Who has the best double leg takedown in MMA historical past? UFC veteran Chael Sonnen has by no means been one to mince phrases, however his newest evaluation may shock anybody conversant in wrestling pedigree. The previous All-American wrestler and Greco-Roman silver medalist not too long ago declared that Georges St-Pierre possesses the best double leg takedown in MMA historical past – regardless of the Canadian by no means proudly owning a wrestling singlet or competing in a single wrestling match.
The best double leg takedown in MMA historical past
“The best double leg within the historical past of the game of MMA was executed by George St. Pierre, who doesn’t even personal a singlet and by no means had a wrestling match,” Sonnen defined. “However he was capable of establish of all of the years and sacrifice that you’d have in wrestling – as quickly as I put you in a susceptible posture, most of these are gone. And the fairly definition of wrestling is to seize anyone.”
Georges St-Pierre
The assertion reveals the guts of Sonnen’s argument about what makes MMA wrestling totally different from conventional wrestling. Whereas the UFC double champ St-Pierre lacks standard wrestling credentials, his method to takedowns was perfection.
St-Pierre’s background tells a distinct story than most MMA wrestlers. He began with Kyokushin karate as a youth beneath teacher Jean Couture, later including Brazilian jiu-jitsu and finally wrestling when he started coaching for MMA. His karate basis turned the key weapon that made his wrestling so efficient.
That’s what I exploit for my takedown, the shoot, that individuals see, it’s zero wrestling,” St-Pierre advised Joe Rogan on his UFC profession. “It has nothing to do with my wrestling. My wrestling is as soon as I get that leg, I’ll end the takedown. However how I get out and in is due to karate.”
The Canadian’s technique differed from conventional wrestling approaches. As a substitute of counting on underhooks and tie-ups, he used his karate-based distance administration and timing to penetrate an opponent’s protection. His jab-to-double-leg mixture turned legendary.
UFC veteran Sonnen, who has confronted legends together with Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, and Fedor Emelianenko, locations St-Pierre above all of them based mostly on direct expertise. In 2014, the 2 engaged in a non-public coaching session that left Sonnen impressed. “That was one of the best fighter I’ve ever taken on,” he recalled. “He had that energy, like that exceptional energy.”
St-Pierre started wrestling coaching at age 19 at Montreal Wrestling Membership beneath Victor Zilberman and Guivi Sissaouri. But regardless of this late begin, he constantly outwrestled fighters with superior wrestling backgrounds, together with NCAA All-American Josh Koscheck, whom he dominated twice. Plus, notable wrestlers akin to Matt Hughes, Frank Trigg, Jon Fitch, Sean Sherk, and a number of other others.
St-Pierre’s double leg success got here from approach refinement slightly than wrestling pedigree. In accordance with Sonnen’s evaluation, the Canadian mastered “about three totally different setups” and “six totally different finishes” for his signature takedown. This centered method contradicted conventional wrestling philosophy however proved devastatingly efficient in MMA.
The approach’s effectiveness confirmed in St-Pierre’s statistics. He compiled 84 takedowns with a 75% success price all through his UFC profession, in comparison with Sonnen’s 44 takedowns at 59% accuracy. Extra importantly, St-Pierre used his double leg to manage fights in opposition to elite competitors throughout a number of weight courses.
What makes Sonnen’s endorsement significantly hanging is his personal wrestling accomplishments. As a Division I All-American and two-time College Nationwide Champion in Greco-Roman wrestling, plus United States Olympic Workforce alternate, Sonnen understands wrestling on the highest ranges. His recognition of St-Pierre’s superiority carries weight exactly due to these credentials.
The evaluation additionally highlights MMA’s evolution. Conventional wrestling methods usually require adaptation for cage combating, the place strikes change positioning and techniques. St-Pierre’s karate-based method eradicated this translation drawback by designing takedowns particularly for combined martial arts contexts.
Even in retirement, St-Pierre continues studying. Lately, he requested Sonnen for assist with par terre wrestling protection on Instagram, demonstrating the humility that Joe Rogan recognized as making him “an actual martial artist”. This willingness to evolve, whilst an completed champion, reinforces why Sonnen considers him distinctive.
St-Pierre’s double leg legacy extends past particular person success. His jab-to-takedown mixture influenced a complete technology of fighters and altered how MMA athletes method the striking-to-grappling transition. The approach proved that efficient MMA wrestling may emerge from unconventional backgrounds. Right now, Georges St-Pierre is extensively thought of the best MMA fighter in historical past.
Data Held By UFC Nice Georges St-Pierre
Over the course of his profession, he landed 90 takedowns – the second-most in UFC historical past – whereas sustaining a exceptional accuracy price between 73.7% and 75.0%. This stage of precision and quantity translated to a mean of 4.16 takedowns per quarter-hour.
Past sheer takedown numbers, St-Pierre excelled at controlling opponents on the mat. He holds the document for probably the most complete management time in UFC historical past with 2 hours, 42 minutes, and 4 seconds spent dictating tempo and place. Of that point, 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 5 seconds had been spent within the dominant prime place, additionally the best mark recorded, underscoring his potential not solely to deliver foes to the canvas however to maintain them there.
