Sherdog’s Top 10: Jiu-Jitsu Players in MMA

3. Demian Maia

Easily one of the most accomplished and respected jiu-jitsu players to make the MMA jump, Maia has excelled in two weight classes since joining the UFC. A two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling Word Championships medalist -- he struck gold in 2007 -- and onetime gold medalist at the Pan American Championships, he has stuffed his trophy case with quite a collection.

Maia has earned “Submission of the Night” honors on four occasions in the UFC, and his “Performance of the Night” bonus at UFC 190 resulted from his rear-naked choke submission on Neil Magny. The 38-year-old black belt fought Anderson Silva for the middleweight title in 2010 and has since downshifted to 170 pounds. Maia boasts 10 submissions among his 22 wins in MMA, including victories over Rick Story, Chael Sonnen, Nate Quarry and Ed Herman.

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