QUINTET, a grappling promotion founded by UFC Hall of Famer Kazushi Sakuraba, has taken the combat sports world by storm. The unique winner-stays-on format coupled with the team grappling aspect has made QUINTET an incredibly exciting tournament.
To this point, QUINTET has featured teams centered around individual martial arts disciplines (like the Judo Dream Team), jiu jitsu gyms (like Team 10th Planet), and more.
At QUINTET 3, UFC legend Urijah Faber‘s Team Alpha Male won big. The team featured several grapplers with MMA experience, and is, of course, an MMA gym in and of itself.
In this article, we’ll explore a new hypothetical team criterium: MMA promotions. Keep in mind, this is wholly and totally fantasy. We wish it was true, though!
QUINTET Rules
Before examining the different teams and the different grapplers on the teams, it is important to note the rules for QUINTET.
– No-Gi Matches, rashguard is required
– 10 minute sub-only
– If the weight difference between challengers is over 15 kg, the match will be 5 minutes only
– No heel hooks allowed (boo)
– Limited time allowed in closed guard
– Each team has 5 members
– The total weight of the team will not exceed 420 kilograms (926lbs) – (via BJJ Heroes)
For clarification, the QUINTET rules now entail an eight minute match, with a four minute match in reduced time scenarios.
Because of the arduous weight cuts that MMA fighters undergo and the weight rules (that a team cannot weigh more than 926 total pounds and the over 20 kg match time reduction), some fighters will be considered five to ten pounds above their current weight class’ limit.
Keep in mind, weight restrictions did play a role in selecting competitors for each of the teams.
Fighters currently suspended by a governing body (such as USADA) will not be considered for this hypothetical.
For simplicities sake, the fighter order (the order in which the grapplers take the mats), which is extremely important, is the order in which the fighters are listed below.
Team UFC
For the UFC, there’s simply more world-class grapplers to choose from than we know what to do with. There is a slew of IBJJF, ADCC, and Olympic competitors in the UFC, all of whom would be perfect for QUINTET.
As such, it was incredibly difficult to put this team together. But, it was done.
- Brian “T-City” Ortega (155 pounds)
- Black belt under Rener Gracie
- 7 submission wins in MMA (14-0)
- Davi “The Tasmanian Devil” Ramos (160 pounds)
- ADCC champion
- ACB JJ champion
- CBJJ Brazilian National No-Gi champion
- 6 submission wins in MMA (8-2)
- Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (190 pounds)
- ADCC champion
- 3x IBJJF World champion
- Lone submission loss to Roger Gracie (in BJJ)
- 14 submission wins in MMA (25-6, 1 NC)
- Alexei “The Boa Constrictor” Oleinik (235 pounds)
- World Combat Sambo champion
- 2x Russian National Combat Sambo Champion
- Eurasian Combat Sambo Champion
- Grappler’s Quest No-Gi Superweight (210 lbs) Tournament winner
- First and only fighter to win by Ezekiel choke in the UFC (twice!)
- 45 submission wins in MMA (57-11-1)
- Demian Maia (175 pounds)
- ADCC champion
- 3x CBJJO World Cup champion
- BJJ wins over Jacaré, Romulo Barral, Rafael Lovato Jr., etc.
- 12 submission wins in MMA (25-9)
- Team Total Weight = 915 pounds
Team Bellator
Bellator MMA has quietly been putting together a talented stable of world-class prospects, many of whom are beginning to break out in a big way. Many of those prospects come from NCAA DI wrestling programs and the competitive jiu jitsu scene.
Those prospects join some of the more experienced Bellator fighters to make up this super team.
- Michael “Iron” Chandler (160 pounds)
- University of Missouri Wrestling walk-on
- 4x NCAA qualifier
- 100-40 career wrestling record in college
- 2009 NCAA DI All-American
- 3x U. of Missouri team captain
- 2009 Ed Lampitt Coaches Award winner
- 2006 Hap Whitney Coaches Award winner
- 2006 Hap Whitney Most Improved Wrestler Award winner
- 2x BIG 12 Conference runner-up
- 7 submission wins in MMA (18-4)
- Dillon “El Jefe” Danis (170 pounds)
- 2x IBJJF Pan American No-Gi champion
- ADCC competitor
- Polaris 4 Superfight winner (Jackson Sousa)
- SUG 3 Superfight winner (AJ Agazarm)
- 1 Submission win in MMA (1-0)
- Rafael Lovato Jr. (185 pounds)
- 2007 IBJJF World champion
- 2010 IBJJF World No-Gi champion
- 3x IBJJF World Masters champion
- 2x CBJJ Brazilian National champion
- 6 submission wins in MMA (8-0)
- Chael “The American Gangster Sonnen (230 pounds)
- Oregon state championship runner-up (HS wrestling)
- University of Oregon Wrestling team member
- 1998 NCAA D-1 All-American
- 2x PAC-10 Conference runner-up
- 2000 Greco-Roman World University Championships silver medalist
- 2x Dave Schultz Memorial International Greco-Roman winner
- Brown belt under Fabiano Scherner
- 2x Metamoris competitor
- 2017 ADCC Superfight winner (Leo Viera)
- 5 submission wins in MMA (31-16)
- Neiman Gracie (170 pounds)
- Black belt under Renzo Gracie
- 2008 Pan American Gi and No-Gi champion (purple belt)
- 2013 World No-Gi bronze medalist
- 7 submission wins in MMA (8-0)
- Team Total Weight: 915 pounds
Team ONE Championship
As one of Asia’s premier MMA promotions, ONE Championship has established themselves as a major player in the world of mixed martial arts. One of the organization’s primary objectives has been to add fighters elite in various disciplines, such as world-class boxers, Thai fighters, and grapplers.
