If you want to know the difference between good Brazilian jiu jitsu and great Brazilian jiu jitsu, watch Chael Sonnen's last two fights. On Saturday night at UFC 98, Sonnen beat someone with good BJJ, Dan Miller. Three months ago at UFC 95, Sonnen lost to someone with world-class BJJ, Demian Maia.Both of those two fights went to the ground quickly. But against Miller, Sonnen was able to escape from an early guillotine attempt and then use his superior wrestling ability to overpower Miller throughout the fight. Against Maia, Sonnen also went to the ground quickly, but Maia put him into a triangle choke from which he couldn't escape.
Everyone who follows MMA or BJJ knows how great Maia is. He won his weight class at the 2007 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, which is one of the most prestigious submission grappling tournaments in the world. But Miller came into the Sonnen fight with an 11-1 record, with seven of those 11 wins coming by submission. People thought his jiu jitsu skills were great, too.
Sonnen, however, was a good college wrestler, and he exposed Miller as someone who can be overpowered on the ground. After he pulled away from that first guillotine attempt, Sonnen was never really in any trouble. No one could ever spend 15 minutes on the ground with Maia and never be in any trouble. Miller is good on the ground; Maia is great.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I was disappointed in Miller. I thought he'd be able to do more when he had Sonnen in guard. Neither of these guys is a great middleweight, but Sonnen really dominated.
WELL said!
I really think Maia had a great shot at beating Anderson Silva, and wanted to see that fight. I think Maia can take Silva down and submit him. I hope Leites didn't blow it for him.
people say they dont want another thales vs. silva fight again with maia because he is a bjj guy.. but i think his striking has been better and better with wanderlei, also hes more aggresive with his bjj, and his striking so if he can get silva to the ground and silva doesnt just straight back up then maia can take it. las vegas brazilian jiu jitsu
Maia has the best at forcing his BJJ on his oponents in MMA. if he can use quick and accurate strikes to set up his takedowns on Silva he can win or if he pulls guard and has body control he can win. easier said than done tho. http://www.robertdrysdale.net