5 Brazilian jiu-jitsu legends who joined the UFC

Mackenzie Dern is one of the most highly credentialed grapplers in UFC history
Mackenzie Dern is one of the most highly credentialed grapplers in UFC history

#2. Rodolfo Vieira – current UFC middleweight

Rodolfo Vieira's best days in the UFC may well be ahead of him
Rodolfo Vieira's best days in the UFC may well be ahead of him

Nicknamed ‘The Black Belt Hunter’ for his ability to defeat even the highest-level grapplers in the world, to say that UFC middleweight Rodolfo Vieira is a legend in the world of Brazilian jiu-jitsu would be an understatement.

Vieira has won countless numbers of titles, championships and gold medals in the world of grappling, including an incredible seven titles in the prestigious ADCC World Championships from 2009 to 2014. As of the time of writing, his grappling record stands at 100-9, with just one of those losses coming via submission at the hands of fellow grappling legend Dean Lister.

Like Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza before him, hopes were high for Vieira when he decided to transition into MMA in 2017, primarily due to his natural athleticism and brute strength. ‘The Black Belt Hunter’ quickly and easily defeated his early opponents, going 5-0 with three wins coming in Russia’s ACB promotion.

That was enough for the UFC to sign him to a deal in 2019. Vieira quickly defeated his first two opponents, Oskar Piechota and Saparbek Safarov, both via arm triangle chokes.

Unfortunately, his next fight brought him down to earth with a bump. He was shockingly submitted by the unheralded Anthony Hernandez via guillotine choke after gassing out heavily. The defeat put a massive dent in any hopes he had of a move into UFC title contention.

However, since then Vieira has submitted Dustin Stoltzfus in a much-improved performance. At the age of 32, there’s every chance his best years in the octagon are still ahead of him.


#1. Mackenzie Dern – current UFC strawweight contender

Could Mackenzie Dern win the UFC strawweight title in the future?
Could Mackenzie Dern win the UFC strawweight title in the future?

The daughter of fellow grappling legend Wellington ‘Megaton’ Dias, it’s probably fair to suggest that Mackenzie Dern is the most credentialed female grappler in the history of the UFC.

Dern’s grappling record stands at a highly impressive 75-25-1. Her list of achievements includes gold medals at the Brazilian, Asian and European jiu-jitsu championships, as well as the BJJ World Cup and the ADCC World Championships. In 2015, she even defeated the legendary Gabi Garcia in a grappling match, despite giving up well over 100 pounds in weight to her larger opponent.

Dern entered the UFC in 2018 after going 5-0 on the regional scene. Unsurprisingly, her slick grappling has brought her the majority of her success thus far. She has defeated six of her seven opponents inside the octagon, with her only loss coming at the hands of Amanda Ribas in 2019.

It must be noted, however, that the bout was her first since returning from maternity leave. Since then, she’s reeled off four wins in a row, three via submission.

Dern is set to face off with Marina Rodriguez in the main event of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night. If she can come out on top in that fight, a UFC strawweight title shot isn’t out of the realm of possibility. If she can manage to capture the title at some point, she’ll not only be known as a legend in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but as a legend in the UFC, too.

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Edited by Harvey Leonard