10 Best Guards In The UFC
10 Best Guards in the UFC
Mixed martial arts relies on fighters combining more than one aspect of the combat world into one style that compliments their specific abilities. Many stand-up fighters choose to either sharpen their wrestling defense to completely avoid the ground game, whereas other fighters choose to compliment it with a good guard. Although wrestling has indeed seen its dominance in MMA, jiu-jitsu has been shown that with the correct use, it can trump any style of fighting.
Jiu-jitsu has taught many fighters to be dangerous in positions that they can often find themselves in. When a wrestler lands on top of their opponent, they can often ride out the victory by keeping position and working minimally not to be stood up by the referee. There are three simple aims to accomplish when you're the fighter on the bottom; sweep, submit or stand up. A dangerous guard will enable of the first two aims, and in MMA, a good guard can win a fighter many fights and fans alike.
Since the early days of the UFC, jiu-jitsu has eluded many fighters, resulting in lacklustre fights where top position is maintained for 15 minutes. Fighters with a good bottom game, who hunt for submissions are rarely ever in a boring fight, and consequently usually have a good finishing rate. In this list, the fighters are famous for the amount of Fight Night awards they have and the little number of 'boring' fights they have, showing how dynamic a good guard is as a skill set.
10. Donald Cerrone
The dangerous lightweight kickboxer has complimented his stand-up game with a hyperactive guard, throwing his legs up as soon as the fight hits the mat. His triangle over Chris Horodecki is one of the tightest triangles in WEC history.
9. Anthony Pettis
The newly crowned lightweight champion won the title from Benson Henderson via first-round armbar, tapping out the former champ from guard. Anthony Pettis has very quick hips and relentless submission attacks off his back which have really only been stifled by Clay Guida.
8. Chan Sung-Jung
Chan Sung Jung is an odd fighter. Standing up, he is not the most technically gifted fighter, but seems to be effective none the less. When his opponents get overwhelmed by his pace and the fight hits the mat, Chan Sung-Jung has one of the best submission games in the business. Watch how he chains armbars and triangles on talented grappler Dustin Poirier.
7. Hatsu Hioki
Hatsu Hioki is one of the few fighters that can give up many takedowns, stay in his guard and win the fight in the eyes of the fans. Clay Guida has a habit of holding down opponents and staying out of trouble, but Hatsu Hioki gave him all he could handle in their fight, almost submitting the Carpenter several times from his guard.
6. Carlos Condit
Carlos Condit is another striker who has developed his guard in order to compensate for his poor wrestling defense. Many fighters can't stand with Condit, and many fighters also can't grapple with him. Talented wrestlers such as Georges St. Pierre and Johny Hendricks have managed to stay on top of Condit, but not without fighting off numerous submission attempts from the Natural Born Killer.
5. Charles Oliveira
Charles Oliveira is as dangerous off his back as they come. He fought Frankie Edgar from his guard for a long time in their fight, and has been quoted by Joe Rogan to have the guard that completely stops lay and pray fighters.
4. Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey, the best female fighter in the world, could not have been more impressive in her second fight with Miesha Tate. From her guard, Ronda pinned Tate with an attempted triangle choke, trapping her in position and landing dangerous elbows continuously. Flying armbars and incredible control of her opponents have landed her in this list.
3. Nate Diaz
Who else has pulled off a triangle while flexing and swearing at the fans?
2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Minotauro Nogueira has made a living from tapping men out while being on his back. Recently falling on hard times and losing by submission himself, there is still only one other heavyweight who is willing to sit in Minotauro's guard.
1. Fabricio Werdum
Fabricio Werdum has some of the best jiu-jitsu in the sport, winning the gold medal at the ADCC multiple times, winning the world championships and even submitting the invincible Fedor Emelianenko.
10 Best Guards in the UFC
Mixed martial arts relies on fighters combining more than one aspect of the combat world into one style that compliments their specific abilities. Many stand-up fighters choose to either sharpen their wrestling defense to completely avoid the ground game, whereas other fighters choose to compliment it with a good guard. Although wrestling has indeed seen its dominance in MMA, jiu-jitsu has been shown that with the correct use, it can trump any style of fighting.
Jiu-jitsu has taught many fighters to be dangerous in positions that they can often find themselves in. When a wrestler lands on top of their opponent, they can often ride out the victory by keeping position and working minimally not to be stood up by the referee. There are three simple aims to accomplish when you're the fighter on the bottom; sweep, submit or stand up. A dangerous guard will enable of the first two aims, and in MMA, a good guard can win a fighter many fights and fans alike.
Since the early days of the UFC, jiu-jitsu has eluded many fighters, resulting in lacklustre fights where top position is maintained for 15 minutes. Fighters with a good bottom game, who hunt for submissions are rarely ever in a boring fight, and consequently usually have a good finishing rate. In this list, the fighters are famous for the amount of Fight Night awards they have and the little number of 'boring' fights they have, showing how dynamic a good guard is as a skill set.
10. Donald Cerrone
The dangerous lightweight kickboxer has complimented his stand-up game with a hyperactive guard, throwing his legs up as soon as the fight hits the mat. His triangle over Chris Horodecki is one of the tightest triangles in WEC history.
9. Anthony Pettis
The newly crowned lightweight champion won the title from Benson Henderson via first-round armbar, tapping out the former champ from guard. Anthony Pettis has very quick hips and relentless submission attacks off his back which have really only been stifled by Clay Guida.
8. Chan Sung-Jung
Chan Sung Jung is an odd fighter. Standing up, he is not the most technically gifted fighter, but seems to be effective none the less. When his opponents get overwhelmed by his pace and the fight hits the mat, Chan Sung-Jung has one of the best submission games in the business. Watch how he chains armbars and triangles on talented grappler Dustin Poirier.
7. Hatsu Hioki
Hatsu Hioki is one of the few fighters that can give up many takedowns, stay in his guard and win the fight in the eyes of the fans. Clay Guida has a habit of holding down opponents and staying out of trouble, but Hatsu Hioki gave him all he could handle in their fight, almost submitting the Carpenter several times from his guard.
6. Carlos Condit
Carlos Condit is another striker who has developed his guard in order to compensate for his poor wrestling defense. Many fighters can't stand with Condit, and many fighters also can't grapple with him. Talented wrestlers such as Georges St. Pierre and Johny Hendricks have managed to stay on top of Condit, but not without fighting off numerous submission attempts from the Natural Born Killer.
5. Charles Oliveira
Charles Oliveira is as dangerous off his back as they come. He fought Frankie Edgar from his guard for a long time in their fight, and has been quoted by Joe Rogan to have the guard that completely stops lay and pray fighters.
4. Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey, the best female fighter in the world, could not have been more impressive in her second fight with Miesha Tate. From her guard, Ronda pinned Tate with an attempted triangle choke, trapping her in position and landing dangerous elbows continuously. Flying armbars and incredible control of her opponents have landed her in this list.
3. Nate Diaz
Who else has pulled off a triangle while flexing and swearing at the fans?
2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Minotauro Nogueira has made a living from tapping men out while being on his back. Recently falling on hard times and losing by submission himself, there is still only one other heavyweight who is willing to sit in Minotauro's guard.
1. Fabricio Werdum
Fabricio Werdum has some of the best jiu-jitsu in the sport, winning the gold medal at the ADCC multiple times, winning the world championships and even submitting the invincible Fedor Emelianenko.
