Gilbert Burns Names the Two Best Jiu-Jitsu Fighters in MMA Today
Gilbert Burns has two clear standouts for having the best 'Jiu-Jitsu' in the UFC. The Brazilian himself is a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, and he's trained with both these fighters.
When a three-time IBJJF world champion speaks about high-level grappling, the entire combat sports community leans in to listen. Former UFC welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns knows a thing or two about top-tier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, having accumulated nine submission victories throughout his professional MMA career.
However, when assessing the elite practitioners under the UFC banner today, "Durinho" splits his endorsement into two distinct categories: MMA-adapted grappling and pure technique.
Distinguishing Pure BJJ From MMA Grappling
Evaluating ground games in modern mixed martial arts requires looking at how a fighter adjusts their technique once punches, elbow strikes, and cage walls enter the equation. For pure MMA application, Burns places former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira at the pinnacle.
"Do Bronx" holds the prestigious UFC record for the most submission finishes in the promotion's history with 16, comfortably dismantling high-profile opponents with rear-naked chokes, guillotines, and armbars.
However, when stripped of ground-and-pound and cage tactics, Burns highlights featherweight contender Diego Lopes as the standard-bearer for pure technique. Lopes, an accomplished black belt who refined his craft under Andre Galvao at Atos, has earned widespread acclaim among gym insiders for his seamless positional transitions.
"Pure jiu-jitsu—that's a different question," Burns explained. "Because jiu-jitsu in the UFC, I would say Charles is up there. But pure jiu-jitsu, I think Diego Lopes has great pure jiu-jitsu. That's what I heard from a lot of guys who trained with him."
The praise from Burns underscores a crucial distinction inside the Octagon. While fighters like Oliveira excel at setting submission traps amidst incoming strikes and chaos, Lopes brings a fundamental, traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu structure that impresses elite grapplers across the globe. As both Brazilian fighters continue to make waves in their respective divisions, Burns' nod solidifies their standing as the premier mat technicians in combat sports today.
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