MMA
Gilbert Burns names UFC’s best MMA & pure jiu-jitsu fighters
Published
2 months agoon
Burns when asked about who possesses the best jiu-jitsu in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Burns (22-10) himself was a feared jiu-jitsu artist with nine
career submissions. “Durinho†complimenting someone's jiu-jitsu
certainly carries weight and he recently revealed that two of his
compatriots have the best grappling in the UFC, although in
different aspects.
Charles Oliveira gets Burns' nod for MMA jiu-jitsu, while Diego
Lopes stands out in the pure form
Burns believes Charles
Oliveira has the best MMA-focused jiu-jitsu in the UFC.
However, he notes that MMA-focused jiu-jitsu is very different from
pure jiu-jitsu, with the striking aspect completely out of the
equation. According to the former fighter, Diego Lopes
has the best pure jiu-jitsu game.
“Pure jiu-jitsu – that's a different question,†Burns told MMA
Fighting. “Because jiu-jitsu in the UFC, I would say Charles
[Oliveira] is up there. But pure jiu-jitsu, I think Diego Lopes has
great pure jiu-jitsu. That's what I heard from a lot of guys who
trained with him.â€
Oliveira (37-11) is undoubtedly one of the greatest jiu-jitsu
artists in the history of mixed martial arts. The former
lightweight champ has the most finishes and submissions in UFC
history. He is on a two-fight winning streak and coming off a BMF
title win over Max
Holloway.
Meanwhile, Lopes left his home in Brazil at the age of 19 to teach
jiu-jitsu in Mexico, which has since become a second home to him.
He is 2-2 in his last four, with both losses coming in failed
featherweight title bids against Alexander
Volkanovski. He's revealed his intentions to move up to
lightweight, so a clash against Oliveira could be on the cards.
Gilbert
Burns has two names for the best jiu-jitsu in MMA:“MMA jiu-jitsu, it’s Charles
Oliveira. Pure jiu-jitsu, it’s Diego
Lopes.”(🎥 @JoseYoungs)
pic.twitter.com/KpBHIYt0vj— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting)
August 24, 2026
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MMA
Movsar Evloev warns Alexander Volkanovski: He hasnt beaten anyone like me
Published
13 hours agoon
October 23, 2026
Evloev says he has pushed himself harder than ever ahead of his
first UFC title shot.
Evloev (20-0) is scheduled to challenge Alexander
Volkanovski (28-4) for the
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title at
UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Ahead of the
bout, the unbeaten Russian discussed how his preparations have
differed from previous training camps.
Movsar Evloev details toughest training camp ahead of Alexander
Volkanovski title fight at UFC 333
Evloev said he increased his workload across all aspects of
training to address any potential weaknesses. He believes that
preparation will help him showcase his abilities in Saturday's main
event.
“This preparation is different just because I pushed more than
ever,†Evloev said in a pre-fight interview. “And we did more of
everything to make sure we didn't miss anything. He hasn't beaten
anyone like me. There's many things that make me special, like
unique. And I'm about to show it Saturday.â€
Evloev has long been considered a leading featherweight contender,
with Volkanovski acknowledging him as the most deserving
challenger. However, Diego Lopes
received a title rematch against Volkanovski earlier this year
before Evloev earned his opportunity. The Russian's lack of UFC
finishes has fueled debate about his wait for a championship bout,
though the promotion has not established it as the reason for the
delay.
“This is the moment I’ve been waiting for.”
Movsar
Evloev (@MovsarUFC) discusses his journey to the title shot and
his title fight matchup against champ Alexander
Volkanovski @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi |
@ParamountPlus https://t.co/fWuJJ7I2sz— UFC News (@UFCNews)
October 21, 2026
MMA
Joshua Van: Sean Strickland ‘in a bad spot’ in Dana White feud over UFC pay
Published
15 hours agoon
October 23, 2026
Joshua Van sides with UFC boss Dana White in his public feud with Sean Strickland.
For Van, the UFC's flyweight champion, the matter should have been discussed behind closed doors instead of a public forum like social media.
“He just signed a contract in May and fought Khamzat, and then he won,†Van told Outta Pocket. “Instead of going on Twitter and going on all that [expletive], he should have talked to Dana and said, ‘I wanna renegotiate.' Behind closed doors. Then the boss would have been like, ‘OK, let's talk about this, what you want?' You just beat the boogeyman. Now it's a whole mess.â€
“If you work at a 9-to-5 job and you go off to your boss and you're like, pay me this much. Like, what the [expletive]? You know what I mean? So he's in a bad spot right now. He's still under the contract. I don't know how that's gonna work.â€
A 25-year-old flyweight champion who started his professional MMA career when Strickland already had 14 UFC bouts under his belt, Van agrees with Strickland that fighters should get paid more.
However, he doesn't sound unhappy with his current UFC contract. Van recently defended his 125-pound belt with a decision over Alexandre Pantoja, his third title bout win in a span of 10 months, including a fifth-round TKO over Tatsuro Taira in the co-main event of Chimaev vs. Strickland.
“I'm getting paid good,†Van said with a laugh. “I think they pay me good amount; I don't know, but fighter that think they deserve more or—like, should we get paid more? Yes, but, I don't know, I'm happy where I'm at. I start from zero to now, the UFC literally made me where I'm at, gave me everything that I got right now. I don't know, I'm happy right now. I can't really say for the other guy.â€
MMA
UFC 333 prop odds: Krylov-Yakhyaev favored for fastest finish
Published
1 day agoon
October 22, 2026
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