Tom Aspinall has shared his opinion on who he considers the most exceptional jiu-jitsu artist to ever compete in the UFC.
Throughout his impressive career, Aspinall has established himself as a knockout specialist, boasting incredible punching power.
The interim champion`s performances have been so dominant that even Colby Covington suggests Jon Jones might choose retirement over facing Aspinall.
However, Aspinall`s skills extend beyond striking. The British fighter holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, making his admiration for a certain legend of the grappling world quite understandable.
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Tom Aspinall Names Demian Maia as UFC`s Best Jiu-Jitsu Expert
According to Tom Aspinall, Demian Maia stands out as the greatest jiu-jitsu practitioner in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Maia, a gold medalist at ADCC, was a formidable force when he secured a hold, displaying exceptional technique in applying submissions that consistently forced his opponents to tap out.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Aspinall explained: “I’m picking Demian Maia. While there might be individuals with stronger jiu-jitsu credentials outside of MMA, I evaluate effectiveness within MMA, as that’s our focus.
“Demian Maia primarily relied on jiu-jitsu, with limited additional skills. Yet, he consistently took opponents down and submitted them.”
“What made Demian Maia so effective was the fact that everyone knew his game plan, but very few could prevent it. He is my jiu-jitsu GOAT in MMA.”
Demian Maia`s Two UFC Title Challenges
Demian Maia, a Jiu-Jitsu World Cup winner, was incredibly skilled during his prime. As Aspinall noted, despite a possibly limited striking arsenal, Maia was terrifying on the ground.
Throughout his distinguished career, Maia competed for the UFC title twice, unfortunately losing to both Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley.
Despite these title fight setbacks, the Brazilian fighter achieved an impressive career record.
During his time in the UFC, he secured significant victories by submitting notable fighters such as Ben Askren, Carlos Condit, and Matt Brown.
