Please note this list only includes fights in the gi.
The best BJJ matches of all time are obviously going to be subjective and differ from person to person. Secondly, we may miss out a classic on accident. This is because there are literally so many matches of BJJ, we will try to do the best research we can possibly do, but if you think we’ve forgotten an all time great, please let us know in the comments below and we will add it. Finally, we will only be choosing footage between high level competitors, whilst watching lower belts spar can sometimes be entertaining for a multitude of reasons. We will only choose matches that have high level BJJ.
The last disclaimer is that these fights are NOT in any kind of order.
1. Roger Gracie vs Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida – Gracie Pro Jiu-Jitsu Superfight
Whilst not the most exciting match of all time. This match meant a lot at the time. It was the last professional fight of Roger Gracie and was old school against new school. At the time, a lot of people predicted Rogers reign was over and that Buchecha would win, certainly not lose by submission. Gracie get’s Buchechas back and taps him after a fairly “boring” stand up match. The commentator even says after the tap “That is the one result we did not expect”.
2. Braulio Estima vs Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu – 2006 Mundials
A short match but a classic. Cyborg attempts to pull deep half guard on Estima but somewhat fails. Cyborg is almost mounted in a classic arm triangle position by Estima for most of the fight. Inch by inch Cyborg somehow recovers to a reasonable (but still bad position) half guard. Then he completely turns the match on his head by performing a trademark tornado sweep and tapping Estima with an armbar. At the end of the match Estima is in shock and disbelief on the floor as to what just happened to him.
3. Mikey Musumeci Jr vs Seif Eddine Houmine – Europeans 2020
Whilst this a relatively boring match, it does have a satisfying payoff. Not only is Houmine a super heavyweight (100.5kg+), he is clearly well over this weight. Where as Musumeci is a light feathweight, meaning he is under 64kg. Houmine is getting frustrated in the fight and reacts badly a couple of times, as well as going for a terrible choke in Musumeci’s guard towards the end, which i’m sure he knows will never work. He shakes his head an seems to think he has been robbed or cheated out of a deserved win, I have no idea why.
4. Joao Miyao vs Bruno Malfacine – Worlds 2014
An extremely back and forth match. As the time expires, things begin to heat up. Bruno is winning by an advantage for most of the match whilst they exchange sweeps for 2 points each. This happens 4 times and then begin the antics. Both are desparately clambering to score winning advantages, with each Brazilian corner trying to shout louder than the other. Both men once again appeal for advantages in the dying seconds and are given one each. Some how the judges decide on a unanimous decision.
5. Eduardo Telles vs Otavio Souza – Worlds 2010
For those of you looking for something a bit unusual, this is a classic in my opinion. I am a big fan of Eduardo Telles and his awkward style. Here he is in action against Otavio Souza who simply cannot stay on top of him. Souza has a more conventional style and sweeps Telles a number of times. Telles puts himself in to deep half guard and some “bad” positions. Only to come up every time holding both of Souzas legs and winning another 2 points for himself.
6. Braulio Estima vs Murilo Santana – Worlds 2014
A very entertaining match between 2 BJJ legends. Braulio wins in the end by quite a large margin and does an acrobatic celebration. Even though the match was won by 6 points when time expired, it was still a very close matchup. Murilo was probably let down as his guard was slightly worse than that of Braulio, although he can probably accept this because I am not sure there has ever been a better guard player at medium-heavyweight than Braulio Estima.
7. Wallid Ismail vs Royce Gracie – 1998 Superfight
Wallid Ismail did not like the Gracie family at all and challenged them to fight him. In this grainy footage from 1998 you can see his fighters spirit. Ismail gets put in to a bad position and almost gets taken down in to a bottom half guard / mount position.He then very slowly grinds his way back in to the match getting to an under over position. He puts on a clinic of how to recover and pass a guard before putting Royce unconscious with a rare clock choke.
8. Bernado Faria vs Leandro Lo – Worlds 2015
This match is nothing short of a passing masterclass. Faria goes for a double unders to start the match which fails, Lo then manages to sweep him. Faria sweeps back to even the score with 2 points of his own. From this point on it is one way traffic. Going back and forth between double unders & an under over Faria manages to pass Lo with sheer technique and persistence, eventually finishing the match with a well set up armbar.
9. Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida vs. Rodolfo Vieira – 2012 Worlds
A very back and forth match that really could have gone either way, perhaps Vieira was more of a favourite to win until some failed submission attempts. The match is pretty much about as entertaining and textbook as you can expect from this ruleset. It is fundamental BJJ with sweeps and passes throughout, along with some close submissions near the end. Buchecha comes out on top this time.
10. Rafael Lovato Jr vs Roberto “Tussa” Alencar – Pan Ams 2008
Early on Lovato Jr is quite close to getting a sweep but does not suceed. He then finds himself in a triangle and defends it brilliantly by getting his elbow to the mat and keeping his other arm safe from various armlocks. Most people won’t notice, but when out of the triangle Lovato Jr then ignores the referee a couple of times to gain a breather for a few seconds. The video has an emotional ending and is worth watching after the match finishes.
11. Marcus Buchecha Almeida vs Andre Galvao – Pan Ams 2013
If you’re wondering why Buchecha keeps appearing in this list, he really was THIS dominant during this decade. In a classic match against Andre Galvao he scores early and almost passes Galvao which would essentially end the match. He doesn’t and gets taken down by Galvao late on. From here he is almost passed himself, before putting the match beyond doubt with a wonderful sweep. The super athlete Galvao shakes Buchechas hand at the end which shows me he respects he lost to the better man on this day, which means a lot coming from one of the greatest competitors of all time.
12. Roger Gracie vs Ronaldo Jacare Souza – Worlds 2014
The two legends face off in Jacare’s hometown. I cannot find the full footage of the match but Jacare is either ahead by some points or an advantage. Roger Gracie gets an extremely deep armbar on Jacare, who will not tap. His arm is broken in this match for a good 3 or 4 minutes and he is hobbling around like Quasimodo until the match ends. He should have been penalised and given a disadvantage for stalling, but people have said there would have been a riot in the arena if Jacare had lost. I am not sure if this is hearsay or legitimate, but it is a great unique match nonetheless.
13. Roger Gracie vs Romulo Barral – 2009 Worlds
This an an absolute masterclass from Roger Gracie to beat a BJJ legend in his own right, Romulo Barral. Gracie gets put in to closed guard at the start of the match – probably not where he wanted to be. He effortlessly breaks open the guard and begins passing. Gracie keeps the pressure on and varies his relentless passing attemps before eventually doing so. Later in the fight Roger gains full mount and finishes with his trademark cross collar choke. Please bare in mind this was the world finals of 2009, Roger made this look easy.
14. Keenan Cornelius vs Nicholas Meregali – Worlds 2019
The match starts off at an incredibly fast pace with Cornelius showing off his incredible guard retention. I have no idea how he manages to fend off Meregali for so long as he is almost on his back within 1 minute. Granted Meregali goes 4 advantages ahead but Cornelius is the first to score 2 points with a nice sweep. Whilst a lot of people might not find this entertaining it is an absolute clinic in sport BJJ. Cornelius is down 10 advantages but will not give up a single point and wins the fight 2-0.
If you think we have missed a fight and would like one added to this page, please comment below and let us know!