Those grapplers are set to make up the ONE Championship QUINTET team.
- Marat “Cobra” Gafurov (150 pounds)
- FILA World Pankration champion
- Russian ADCC Grappling champion
- Trained in BJJ and Wushu Sanda.
- Proclivity for rear-naked choke finishes
- 12 submission wins in MMA (16-2)
- Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon (160 pounds)
- IBJJF Pan American No-Gi champion
- 4x EBI champion (155 lbs, 2x 170 lbs, 205 lbs)
- Danaher Death Squad team member (under John Danaher)
- Polaris, Fight to Win Pro, Metamoris, ADCC, and FIVE Grappling competitor
- Black belt under Tom DeBlass; Team Renzo Gracie
- 1 submission win in MMA (2-0)
-
Roger Gracie (190 pounds)
- 2005 ADCC champion + ADCC Absolute champion (submitted all eight opponents, a feat unmatched before or since)
- 10x IBJJF World champion (second all-time behind Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida)
- 5x IBJJF World Absolute silver medalist
- Never submitted in either BJJ or MMA
- 82% career submission rate in jiu jitsu competition wins
- Considered arguably the greatest grappler of all time
- 6 submissions in MMA (8-2)
- Ben “Funky” Askren (180 pounds)
- 2x Wisconsin state champion (HS wrestling)
- University of Missouri Wrestling team member
- 2x NCAA DI champion
- Single-season NCAA DI pin record holder
- Undefeated junior season (45-0)
- 2x Dan Hodge Trophy Collegiate Wrestler of the Year winner
- 3x BIG 12 Conference champion
- 4x NCAA DI All-American
- USA Senior Freestyle National champion
- USA Senior Freestyle Olympic Team Trials winner
- 2008 Olympian
- 2009 World Championships winner
- Assistant Wrestling coach at Arizona State University
- Undefeated in MMA; champion in both Bellator and ONE
- 5 submission wins (18-0, 1 NC)
- Shinya Aoki (155 pounds)
- DEEP X Superfight champion
- Budo Challenge champion
- Shooto Grappling Champion
- ADCC Japan Trial Champion
- Renowned for flying submissions and his rubber guard
- 26 submission wins in MMA (42-8, 1 NC)
- Team Total Weight = 835 pounds
Team RIZIN
RIZIN FF, the heir to PRIDE FC,
- Daron “The Detroit Superstar” Cruickshank (160 pounds)
- NJCAA national finalist
- 2x NCAA Division III national qualifier (Olivet College)
- 3 submission wins in MMA (22-10, 1 NC)
- Hideo “Little Volk Han” Tokoro (140 pounds)
- Shoot wrestling background
- QUINTET tournament and super-fight veteran
- Teammates with Sakuraba at RIZIN team grappling (2016)
- Breakneck pace
- Submission oriented
- 20 submission wins in MMA (34-30-2)
- Kron Gracie (150 pounds)
- Black belt under his father, Rickson Gracie
- Earned black belt at 19 years old
- ADCC Champion
- IBJJF World Championships silver medalist
- IBJJF European champion
- Holds submission wins over Shinya Aoki, Garry Tonon, Leandro Lo, etc.
- 4 submission wins in MMA (4-0)
- Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipović (245 pounds)
- Renowned takedown defense; sprawl (Bas Rutten coined him “The King of Sprawl“)
- 4th in the UFC’s LHW division for career takedown defense (78%)
- Trained with/under Fabricio Werdum
- UFC “Submission of the Night” winner
- Has only been submitted by two men: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Alexei Oleinik
- 5 submission wins in MMA (37-11-2, 1 NC)
- Satoru Kitaoka (160 pounds)
- Shoot wrestling background
- Renowned catch-wrestler
- Black belt in BJJ with and teammate of Shinya Aoki under Sensei Yuki Nakai
- Black belt in judo
- 20 submission wins in MMA (41-16-9)
- Team Total Weight = 855 pounds
Stats and Notes
Of the four teams, Team UFC and Team Bellator are the heaviest, each weighing in at 915 total pounds. Team ONE is the lightest, weighing 835 total pounds. Team RIZIN rounds out the field at 855 total pounds.
