Quick Answer
Stipe Miocic at Jiu Jitsu
- BJJ Belt · No formal BJJ belt publicly announced
- Coach or Lineage · Marcus Marinelli (Strong Style Fight Team, Independence, Ohio)
- Our BJJ Rating · 6/10
- Last Updated · April 2026
Wrestler first, BJJ last. Miocic is a former two time UFC Heavyweight Champion who built his career on NCAA Division I wrestling from Cleveland State and boxing polished at Strong Style in Ohio. He does not hold a publicly announced BJJ belt rank, but he has never been submitted in MMA and regularly survived elite grappling threats at heavyweight.
What Belt Is Stipe Miocic in Jiu Jitsu
There is no publicly announced Brazilian jiu jitsu belt rank for Stipe Miocic. His formal grappling credentials are in wrestling, where he competed at NCAA Division I level for Cleveland State in the 197 pound class and qualified for the 2003 NCAA Championships in Kansas City.
He did compete in a gi jiu jitsu match in 2019 as part of a charity event, but no belt progression in BJJ specifically has been announced.
Miocic’s Coach and Training Home
Miocic has trained with Marcus Marinelli at Strong Style Fight Team in Independence, Ohio, since he first walked into the gym as a training partner for Dan Bobish in 2005. Marinelli is the architect of Miocic’s MMA career and has coached him through two heavyweight title runs.
His BJJ development has happened inside that camp, through MMA specific drilling rather than dedicated sport BJJ competition.
How Miocic’s Grappling Shows Up in the Octagon
Stipe has never been submitted in MMA. Against Fabricio Werdum, a BJJ world champion, he stuffed a low single leg attempt with a defensive sprawl and counter punch that won him the UFC heavyweight title with a knockout. Against Francis Ngannou in their first fight, he wrestled and smothered for five rounds. That is the template.
He once famously told Fabricio Werdum that it is hard to do jiu jitsu when you are getting punched. The comment sums up his grappling philosophy.
Miocic’s Grappling in Context
As a former two time heavyweight champion with a Division I wrestling base, Miocic’s grappling has been measured in title fights against the best grapplers of his era. He did not finish submissions, but he also did not lose fights to jiu jitsu. His loss to Francis Ngannou was a knockout. His loss to Jon Jones was also a knockout.
The Verdict on Stipe Miocic’s Jiu Jitsu
No formal BJJ rank, a deep wrestling base, and a UFC heavyweight title career where his grappling was good enough to neutralise submission specialists while not serving as an offensive finishing tool. The answer to the pub question is that his BJJ is fine. His wrestling is what matters.
Our rating, 6 out of 10. Functional, never submitted, no meaningful BJJ pedigree.
Part of our ongoing series ranking the BJJ of every notable UFC fighter and BJJ practicing celebrity. See the full Fighter BJJ Profiles index.
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