The Best Takedown Defenders in the UFC Ranked for 2026

Takedown defense is the ultimate style neutralizer. Doesn't matter how good your wrestling is if your opponent just says no and keeps the fight standing. Elite takedown defense forces wrestlers to abandon their gameplans, makes them strike where they're uncomfortable, and dictates where the fight happens. The best takedown defenders turn elite wrestlers into frustrated strikers throwing desperate shots that go nowhere.

The Top 10 Takedown Defenders Right Now

1. Kamaru Usman (Welterweight #5)

Holds the UFC record at 97.3% takedown defense. His 21-4 record includes defending 36 of 37 takedown attempts. NCAA Division II National Champion (2010) with 44-1 record. The controversial asterisk? Colby Covington took him down in their second fight but Usman grabbed the fence to stand up. UFC didn't count it, though Usman admitted it. Even if counted, his defense remains historically elite. At 38 with four straight losses, those came from striking vulnerabilities (Leon Edwards head kick knockout, decision loss), not wrestling failures. His takedown defense legacy is untouchable. When checking takedown defense metrics, Usman set the standard.

2. Khamzat Chimaev (Middleweight #2)

The only ranked male UFC fighter never taken down in professional MMA. Perfect 20-0 takedown record across eight UFC fights. Defended all attempts from Gilbert Burns (BJJ world champ), took down Kamaru Usman (first to ever do it cleanly), submitted Kevin Holland. His Freestyle wrestling plus Combat Sambo training creates defensive perfection. The catch? Only eight UFC fights, finishes early, hasn't faced extended wrestling pressure across five-round wars. Cardio concerns after the Burns fight raise questions whether his defense holds when exhausted. At 31 challenging for the middleweight title, his perfect record faces its ultimate test.

3. Jose Aldo (Featherweight/Bantamweight Veteran)

Legendary 91.6% UFC takedown defense, 91.7% UFC/WEC combined. The greatness? Volume resistance. Faced 120+ elite takedown attempts across 31 fights, only 10 succeeded. Stuffed Chad Mendes 14 of 15 times across two fights, Frankie Edgar 20 of 22 attempts across two fights, Kenny Florian 18 of 19 attempts, Urijah Faber perfect 9 of 9. Against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 307 (October 2024), the 38-year-old Aldo stuffed all 16 attempts from the UFC's all-time takedown leader. 

That's defending the guy who broke Georges St-Pierre's takedown record. His balance and hip control let him defend while hopping on one leg. At 39 competing at bantamweight, his defensive wrestling remains elite. Understanding wrestling chain defense shows Aldo's technique.

4. Jon Jones (Heavyweight Champion)

Holds 95% takedown defense (second all-time), only two successful takedowns across 24 UFC fights. His 28-1 record features systematic defense forcing elite wrestlers (Daniel Cormier, Rashad Evans, Alexander Gustafsson) to abandon wrestling entirely. Against Cormier (Olympic wrestler), Jones defended all attempts in their first fight. His 84-inch reach (longest in UFC history) creates distance opponents can't bridge. 

Frame control (posting on heads, controlling wrists) makes securing underhooks nearly impossible. At 38 as heavyweight champ, his defense faces potential challenges against Tom Aspinall's speed and wrestling if that superfight happens.

5. Belal Muhammad (Former Welterweight Champion)

Holds 90-93.3% takedown defense (third-highest in welterweight history). His 24-5 record features systematic defensive wrestling against elite grapplers. Title victory over Leon Edwards showcased excellence: stuffed 9 of 11 takedown attempts while maintaining striking output. Defended against Demian Maia (legendary BJJ specialist), preventing Maia from implementing his gameplan. Recent losses to Jack Della Maddalena and Sean Brady (losing title) suggest elite strikers with improved wrestling can crack his system.

