The current UFC roster has more legitimate Brazilian jiu jitsu black belts than at any point in the promotion’s history. Belt rank alone does not tell the full story though, since some champions hold ceremonial black belts and others hold genuine sport BJJ pedigree. This is our ranked list of the best BJJ black belts on the active UFC roster as of April 2026, weighted on credentials, lineage, sport BJJ resume, and actual cage grappling results.
How We Ranked Them
The ranking weighs three things equally:
- Belt pedigree (degree of black belt, lineage, who promoted them)
- Sport BJJ competition record (IBJJF, ADCC, regional medals)
- Cage grappling performance (UFC submission record, who they have submitted, who has submitted them)
Pure striker champions with token black belts are not in this list. Wrestlers without BJJ rank are covered separately. This is specifically the best black belt graduates of legitimate BJJ academies who are currently in the UFC.
1. Charles Oliveira
Fourth degree BJJ black belt under Jorge Macaco Patino at Macaco Gold Team. Holder of the all time UFC submission record. The most accomplished pure jiu jitsu fighter on the current UFC roster by every measure. Read the full Charles Oliveira BJJ profile.
2. Mackenzie Dern
Black belt under her father Wellington Megaton Dias since December 2012. ADCC World Champion 2015 and IBJJF World Champion 2015. Current UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion. The most decorated pure sport BJJ pedigree on the active roster. Read the full Mackenzie Dern BJJ profile.
3. Diego Lopes
Second degree BJJ black belt with a family BJJ legacy that includes a fifth degree black belt father and a third degree black belt brother. About half of his pro wins are submissions. Read the full Diego Lopes BJJ profile.
4. Gilbert Burns
Black belt under Rafael Fofitio Barros, IBJJF World Champion in gi and no gi, ADCC bronze medalist 2015. Now also serves as head BJJ coach at Sanford MMA. Read the full Gilbert Burns BJJ profile.
5. Alexandre Pantoja
Brazilian black belt in the Carlson Gracie lineage. Ten pro submission finishes including the most efficient back take and rear naked choke chain at flyweight in UFC history. Read the full Alexandre Pantoja BJJ profile.
6. Brian Ortega
First degree BJJ black belt under Rener Gracie at the Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy in Torrance. Famous for triangles. Submitted Frankie Edgar with a triangle armbar. Read the full Brian Ortega BJJ profile.
7. Khamzat Chimaev
Black belt promoted by Alan Finfou Nascimento after winning the UFC middleweight title at UFC 319 in August 2025. Smothering MMA grappling that has dominated elite welterweights and middleweights including Gilbert Burns, Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker. Read the full Khamzat Chimaev BJJ profile.
8. Tom Aspinall
BJJ black belt trained since age seven by his father Simon Aspinall at Team Kaobon. Won British Open at every belt below black. Owns Aspinall BJJ academy. Multiple submission finishes at heavyweight in under three minutes. Read the full Tom Aspinall BJJ profile.
9. Ilia Topuria
First Georgian born BJJ black belt, promoted in May 2018 at Climent Club in Spain. Three UFC submission wins including a controlling performance against Ryan Hall. Read the full Ilia Topuria BJJ profile.
10. Jack Della Maddalena
Black belt under Ben Vickers at Scrappy MMA Perth (March 2024). Trains with Craig Jones in fight camps. Out grappled Gilbert Burns at UFC 299 before knocking him out, and made Islam Makhachev work five rounds in a title fight. Read the full Jack Della Maddalena BJJ profile.
Honourable Mentions
Just outside the top ten:
- Alexander Volkanovski (black belt, RNC finish of Chad Mendes)
- Max Holloway (black belt March 2026, championship level defensive grappling)
- Robert Whittaker (first degree black belt, BJJ instructor)
- Leon Edwards (black belt under Gracie Barra lineage)
- Kamaru Usman (black belt under Jorge Santiago, wrestling first)
- Dustin Poirier (black belt under Tim Credeur, seven UFC submission wins)
What This List Tells You
The current UFC roster has more legitimate sport BJJ pedigree than ever before. Five of the top ten were active sport BJJ competitors before joining the UFC. The era of an MMA championship being separate from BJJ credibility is over. The top fighters at every weight class now hold real grappling rank with real grappling resumes.
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