Marco Ruas – an MMA legend sometimes considered the father of MMA has recently disclosed why BJJ champions struggle a lot in the cage. He shared his views on the “ConnectCast” podcast. He talked about why some of the most successful Jiu-Jitsu practitioners have struggled to get their victories in the MMA arena.
Ruas, a pioneer in blending different martial arts styles, emphasized the need for fighters to broaden their skills beyond Jiu-Jitsu:
Great Jiu-Jitsu stars didn’t make it in MMA. Marcelo Garcia.
Jean Jacques Machado fought in Japan, but they faced wrestlers, guys who defended takedowns and didn’t want to go to the ground.
Another example for me is the best of all, Roger Gracie, who won a few fights (in MMA) but caught King Mo, who had the right strategy, avoided the ground, and had good wrestling and boxing.
Fundamentally, it’s not just about the foundation. You also need to be skilled in hitting and grappling:
It’s proof that you have to train to fight on your feet.
You’re not supposed to have just one tool.
Ruas, who is now 62 years old and was the champion of UFC 7 in 1995, has an impressive professional MMA career. He has nine wins, four losses, and two draws.