6. BJ Penn (Retired Legend)

The Prodigy possessed legendary 84.2% takedown defense with supernatural balance. His ability to hop on one leg while defending became UFC folklore. Against Diego Sanchez, defended all 27 takedown attempts. His 66.7% takedown accuracy (best in lightweight history) combined with elite defense made him the division's most complete grappler. At smaller size, Penn's defensive wrestling against larger welterweights (GSP, Matt Hughes) validated technical superiority over physical advantages.

7. Tyron Woodley (Retired Welterweight Champion)

The Chosen One held approximately 95%+ takedown defense, stuffed 41 of 42 attempts in UFC. Against Demian Maia, defended all 21 attempts (Maia's most attempts in any UFC fight). Against Jake Shields, defended all 18 attempts. His NCAA Division I wrestling (University of Missouri, Big 12 champion) provided foundation. Critics note he faced limited volume because opponents avoided wrestling him, suggesting reputation deterred attempts rather than high-volume testing.

8. Julio Arce (Featherweight)

Holds 96.2% takedown defense (first all-time), only one takedown allowed across 10 UFC fights. However, his competition level doesn't match top-tier wrestlers. At 34 and unranked, his defensive statistics are impressive but context-dependent. Increased elite competition could reduce this percentage.

9. Eddie Wineland (Retired Bantamweight)

Holds 93.3% takedown defense (tied for third all-time), only three takedowns allowed across 16 UFC fights. His 24-16-1 record included former WEC Bantamweight Championship, but inconsistent performances limit his legacy despite elite defensive statistics.

10. Jimmie Rivera (Retired Bantamweight)

Possesses 92.6% takedown defense, only two takedowns allowed across 11 UFC fights. Early 5-0 UFC start included wins over Pedro Munhoz, Urijah Faber, Thomas Almeida before knockout loss to Marlon Moraes derailed his career. Retired to BKFC after 2021.

Shurzy Tip: Check total attempts faced, not just defense percentage. Defending 10 of 10 attempts (100%) against low-level competition is less impressive than defending 88 of 97 (91%) against elite wrestlers.

Why Takedown Defense Wins You Money

Elite takedown defense forces wrestlers into uncomfortable striking exchanges where they usually lose. When strikers with 90%+ defense face wrestlers whose entire gameplan requires takedowns, odds favor the wrestler because of credentials. But smart bettors recognize when the striker has proven they can stuff elite wrestling repeatedly. Understanding how to analyze wrestling matchups shows defense percentages predict outcomes.

Here's how to capitalize:

• Bet elite takedown defenders against one-dimensional wrestlers. When wrestlers can't get takedowns, they're forced to strike where they're outmatched.
• Check volume tested, not just percentage. Defending 90% of 10 attempts is easier than 90% of 100 attempts against elite competition.
• Live betting when wrestlers can't get takedowns. Once the wrestler realizes their shots aren't working, panic sets in and odds shift toward the defender.
• Championship distance favors defense. Five rounds of failed takedown attempts gas wrestlers faster than maintaining defensive positioning.

Shurzy Tip: Wrestlers who rely entirely on takedowns (no striking game) are terrible bets against 90%+ takedown defenders. They have no Plan B when wrestling fails.

Volume Resistance Tells The Real Story

Jose Aldo faced 120 elite takedown attempts across 31 UFC/WEC fights. That's more than most fighters face in entire careers. Kamaru Usman only faced 37 attempts because opponents stopped trying after a few failed shots. Context matters.

High Volume Tested (Proves Sustainability):

• Jose Aldo: 120 attempts (UFC/WEC)
• Jon Jones: 40 attempts
• Eddie Wineland: 42 attempts

These fighters proved their defense holds under extended pressure from elite wrestlers who kept shooting despite failing.

Low Volume Tested (Intimidation Factor):

• Kamaru Usman: 37 attempts
• Tyron Woodley: 42 attempts
• Khamzat Chimaev: Unknown total (but fights end early)

Low volume suggests opponents gave up trying or the fighter finishes before extensive wrestling exchanges develop. Still elite, but different context.

