What the hell, I'm gonna put an American on here... Robert Drysdale/Jeff Glover/Ryan Hall/Bill Cooper

If you noticed the absence of Jacare, it is because he is doing MMA now. Leo Vieira just missed my list and was replaced by Ricardo Abreu.

[Kevin Sparks]

I don't see how you can put Eddie as one of the best grapplers. Eddie's story is pretty inspiring looking at the fact that he got started so late in BJJ & how far he made it but when it comes to saying that Eddie is one of the best grappler's, that's very unproven. I think it's fine to claim that he is one of the best instructors but to say that he is one of the best grappler's is completely unproven.

I do agree that Eddie has improved his game & style dramatically & who knows what would happen in a rematch with Royler Gracie. But also, who knows what would happen in a rematch with Leo Vieira. Those are the questions. Eddie didn't win his weight class at the 2003 ADCC. Eddie was getting destroyed on points by Royler & Eddie caught him at the very end, similar to Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen. Also Eddie went on to face Leo Vieira & he got destroyed in points.

Eddie went on to never compete again from what I understand & if he did compete again, nothing big happened. Like I said, the main thing that inspires me about Eddie Bravo is how far he made it after getting started in BJJ so late in his life compated to his competition. He is arguably one of the best Instructors out there currently. He is also a pioneer when it comes to BJJ just due to his stance on certain things such as training no-gi & his importance of the rubber guard.

But as a grappler, Eddie is unproven & if you want to go off of what was proven, he is far from the best. He upset an 1 of the all time greats after getting destroyed. He moved onto the next round & got destroyed again but this time, didn't get the last second submission. It's an insult to the true greatest grappler's out there & those who put Eddie up there with the best grappler's really don't pay attention to BJJ competitions & No-Gi competitions.

I'm not the most Grappling knowledgeable person on this site by any means but everyone that covers the grappling community knows this. I'm not hating on Eddie but so many new fans believe that he is something that he is not & don't even realize it. I hope I don't sound like I'm hating, I'm really not. I have a lot of respect for Eddie but not because he is 1 of the best grappler's because that was never proven & if anything, it was proven wrong. But like I said, it's due to how far he made it after getting started so late in BJJ compated to his competitors & I also respect Eddie because of his contributions to the sport & his open mindedness to BJJ.

Thanks for reading what started from my opinion & turned into an article. Keep up the hard work Eddie & 10th Planet.

[Louis Ho]

JJ Machado.

[Mike Nall]

Yeah Leo is sick. Eddie knows first hand. Eddie is still the man!!! would love to see them rematch however unlikely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybR6ngsWC3I&feature=search

Yes Leo is most definitely the man! His battles with Shaolin and Rani Yahya are legendary!

He had a very good run at the 09 ADCC and I don't know why he didn't choose to fight for 3rd place. I know Rani has a dislocated/broken elbow from Cobrinha's Kimura. Maybe Leo was injured also? The Glover/Hall fight was awesome though! Cobrinha and Rafael Mendes were just too much for everyone last year. This is Rafa's time, and Leo fought a good fight, but there was no stopping the 20 year old. It seemed like Rafa had an Anaconda, back-take, or leglock at every turn. In fact, on a small side note, Rafael Mendes' Brilliant 5-time use of the Anaconda choke at the ADCC has made me re-evaluate the choke. Once I learned the Darce, I figured it was much more versatile both in setups and finishing options and I stopped doing the Anaconda. I still believe that, but Rafa can get the Anaconda and finish it from some odd angles and positions. It's now a pet project for me in 2010. Back to the point...

To me, Leo Vieira maybe has the best wrestling for submission grappling. His takedowns and takedown defense are ferocious. He is relentless with his wrestling. He is also one of the top 3, if not the top guard passer in the grappling world. I look forward to his book on guard passes. He cuts through the guards of black belts like they were nothing. He's also very athletic and has amazing Guillotines, RNCs, and arm triangles.

