Check out this pretty cool video of the top 20 greatest submissions of all time in the UFC!

There were so many awesome ones that didn’t make the list, but most of the 20 that were selected were historic moments in UFC history. My 3 favorite submissions from the list would have to be #14 Bustamante vs Lindland, #5 Penn vs Hughes, and #3 Royce vs Shamrock.

#14: Murilo Bustamante was one of the best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners to fight in the early UFC’s. He had solid boxing and wrestling to go along with his dangerous jiu jitsu. Bustamante is a former UFC middleweight champion who also had a solid MMA career outside of the UFC fighting for Pride in Japan. Bustamante submitted Olympic silver medalist wrestler Matt Lindland who at the time was one of the most dominating fighters in the UFC. Bustamante is one of my favorite fighters of all time and is a legend of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts.

#5: BJ Penn stepped up to face the man who at the time was the most dominant welterweight champion in the history of the UFC, Matt Hughes. Penn moved up from the lightweight division to fight one of the strongest and technical athletes in the welterweight division, few gave Penn any chance. BJ was able to make his way to Hughes’ back and finish the rear naked choke, shocking everyone and becoming the UFC’s welterweight champion. Penn and Hughes had 3 fights against one another, with Hughes winning the rematch and Penn taking the rubber match.

#3: Royce Gracie shocked the world in the very first UFC held in Denver, CO, and introduced the world to the martial art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. While only a skinny 175 pounds, Royce was one of the smallest fighters in the event, which was an open weight class, allowing fighters of all sizes to battle one another. Royce submitted fellow MMA legend Ken Shamrock with a choke from the back, proving the technique beats size and strength (though Shamrock was a skilled grappler for the time). The perception of martial arts fighting was changed forever after the event in 1993.

Enjoy the video…

The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu community truly is amazing. We packed BJJ United in Philadelphia, PA with 10-15 Black Belts and countless students from various academies for the Crush Cancer Benefit Seminar for John Flite. We were able to raise $10,000 for John to help him win this fight against cancer. Big props to Jared Weiner for organizing the event. I feel very lucky to be part of such a great team and community of caring people. Thanks NJU students Greg, Eric, Luca, and Tom for coming down and supporting.

Wrestling is one of the most important yet under appreciated aspects of Mixed Martial Arts. The ability to take your opponent down allows you to utilize your ground skills to either submit or ground and pound your opponent. Your ability to defend takedowns allows you to keep the fight standing on your feet to make better use of your striking skills should you be the better stand-up fighter. It’s no surprise that many of the best MMA fighters in the world today also have extensive wrestling backgrounds or have developed excellent wrestling skills.

American wrestler Jordan Burroughs is currently regarded as one of the best, if not the best pound for pound wrestler on the planet today. He is a 2012 Olympic GOLD medalist, a 2 time World Champion, and a Pan American Champion. His ability to take down his opponents at the highest level of Olympic and World competition is unparalleled. Check out this highlight and enjoy…

Check out JT‘s GOLD medal match from the 2013 IBJJF No Gi World Championships from this weekend in California. JT defeated a very tough Marcelo Mafra from Brazil in the finals to win his first Black Belt World Title! Congratulations JT!

Congratulations to JT Torres on becoming an IBJJF Black Belt World Champion! JT has worked so hard for this and no one else deserves this more than him. Hard work pays off and I can’t wait to see all the more amazing things that JT accomplishes in his young Brazilian Jiu Jitsu career!

Check out my instructor Jared Weiner and one of my training partners, Paramount BJJ’s Brad Court, demonstrating a nice armbar setup off of a rolling uma plata.  Enjoy!

What an awesome weekend of some of the very best in MMA and BJJ competing at the highest level. The “Olympics” of No Gi Jiu Jitsu, (ADCC) was held in China and saw the very best in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Submission Grappling) vying for the Title. Congratulations to friend of NJ United Mixed Martial Arts, JT Torres, for winning the Bronze medal in the -77kg division, definitely one of the toughest divisions in the tournament.

UFC 166 was held Saturday night and had some of the most entertaining Mixed Martial Arts action. The NJU  Team had an awesome time watching the fights at Hooters Restaurant on Rt. 23 in Wayne.  Gilbert Melendez vs. Diego Sanchez one of the best fights of the year with Melendez winning a unanimous decision. Cain Velasquez once again proved that he is the best heavyweight MMA fighter in the World, with a 5th rd TKO over Junior Dos Santos! What an awesome night of fights!

See everyone this week on the mats!

NJ United MMA students let’s make this trip to Philly November 9th to support a great cause. And while we’re at it let’s learn from some World Class Black Belts and UFC fighters! NJ United instructor Jay Hayes will also be part of the seminar teaching some jiu jitsu technique! Here’s a message from BJJ United head instructor Jared Weiner to everyone….

“I dont even know how to begin this… Long time BJJU student and personal friend of mine John Flite came to me and told me he has been diagnosed with Leukemia. John then went on to tell me he is gonna beat the hell out of this thing with full confidence, and I truly believe him! To help support John and His family I have decided to put together a benefit BJJ seminar for them in their time of need. The seminar will be on Saturday November 9th starting at 11:00am ALREADY CONFIRMED to teach this day includes…. Vicente Junior, Daniel Tavares, Rob Schier, Wilson Reis, myself, and possibly one more amazing world champ BB I am waiting to hear back from. Recommended donations to participate this day is $50, but anything is welcome. I hope we can get the BJJ community to come out for a great cause to help and support one of our own. More details to come soon. Thanks JW”

Come in and train Sunday at NJ United Mixed Martial Arts in our BJJ 101 class at 11:00am. Our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 101 program is designed for new students with little or no grappling experience. This is a great class to learn the basics of the amazing art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu!

UFC Fight Night Tonight! Catch them on Fox Sports 1!

Maia vs. Shields
Erick Silva vs. Kim
Thiago Silva vs. Hamill
Maldonado vs. Beltran
Palhares vs. Pierce
Assuncao vs. Dillashaw