In the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA), the age-old question of which grappling art is best—wrestling or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)—has been debated for years. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu once dominated the early years of MMA, partly due to Royce Gracie’s victories in the UFC’s initial tournaments. Gracie’s BJJ skills and his ability to submit people made him one of the most dominant figures in the sport, something that brought out the significance of ground control and submissions in MMA.
But as MMA developed and the sport became more balanced, other fighting styles emerged as viable means of controlling the octagon. One of these was wrestling, which has since become one of the most successful grappling foundations in contemporary MMA. Wrestlers have been able to neutralize BJJ practitioners with better control and positioning, compelling many fighters to adjust to the more dynamic demands of MMA.
So, which grappling art is better suited for contemporary MMA? Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of wrestling and BJJ within the context of contemporary MMA.
The Evolution of MMA and the Changing Grappling Landscape
When Royce Gracie and the Gracie family demonstrated the power of BJJ in the early UFC tournaments, it was perceived as an unbeatable martial art. The absence of known defenses against submissions and the ability to fight without standardized rules made BJJ a force to be reckoned with. The sport has evolved, though, over the years. Standardized MMA rules now regulate the sport, and tactics have been developed to consider other styles besides BJJ.
With the application of the Unified Rules, including the 10-point system of scoring rounds based on effective striking, grappling, control, and aggression, the MMA landscape has changed. These reforms have made wrestlers more dominant since they can score with ease through takedowns and ground control, which are greatly rewarded in the new scoring system. Conversely, BJJ practitioners find it difficult to score points for submission attempts when they are on the bottom, thus making it more challenging to win rounds based on submission attempts.
The Pros and Cons of Wrestling in Modern MMA
Wrestling has proven to be one of the best foundations for MMA success, with many champions and top-ranked competitors hailing from a wrestling background. Let us consider the main positives and negatives of integrating wrestling into contemporary MMA.
Advantages of Wrestling in MMA:
1. Effective Point Scoring and Round Control:
Perhaps the greatest advantage of wrestling in MMA is that it can dominate rounds with takedowns and ground control. Wrestlers can rack up points by taking their opponents down, controlling them, and not getting hit. Even if a wrestler’s stand-up striking is not great, his ability to dominate the fight on the ground enables him to win rounds. A takedown in the final stages of a round can frequently prove sufficient to claim the round from the judges’ perspective.
2. Dictating the Fight:
Wrestlers also excel at controlling the pace of the fight. Their ability to dictate whether the fight stays standing or goes to the ground is a key advantage. Wrestlers with solid takedown defense can keep the fight standing, while those with strong offensive wrestling can take opponents down at will. This ability to choose where the fight happens provides wrestlers with a strategic advantage.
3. Takedown Defense:
Wrestlers with good defense against takedowns can spoil the grappling game of BJJ practitioners or other grapplers so that it would be difficult for their opponents to implement their game plan.
Disadvantages of Wrestling in MMA:
1. Limited Finishing Ability:
Whereas wrestlers can dominate fighters, they prefer ground and pound over submissions. This is a weakness if the fight comes into the late rounds because wrestlers will find themselves without means to finish fights if they lack great striking. BJJ athletes possess more submissions on their menu of choices and can finish a fight in an instant if they surprise their opponent.
2. Energy Intensive:
Yes, wrestling involves a lot of physical effort, particularly in repeated attempts at takedowns or defending takedowns. Wrestlers have to be in top cardiovascular shape so they do not end up gasping mid-fight. The high-energy expenditure of wrestling can be a major liability if the fighter lacks the endurance to keep up the intensity for the entire length of the fight.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of BJJ in Contemporary MMA
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu remains one of the most respected martial arts in MMA because of its focus on submissions, position control, and the capability to engage in combat from almost any position. Yet, in contemporary MMA, BJJ has struggled as opponents have become better at neutralizing submissions and countering BJJ attacks.
Advantages of BJJ in MMA:
1. Skill to Finish Fights Quickly:
One of the main strengths of BJJ is that it can finish fights with submissions from nearly any position. A good BJJ practitioner can take advantage of errors and secure submissions from top position, bottom position, or even in the clinch. This makes BJJ a very effective tool when it comes to finishing fights on the ground.
2. Complementary Style for Strikers:
Top strikers in MMA do not like to spend too much time on the ground. BJJ is a handy ancillary skill for these types of fighters as it teaches them submission defense, sweeps, reversals, and how to get back to their feet when taken down. BJJ-based strikers are often able to survive long enough on the ground to stand up and keep striking.
3. Good Grappling Foundation:
Although BJJ fighters occasionally have a tough time with well-trained wrestlers, their grappling foundation is generally strong enough to overpower other fighters from different disciplines, including conventional boxers or Muay Thai practitioners. Most modern BJJ gyms also place a greater emphasis on developing takedown defense and instructing students in how to defend against takedowns from wrestlers.
Shortcomings of BJJ in MMA:
1. Ineffective Takedowns Against Wrestlers:
One of the primary disadvantages of BJJ in MMA is how difficult it is for a lot of BJJ practitioners to perform takedowns against trained wrestlers. Wrestlers’ takedown defense is superior, and this can render BJJ experts ineffective in taking their fights to the ground, which greatly reduces the efficiency of their grappling art. This was clearly seen during the bout between Anatoly Malykhin and Reinier de Ridder when de Ridder’s failure to get takedowns ended him up losing.
The Ideal Solution for Contemporary MMA
Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu have been extremely useful in contemporary MMA. Wrestling gives fighters the power to dictate where the bout is contested and accumulate points via takedowns and top control. BJJ, conversely, presents better submission ability and can put an end to a fight at any moment if done right.
In modern MMA, the greatest competitors are those who cross-train and combine aspects of both. Wrestlers with good submission defense and BJJ practitioners with good takedown defense are the most well-rounded fighters. For newcomers, the best strategy would be to begin with the grappling foundation that is most compatible with them and add aspects of the other style to round out their skill set.
Ultimately, the greatest MMA fighters are those who can seamlessly switch between both styles, employing wrestling to dictate the pace of the fight and BJJ to submit or turn their opponents when the time is right. Both styles possess their strengths, and the secret to success is being able to mix and match them successfully.
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