For betting, high-volume tested defense against elite competition (Aldo, Jones) is more reliable than low-volume percentages that might not hold under sustained pressure. When evaluating strength of schedule analysis, check opponent quality.

Shurzy Tip: If a wrestler couldn't take down Fighter A but took down Fighter B multiple times, and both have similar defense percentages, Fighter A has better defense. Quality of opponents matters more than raw percentages.

The Three Defensive Systems

Different fighters defend takedowns different ways, and understanding which works against which wrestling style creates betting edges.

Wrestling-Based Defense (Usman, Chimaev, Woodley):

• NCAA/Freestyle wrestling background
• Hip positioning preventing clean entries
• Balance denying leverage advantages
• Counterwrestling (sprawls, crossfaces, guillotines)

Best against: Other wrestlers with predictable setups Struggles against: Creative entries and chain wrestling

Balance & Flexibility (Aldo, Penn):

• Supernatural balance allowing one-legged defense
• Hip flexibility creating scrambling opportunities
• Core strength maintaining posture under pressure
• Limb independence (hopping while defending)

Best against: Power wrestlers relying on strength Struggles against: Technical wrestlers with multiple attempts

Distance & Frame Control (Jones, Chimaev):

• Long reach creating distance opponents can't bridge
• Frame fighting (posting on heads, controlling wrists)
• Footwork angles making entries difficult
• Preemptive positioning before shots materialize

Best against: Shorter wrestlers who can't reach Struggles against: Similar-sized technical wrestlers

When checking style matchups that create value, defensive system versus wrestling style determines outcomes.

Common Takedown Defense Betting Mistakes

Stop doing these:

• Overvaluing defense percentage without checking volume. Defending 10 of 10 against low-level competition doesn't prove anything against elite wrestlers.
• Ignoring opponent quality. Some fighters have high percentages because they faced weak wrestlers. Check competition level.
• Betting strikers with untested defense. If they haven't faced elite wrestlers yet, their percentage means nothing against championship-level wrestling.
• Assuming age doesn't matter. Takedown defense requires balance and reflexes that decline with age. Check recent fights, not career stats.
• Forgetting cardio affects defense. Elite defense in rounds one and two doesn't mean it holds in rounds four and five when exhausted.

2026 Critical Storylines

Can Chimaev Maintain Perfection? His perfect 100% record faces championship-level testing. Potential fights against Dricus du Plessis, Sean Strickland, or moving to welterweight against elite wrestlers tests whether defensive perfection holds across 25-minute wars. Understanding championship fight dynamics shows five rounds test everything.

Aldo's Defensive Longevity At 39 with 91.6% defense across 120+ attempts, how much longer can his legendary wrestling hold? His performance against Merab (perfect 16-for-16 defense) suggests technique remains elite despite age. But one bad fight could end the streak.

Usman's Comeback Viability Four straight losses stem from striking vulnerabilities, not wrestling failures. At 38, can Usman leverage his 97.3% takedown defense in a resurgence, or has age diminished the athleticism supporting his technical mastery? His next fight reveals if physical decline limits defensive advantages.

Jones vs Aspinall Jones's 95% takedown defense faces perhaps his most athletic opponent. Aspinall's speed, wrestling, and youth (11-year age gap) test whether Jones's reach and defensive mastery overcome physical decline. This matchup is intelligence and technique versus athleticism and youth.

Takedown defense dictates where fights happen. Elite defenders force wrestlers to abandon gameplans, make them strike where they're uncomfortable, and keep fights standing where defensive specialists usually have advantages. Know who has legitimate volume-tested defense versus inflated percentages against weak competition, know which defensive system works against which wrestling style, know when age destroys the balance and reflexes required for elite defense. 

That's how you stop gambling and start cashing. Too lazy to check defense percentages? Perfect, we already did it. F*ck spreadsheets, just know who keeps it standing.

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