Leg-lock pioneers, absolute-division monsters and a few heavyweights who made their names before MMA did. Rank the people who turned submission grappling into its own sport.
1Mark KerrAmerican wrestler who won back-to-back ADCC titles in the late 1990s, including the absolute division.1000pts
2Alexandre Ribeiro'Xande', the Brazilian black-belt great who added ADCC gold to a long list of world titles.906pts
3Michelle NicoliniBrazilian ADCC champion and spider-guard specialist, one of the most decorated women in the sport.764pts
4Gordon RyanAmerican submission machine with multiple ADCC titles, widely called the greatest no-gi grappler ever.764pts
5Jeff MonsonAmerican submission wrestler who won ADCC gold in 1999 and the absolute division in 2005.647pts
6Ronaldo Souza'Jacaré', the powerful Brazilian ADCC champion famous for refusing to tap with a broken arm.647pts
7Demian MaiaBrazilian ADCC 2007 champion whose pure grappling style carried him through a long UFC career.647pts
8Kaynan DuarteBrazilian heavyweight who won the 2019 ADCC absolute title with a dominant run.647pts
9Dean ListerLeg-lock pioneer who won the 2003 ADCC absolute and another ADCC title eight years later.647pts
10Gabi GarciaBrazilian heavyweight with a record haul of ADCC titles in the women's divisions.647pts
11Marcelo GarciaBrazilian legend with four ADCC titles whose butterfly guard and guillotines reshaped no-gi grappling.503pts
12Mica GalvãoBrazilian prodigy and son of coach Melqui Galvão, a multiple world champion before turning 21.0pts
13Fabrício WerdumBrazilian heavyweight and ADCC champion whose ground game later toppled Fedor and won a UFC title.0pts
14Mikey MusumeciAmerican leg-entanglement wizard and ONE Championship submission grappling champion.0pts
Photo credits
- Mark Kerr — Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Michelle Nicolini — Asia Fight Guide, CC BY 3.0
- Gordon Ryan — Derek Moneyberg, CC BY 3.0
- Jeff Monson — Dmitry Rozhkov, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ronaldo Souza — Em Tempo, CC BY 3.0
- Demian Maia — Peter Gordon, CC BY 2.0
- Kaynan Duarte — Mayara Munhos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gabi Garcia — Bruno Massami, CC BY 3.0
- Mica Galvão — Micael Galvão, CC BY 3.0
- Fabrício Werdum — Web Summit Rio from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, CC BY 2.0