Watch how he never pulls guard and just fights and fights for the dominant position against Shaolin at 5:16. Leo is in the black shorts:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO97A6xXlTM

ALSO:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YjdqAm1iXE

[bobby rivers]

You can grapple in mma. This shouldn't dq you. Jacare should be on the list.

[Mike Nall]

If it makes you feel any better I think Jacare is the best BJJ fighter in MMA today.

I was talking BJJ/grappling strictly. I just feel it's unfair to the guys that are putting in work grappling at the elite level multiple times a year if I add a legend to the list that hasn't really been active in BJJ or sub-wrestling in 5 years. If I had to include MMA fighters on there, there is no way I could keep the list to 10 or even 15. If I had a grappling for MMA list it would be, once again in no particular order:

BJ Penn
Jacare
Demian Maia
Andre Galvao
Roger Gracie
Robert Drysdale
George Sotiropoulos
Shinya Aoki
Palharres
Frank Mir/Big Nogueira (can't leave out ole' Big Nog. Maybe he shouldn't be on the current list, but still.)

Werdum has to get an honorable mention. He should even be on the list.

[Brandon Mccaghren]

MMA: Jacare, Maia, BJ Penn. And I have really been enjoying watching George Sot lately, too.

BJJ Comp: Ryan Hall and Jeff Glover, no question.

Teachers: Rener Gracie, Carlos Machado.

I purposefully didn't list any 10th Planet guys. I figure I am biased in that regard. :)

[Stephan Pepin]

Just cause I want Eddie to rematch him doesnt mean I dont know he has mad skills though. He is one of the best grapplers in the world. I think Eddie is way better now then when they first faced. Eddie still might lose but I think he would do alot better.

Props to Eddie for not tapping in the arm triangle of leo.

[Jesse Bell]

What about Denny Prokopos!!!

[Stephan Pepin]

Dennys awesome. I never realized Eddie wanted to rematch Vieirra at one point.


"Are there any other guys at your weight class that you would want to fight at ADCC?
"I'd like to fight Leo Viera, again, with a different mindset: fresher. The last time I fought him... I am not making any excuses; that guy is a bad motherfucker…that guy is one of the best guys in the world… He beat me fair and square… But I had just beat Royler Gracie. That's like winning the Super Bowl and having to go out and play another football game. I wasn't in the right mindset….
This time, if we meet again, I will have a different mindset. I am going to go out there and attack him"

[Will Thaxton]

shout out to Javier Vazquez.

[jkdtodd]

Eddie bravo, bj penn, machado, erik paulson, josh barnett.......
If you train with any of these guys your we be killer on the ground
oh yeah and my sifu larry hartsell jkd grappling master

[Mike Nall]

MMA: Jacare, Maia, BJ Penn. And I have really been enjoying watching George Sot lately, too.

BJJ Comp: Ryan Hall and Jeff Glover, no question.

Teachers: Rener Gracie, Carlos Machado.

I purposefully didn't list any 10th Planet guys. I figure I am biased in that regard. :)

Just curious, but why did you leave so many fantastic world champions off of your BJJ comp list?

[Mike Nall]

shout out to Javier Vazquez.

Javi in my very humble opinion is the most underrated sub grappler alive.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oEMpt0fnik


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZJU2gmQYCY

[DesiCuellar]

My favorite currents and legends are:

JJ Machado
Andre Galvao
Jacare
Roberto "cyborg" Abreu
Eddie Bravo
Renzo Gracie

[Matt "Gumby" Glach]

Marcelo Garcia and Aoki ...the list is endless but those 2 stand out as my personal 1 and 2

[Brandon Mccaghren]

Just curious, but why did you leave so many fantastic world champions off of your BJJ comp list?

those are just my favorite guys to watch. if we are just looking for who is the best grappler alive right now, I don't think there would be much disputing that it is either Roger Gracie or perhaps Marcelo Garcia.

