The Best Grapplers in the UFC Ranked for 2026

You ever watch a UFC fight and the striker looks amazing for 90 seconds, then suddenly they're face-down on the canvas with some wrestler on their back? That's not bad luck. That's grappling. And if you're betting UFC without knowing who actually runs shit on the ground, you're gonna lose money. Period.

Strikers get the Instagram highlights. Grapplers get the wins. They decide where fights happen, they control the pace, they win rounds just by holding position. Judges love that octagon control bullshit, which means wrestlers and jiu-jitsu guys cash tickets even in boring fights.

So who are the actual mat assassins right now? Let's break it down, no fluff, just who's making people tap and winning you money.

The Top 10 Grapplers Right Now

1. Islam Makhachev (Welterweight Champion)

The best grappler on planet Earth and it's not close. Makhachev just tied Anderson Silva's 16-fight win streak and became the first Russian two-division champ. His Combat Sambo pedigree makes him a submission threat from anywhere, he's finished Dustin Poirier, Charles Oliveira, and Renato Moicano with chokes. The betting angle? Back him on method of victory props for submissions, but he's so dominant he usually goes the distance against top guys. His 90.9% takedown defense means he decides where fights happen, not his opponents.

2. Alexandre Pantoja (Former Flyweight Champion)

Pantoja takes backs better than anyone in UFC history. Eleven submission wins, mostly rear-naked chokes. He lost his belt to injury but his technique hasn't declined one bit. When Pantoja gets to your back, the fight's basically over. Live betting him when he secures back control is free money since odds shift hard once he locks in those body triangles.

3. Khamzat Chimaev (Middleweight Champion)

Undefeated and terrifying. Chimaev landed 12 takedowns against Dricus du Plessis, got the first-ever submission of Robert Whittaker. His freestyle wrestling background creates relentless pressure that breaks fighters mentally and physically. The catch? He gasses in five-rounders. Bet him heavy in three-round fights, fade him at championship distance. That cardio issue cost him against Kamaru Usman and it'll show up again.

4. Arman Tsarukyan (Lightweight #1 Contender)

Explosive double-legs and chain wrestling that wears people down. His recent arm-triangle over Dan Hooker proved his submission game is catching up to his wrestling. Understanding wrestling chains helps you see why Tsarukyan's so effective. He's 29 and improving, which makes him dangerous live dog value when fights hit the mat.

5. Charles Oliveira (Lightweight #2)

Seventeen UFC submissions. All-time record. The man finishes from anywhere, any position, with any technique you can name. At 36, Oliveira transformed his body and added serious strength to his already elite jiu-jitsu. He's pure violence on the ground. Betting his prop bets for submission wins pays out more than it should because people still underestimate how dangerous he is off his back.

6. Tatsuro Taira (Flyweight #6)

Undefeated Japanese prospect who shoots double-legs then seamlessly switches to body lock throws. His transitions are so smooth that elite wrestlers can't figure out what's coming next. Problem? Cardio. He gassed against Brandon Royval and it showed. Bet him in early rounds, skip him in five-round fights.

7. Umar Nurmagomedov (Bantamweight #2)

No holes in his grappling game. Zero. He's got the Nurmagomedov name for a reason, trained in the same Dagestani system that produced Islam and Khabib. Lost a close one to Merab but still the most complete grappler at 135 pounds. His efficiency makes decision props solid value since he controls fights without always finishing.

8. Aljamain Sterling (Featherweight #5)

Division III All-American wrestler who specializes in taking backs and locking up rear-naked chokes. Eight submission wins prove he finishes what he starts. Moving up to 145 revitalized his grappling effectiveness. When Sterling gets back mount, start counting your winnings because that choke is coming.

9. Movsar Evloev (Featherweight #1)

Nineteen wins, zero losses, pure Greco-Roman wrestling dominance. He's landed 40 UFC takedowns and nobody can stop his mat returns once he shoots. The downside? Limited finishing ability. He controls fights, wins rounds, rarely puts people away. Over on round totals makes sense with Evloev fights since they're going to decisions.

10. Sean Brady (Welterweight #2)

BJJ black belt who beat Craig Jones in pure grappling competition. That's not UFC hype, that's legitimate credentials. When Brady gets top position, his control is suffocating. The weakness shows in his takedown entries against elite competition. He couldn't land shots on Belal Muhammad despite dominating once fights hit the mat.

Shurzy Tip: Grapplers with cardio issues (Chimaev, Taira) are round-specific gold. Bet them to win early rounds, fade them in later rounds or five-round fights.

