Ffion Davies is widely regarded as one of the greatest female grapplers of her generation. Combining a world-class judo background with elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, she has become one of the most accomplished competitors in both gi and no-gi competition.
Davies made history by becoming the first British and Welsh athlete to win both an IBJJF World Championship at black belt and an ADCC World Championship. Known for her relentless pressure, technical precision, and aggressive submission hunting, she has established herself as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound elite.
Career Highlights
- ADCC World Champion (2022)
- ADCC World Championship Silver Medalist (2019)
- 2× IBJJF World Champion (2022, 2023)
- 3× IBJJF No-Gi World Champion
- Pan American Champion
- Brazilian National Champion
- Multiple-time IBJJF European Champion
- First British and Welsh athlete to win an ADCC World Championship
- First British and Welsh black belt IBJJF World Champion
Grappling Style
Ffion’s game is built around relentless forward pressure and exceptional fundamentals.
Pressure Passing
One of her defining strengths is her passing game. Rather than relying on speed alone, Davies uses balance, shoulder pressure, and constant movement to systematically break down even the most technical guards.
Her preferred passing systems include:
- Knee-cut passing
- Body-lock passing
- Headquarters passing
- Leg drag transitions
- Heavy cross-face pressure
Judo Integration
Before discovering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Davies represented Wales in judo. That background remains a major part of her game, particularly in no-gi competition.
Her standing attacks feature:
- Foot sweeps
- Hip throws
- Clinch control
- Grip fighting
- Balance disruption
This gives her an advantage in rulesets that reward takedowns, such as ADCC.
Submission Game
Davies is constantly looking for the finish once she establishes dominant position.
Her highest-percentage submissions include:
- Armbars
- Rear naked chokes
- Kimuras
- Arm triangles
- Straight ankle locks
Rather than forcing submissions, she creates opportunities through positional dominance and relentless pressure.
Strengths
- Elite pressure passing
- World-class judo
- Outstanding positional control
- Exceptional cardio
- High-level submission chaining
- Technical consistency across gi and no-gi
Training Background
Davies began her martial arts journey in judo, becoming a junior Welsh and British champion before transitioning to MMA and eventually Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. She earned her black belt under Darragh O’Conaill after developing at East Coast Jiu-Jitsu in Dublin.
She then moved to the United States, where she works closely with JT Torres at Essential Jiu-Jitsu, an academy affiliated with Atos. Currently she trains at ARMA BJJ in London. Her training combines elite wrestling, pressure passing, and positional sparring with a competition-focused approach.
Competitive Identity
Davies is known for dictating the pace of every match.
Her typical strategy includes:
- Winning the standing exchange
- Establishing top position
- Applying relentless passing pressure
- Advancing methodically through dominant positions
- Finishing with high-percentage submissions
Her ability to combine judo, wrestling, and modern jiu-jitsu has made her one of the most complete competitors in the sport.