[Jay Chow]

those are just my favorite guys to watch. if we are just looking for who is the best grappler alive right now, I don't think there would be much disputing that it is either Roger Gracie or perhaps Marcelo Garcia.

Exactly, Roger and Marcelo are definitely the best, but Braulio Estima is up there and Victor Estima is pretty awesome too

[markusneo]

I would love to see Eddie's comment on this. :)

[tiki]

Bas Rutten, Jake Shields, Mayhem Miller

http://www.donclovis.com/images/gallery/BAS%20RUTTEN%20KING%20OF%20PANCRASE%202X.jpg

[Tim Elliott]

I don't see how you can put Eddie as one of the best grapplers. Eddie's story is pretty inspiring looking at the fact that he got started so late in BJJ & how far he made it but when it comes to saying that Eddie is one of the best grappler's, that's very unproven. I think it's fine to claim that he is one of the best instructors but to say that he is one of the best grappler's is completely unproven.

I do agree that Eddie has improved his game & style dramatically & who knows what would happen in a rematch with Royler Gracie. But also, who knows what would happen in a rematch with Leo Vieira. Those are the questions. Eddie didn't win his weight class at the 2003 ADCC. Eddie was getting destroyed on points by Royler & Eddie caught him at the very end, similar to Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen. Also Eddie went on to face Leo Vieira & he got destroyed in points.

Eddie went on to never compete again from what I understand & if he did compete again, nothing big happened. Like I said, the main thing that inspires me about Eddie Bravo is how far he made it after getting started in BJJ so late in his life compated to his competition. He is arguably one of the best Instructors out there currently. He is also a pioneer when it comes to BJJ just due to his stance on certain things such as training no-gi & his importance of the rubber guard.

But as a grappler, Eddie is unproven & if you want to go off of what was proven, he is far from the best. He upset an 1 of the all time greats after getting destroyed. He moved onto the next round & got destroyed again but this time, didn't get the last second submission. It's an insult to the true greatest grappler's out there & those who put Eddie up there with the best grappler's really don't pay attention to BJJ competitions & No-Gi competitions.

I'm not the most Grappling knowledgeable person on this site by any means but everyone that covers the grappling community knows this. I'm not hating on Eddie but so many new fans believe that he is something that he is not & don't even realize it. I hope I don't sound like I'm hating, I'm really not. I have a lot of respect for Eddie but not because he is 1 of the best grappler's because that was never proven & if anything, it was proven wrong. But like I said, it's due to how far he made it after getting started so late in BJJ compated to his competitors & I also respect Eddie because of his contributions to the sport & his open mindedness to BJJ.

Thanks for reading what started from my opinion & turned into an article. Keep up the hard work Eddie & 10th Planet.

I find this a bit hard to swallow. Maybe because of my inexperience with grappling competition. I dont really know the scoring well, but I know a little bit about fighting. Iv watched that video a lot of times. I watched it before I had even heard of 10th Planet and I have watched it since I became familiar with Eddies system.

You often hear people say it was a lucky submission when he was really getting smashed. I think its ridiculous. Maybe in terms of points, but we are not talking about who gets the most points, we are talking about the best grappler. Eddie clearly had the initiative a lot of the time.

[Josh Ritchie]

I don't see how you can put Eddie as one of the best grapplers. Eddie's story is pretty inspiring looking at the fact that he got started so late in BJJ & how far he made it but when it comes to saying that Eddie is one of the best grappler's, that's very unproven. I think it's fine to claim that he is one of the best instructors but to say that he is one of the best grappler's is completely unproven.

I do agree that Eddie has improved his game & style dramatically & who knows what would happen in a rematch with Royler Gracie. But also, who knows what would happen in a rematch with Leo Vieira. Those are the questions. Eddie didn't win his weight class at the 2003 ADCC. Eddie was getting destroyed on points by Royler & Eddie caught him at the very end, similar to Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen. Also Eddie went on to face Leo Vieira & he got destroyed in points.

