The level of BJJ in the UFC....(seatbelt grip)

[David Rosado]

(EDIT: the title should be: the QUALITY of BJJ in the UFC but I can't change it now.)


Am I the only one who feels more frustrated than impressed with the quality of BJJ in the UFC?

It's like, every UFC that I watch, I always find horrible basic mistakes that Coach Herzog gets out of his students before they even reach blue belt. So why are 10th planet blues more technically sound than friggin pro fighters?


For example:

Yves Edwards had the back...uses double unders instead of seat belt grip.

Volkmann. Had back control a number of times. Uses doubel unders instead of seat belt grip. Because of this, in the third round he gets mounted.

Now, I'm not BJJ genius. I just pay close attention to what I learn from coaches, MTS, and what all the top dogs are saying and proving. And seat belt grip has been like the commonly accepted proper way to control the back. Seat belt is more important than hooks! I'm a white belt and I know this! Why the crap are professional fighters seemingly unaware of this. And don't give me that crap about "Oh you forget things in the heat of the moment." That might be true, but you also go off instinct and muscle memory in the heat of the moment. That said, I'm lead to believe that they don't work seatbelt because if they did, it would be instinctive. But no. They go double unders.

Pardon my rant, but I love BJJ. BJJ is honestly in the top 5 things for things I love most in life. So, when the art that practically gave birth to this damned sport seems to get neglected as if it's no longer important, I get a bit upset.

I wonder. Do their BJJ coaches cringe as well? Or are they happy because they're stuck in the stone ages and still teach macarena style RNC's? GTFOH man. Bring back good BJJ to the UFC.

I hope Maia chokes Fitch tonight.

[Jonrivello]

Dustin kimura showed some sweet 10pjj tonight, it was beautiful

[Jeremy Gates]

I agree, I often see many mistakes in the UFC and in mma in general. I was watching belletor last night and the guy took his back and crossed his feet!! He ended up getting the choke but the other guy did triangle his legs and tried the foot lock. I mean not crossing your feet when having hooks is white belt jiu Jitsu. Why are top level mma fighters making mistakes like that?

[Josh Passini]

It is hopefully changing, but yes it blows.

[Cameron Carr]

Maia showed them all what a high level grappler can do in mma. Domination

[David Rosado]

Maia showed them all what a high level grappler can do in mma. Domination

Yes sirrrrr!!! Seatbelt, then hooks. Wish he would've been dirtier with the choke and just gone neck crank. But a full domination of Fitch is also rewarding to watch.

[DavidHamp]

With out knowing each guys history i would say that it could be from having a strong wrestler base i know many wrestlers that when they have they back theres double unders to flaten out or colar and a navy ride. You always go back your base over what you been learning recently.

[Isaac Atley]

i cringe a lot but thank god joe rogan is there. did anyone see when he was commentating on what bobby green should do and bobby heard him and did it? i swear bjj in mma would skyrocket if the coaches could listen to joes advice while the guys are fighting.

kimura is awesome aswell. that was some sick moves.

[Eric Olson]

With respect to Volkmann (and wrestlers in general) I've trained with him in his gym. It's wall to wall wrestlers. The coaches are wrestlers the training partners are wrestlers. There's no elite level BJJ guys in there showing dominate back control. It's all wrestlers fighting for top game. The double under hooks on the back comes from what David (above) alluded to and the fact that their used to using the waist grip for takedown/suplex/body lock throws. They don't care if the guy turns into them cause in wrestling he's turning into a pin and in MMA he's turning into getting ground and pounded. They just want to be on top, holding the back and rolling to their side or back despite their control is a NO-NO and against everything they have known for years. The downside is as you said, occasionally that turns into getting mounted.