Why Grapplers Win You Money

Control time equals scorecards. Judges score octagon control and significant strikes, but when a wrestler pins someone against the cage for three minutes, they're winning rounds even without damage. That's your edge. Analyzing grappling transitions gives you betting advantages most casual fans miss.

Here's how to capitalize:

• Method of victory props pay. When elite grapplers fight submission-vulnerable opponents, the odds on submission wins often carry value since most bettors hammer the moneyline.
• Live betting shifts hard. Once a wrestler secures a takedown in round one, their odds tighten significantly. If you studied live betting for wrestlers vs strikers, you already knew this.
• Decision props with control artists. Fighters like Evloev who dominate but don't finish create consistent decision betting value.
• Round betting exploits cardio. Grapplers who gas late (Chimaev) or strikers who start strong before wrestlers take over (many) create obvious round-specific opportunities.

Shurzy Tip: Different grappling styles create different betting angles. Wrestling base = control and decisions. BJJ base = submission props. Sambo = both.

The Dagestani Takeover Is Real

Notice how many Russians are on this list? That's not coincidence. The Dagestani training system produces complete grapplers who mix Combat Sambo, freestyle wrestling, and judo from childhood. Khabib proved the blueprint works. Islam perfected it. Umar's next in line.

These guys don't have weaknesses. They don't rely on one technique or position. They chain wrestling attempts until something works, they transition to submissions when you defend takedowns, they never stop pressuring. That's why betting against Dagestani fighters without a clear stylistic advantage is usually a losing proposition.

The system works because it's built for MMA, not sport grappling. They train to win fights, not tournaments. Big difference.

Spotting Grappling Mismatches

The easiest money in UFC betting comes from obvious style clashes. When an elite grappler fights a pure striker with weak takedown defense, the odds often don't reflect how lopsided the matchup really is. How styles clash matters more than individual talent most of the time.

Red flags for strikers in bad matchups:

• Low takedown defense percentage. Check takedown rate defense metrics before betting. Anything under 70% against an elite wrestler is asking for trouble.
• No BJJ background. If they can't threaten submissions off their back, they're just practice dummies once the fight hits the mat.
• Short camp or injury return. Wrestling defense deteriorates fast when training gets interrupted.

Shurzy Tip: When a hype train striker meets an unsexy wrestler, the public overvalues the striker every time. That's your edge.

Rising Grapplers to Watch

These prospects aren't top 10 yet but they're coming for those spots:

• Mansur Abdul-Malik (Middleweight) - 9-0-1, training at Xtreme Couture, absorbing technique fast
• Quillan Salkilld (Lightweight) - Ten-fight win streak, 2025 Newcomer of the Year
• Jacobe Smith (Welterweight) - 11-0 with submissions over legit competition
• Baisangur Susurkaev (Bantamweight) - Perfect 3-0 UFC record, impressive grappling credentials

Get familiar with these names now. Betting prospects before the public catches on is how you find +200 value that should be +110.

Women's Division Worth Knowing

Kayla Harrison brings two Olympic judo gold medals to bantamweight. Her throws and top control are unstoppable at 135 pounds. When she gets top position, it's over.

Mackenzie Dern holds the strawweight title with five UFC submissions, most in division history. Her dad's a legendary BJJ black belt, so this isn't manufactured hype. Her submission average of 1.19 per 15 minutes leads the division.

Tatiana Suarez has the best wrestling credentials in women's MMA period. Two-time World Championship bronze medalist, first wrestler ever to win National High School Wrestler of the Year twice. She just lost a title shot to Zhang Weili but her grappling is still elite.

Shurzy Tip: Women's MMA has fewer elite grapplers overall, so when you find one, the betting edge is bigger. Harrison and Dern create massive style mismatches against strikers.

Common Grappling Betting Mistakes

Stop doing these:

• Overvaluing submission artists in bad positions. Just because someone has a BJJ black belt doesn't mean they can submit elite wrestlers from bottom position. Oliveira is the exception, not the rule.
• Ignoring cardio in grappling-heavy fights. Wrestling burns energy faster than striking. Five-round fights expose cardio issues that three-rounders hide.
• Betting grapplers against bigger, stronger opponents. Size matters on the ground more than standing. Jailton Almeida destroys smaller heavyweights but struggled against Alexander Volkov's strength.
• Assuming wrestlers always win. Elite takedown defense exists. Check the stats before assuming a wrestler controls the fight.

Grapplers win fights. Know who controls the mat, know who finishes from bad positions, know who gasses when the pressure's on. That's how you stop guessing and start cashing. F*ck spreadsheets, just know who can wrestle.

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