Eddie went on to never compete again from what I understand & if he did compete again, nothing big happened. Like I said, the main thing that inspires me about Eddie Bravo is how far he made it after getting started in BJJ so late in his life compated to his competition. He is arguably one of the best Instructors out there currently. He is also a pioneer when it comes to BJJ just due to his stance on certain things such as training no-gi & his importance of the rubber guard.

But as a grappler, Eddie is unproven & if you want to go off of what was proven, he is far from the best. He upset an 1 of the all time greats after getting destroyed. He moved onto the next round & got destroyed again but this time, didn't get the last second submission. It's an insult to the true greatest grappler's out there & those who put Eddie up there with the best grappler's really don't pay attention to BJJ competitions & No-Gi competitions.

I'm not the most Grappling knowledgeable person on this site by any means but everyone that covers the grappling community knows this. I'm not hating on Eddie but so many new fans believe that he is something that he is not & don't even realize it. I hope I don't sound like I'm hating, I'm really not. I have a lot of respect for Eddie but not because he is 1 of the best grappler's because that was never proven & if anything, it was proven wrong. But like I said, it's due to how far he made it after getting started so late in BJJ compated to his competitors & I also respect Eddie because of his contributions to the sport & his open mindedness to BJJ.

Thanks for reading what started from my opinion & turned into an article. Keep up the hard work Eddie & 10th Planet.

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/1668/eddieandryoler.jpg

[Gaara]

Marcelo Garcia and Aoki ...the list is endless but those 2 stand out as my personal 1 and 2

Agreed. I think Marcelo Garcia is just in a world of his own at the moment and i always have love for Shinya

[Josh Smith]

Let's see... Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior, Curt Angle, & of course the Iron Sheik...


P.S. Also Paul Walker (that scene in 2 Fast 2 Furious when Tyreese took a swing at him)

[Enzo]

Marcelo Garcia for me. I just watched the videos of him sparring with Ryan Hall (who is also awesome) and MG made it look so easy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssi3RHTiYGU

[Josh Smith]

Marcelo is good, but he is no Andre The Giant...

[Brandon Palmer]

For my money, in competition and recent competition Saulo & Xande Ribeiro are up there.

Its hard to deny Roger Gracie's domination...and to win nearly EVERYTHING by sub, everytime.

Pablo Popovich is also super tough, a genetic freak, and he recently defeated Marcello.

Marcello is just the most fluid of them all in my opinion, is a small guy, and makes it all look easy.

Leo Viera should always be mentioned.

Although they're not beating any of the above mentioned folks anytime soon, I love Jeff Glover & Bill Cooper's style and they're the most entertaining to watch to me.

And finally, superheavy-wise...i don't see anyone giving Barnett too much trouble. He really is one of the best grapplers out there, and if you've ever rolled with him, it a rather miserable experience. He's DEF that guy you dread rolling with cause one way or another, its gonna hurt.

[Josh Smith]

Oh don't forget Steven Seagal either!!! He did Guillotine the fuck out of some guy in one of his movies!!! It's hard to remember which one cuz all his fight scenes look the same to me...

[Aab]

Camel Joe

[Will Thaxton]

something to remember......Eddie was a brown competeing against very experienced black belts......

[Jon Watkins]

After watching his DVD's I think Karl Gotch's protege Fujiwara should be on ranked up there among the greatest.

[Tommy Capello]

Eddie Bravo
Dean Lister
Denny Prokopos
Marc Laimon
Marcelo Garcia
Claudio Calasans
Ricardo Abreu


Just to name a few

[Jared Gammel]

Cyborg is a beast right now. I'm so impressed with him every time I watch him compete. That knee bar that Rolles had him in was scary though, shit. Technically, I think Marcelo and Ryan Hall and some of the smaller guys are amazing, but idk if there would be anything they could do against Cyborg.

[Daniel Elizondo]

Cyborg is impressive but I still see Marcelo finishing him his Jits is just on another level