This QUINTET would feature five (!) ADCC champions with Team UFC leading the pack with three, and there are three Gracie family members: Kron, Neiman, and Roger.
Bracket and Opening Round Matchups
Using the help on a randomized bracket generator, the following hypothetical tournament was established:
1 Team UFC vs. 4 Team ONE
2 Team Bellator vs. 3 Team RIZIN
Here’s how the opening round shakes out:
Team UFC vs. Team ONE
| Team UFC | Team ONE |
| Brian Ortega | Marat Gafurov |
| Davi Ramos | Garry Tonon |
| Jacare Souza | Roger Gracie |
| Alexei Oleinik | Ben Askren |
| Demian Maia | Shinya Aoki |
Team Bellator vs. Team RIZIN
| Team Bellator | Team RIZIN |
| Mike Chandler |
Daron Cruickshank
|
| Dillon Danis | Hideo Tokoro |
| Rafael Lovato Jr. | Kron Gracie |
| Chael Sonnen | Mirko Filipović |
| Neiman Gracie | Satoru Kitaoka |
Keep in mind, just because the grapplers are lined up across from one another does not mean they will face one another.
For example, it’s possible that a grappler at the end of the list, like Team ONE’s Ben Askren, might not even compete, should earlier grapplers like Gafurov, Tonon, and Gracie combine to take out the entirety of the opposing team.
Predictions from The MMA Sucka Staff
For some semi-expert predictions, the MMA Sucka team weighed in with their thoughts on the theoretical tournament.
Michael Fiedel (Me): I think that Team UFC is able to get past Team ONE in the opening round and that Team Bellator takes out Team RIZIN. That said, Team ONE and Team RIZIN both stand to take out team members in the opening round, particularly on the strength of Roger Gracie’s, Garry Tonon’s, and Kron Gracie’s efforts.
I think Team UFC defeats Team Bellator in the final, largely due to Team UFC’s marked experience advantage, in the conclusion to an exciting, incredible event.
Ed Gallo: The winner of UFC-ONE takes the whole thing. At first glance, the UFC has too much firepower. When Demian Maia is your “slower, positional” guy you know that’s a dynamic squad. I struggle to see any team taking them out.
Team ONE is incredible, but Askren isn’t going to finish anyone. That’s what I’d call a speed bump.
Team RIZIN has speed bumps in Cro Cop and Cruickshank (still my bois), I would classify Chael and Chandler the same way. They aren’t submitting anyone.
In UFC-ONE, I predict double eliminations up until Oleinik-Askren, where the big dawg finishes Funky Ben, and Aoki.
On a more fun note, I’m pretty confident that RIZIN takes out Bellator with the way the lineups are set.
Connor Deitrich: I think team UFC would be able to squeeze by team ONE in the first round, while team RIZIN would get past team Bellator.
Both UFC and RIZIN would succeed with their advantage amongst the heavier grapplers.
I think Team UFC would be able to defeat Rizin in a closely contested and highly entertaining final match.
Matt Bricker: I think Team UFC can get the victory over Team ONE, though Team ONE has nothing to be ashamed of should these two teams ever meet. Guys like Garry Tonon and Roger Gracie on Team ONE could lead ANY team of grapplers in the world.
I just feel, top to bottom, Team UFC is a bit more stacked. Team UFC over Team ONE.
Team Bellator is a “who’s who” of not only some of the best grapplers in the world, but some of the biggest names in MMA. With arguably the top grappler in the game today, Rafael Lovato Jr., on your team, you always have a shot. Though young in his MMA career, Dillon Danis is no rookie in the grappling world. I feel Team Bellator can get the victory over Team Rizin with Kron Gracie, obviously, being a huge roadblock.
In the finals, I see Team UFC taking a close win over Team Bellator. The depth of Team UFC is just too much for any one team to takedown.
Kyle Volkman: Team UFC vs. Team ONE: First QUINTET match features wizards on the ground from all sorts of different backgrounds. Brian Ortega starts things off strong against Marat Gafurov. Ortega is just a bit too creative and crafty for Marat to get an advantage in this opening round matchup. “T-City” catches a triangle choke in transition and scores for Team UFC.
Up next is Ortega vs. Tonon. While Tonon does lose part of his game with the restriction on heel hooks, he’s still able to get Ortega’s back and work from there. After lots of hand fighting, Tonon gets his signature RNC against a tired Brian Ortega. Ramos/Tonon is a competitive matchup that ends in a draw.
After a back and forth battle, Jacaré and Roger also go to a draw. Despite the shortened time, Oleinik catches his signature Ezekiel Choke to an unsuspecting Ben Askren. Shinya Aoki draws out Oleinik during the shortened match, and Team UFC moves on.
But What Do You Think?
