Cobrinha right after winning his fifth world title. Beatriz Lina/ Graciemag
With less than a week to go until the end of the 2017 season, it’s time to get to know the best fighters of the year in BJJ.
To decide who deserves the honor, our team of journalists and photographers debated for hours. The list we came up with has ten categories.
For the first time since we started electing the best of the year, over a decade ago, our choice for best male fighter was a tie: Marcus Buchecha, the absolute king of the year’s biggest event, and Rubens Cobrinha, who had a superhuman year and, at 38, ends the season with titles in the Brazilian Nationals, Euros, Pan, Worlds and ADCC. Whew.
The best female fighter was an easier pick: the unstoppable Tayane Porfírio, who won everything in classical BJJ this year.
Below you will find this year’s winners, as chosen by our team and by the readers.
*** BEST OF 2017 ***
1. Best male BJJ fighter:
GRACIEMAG: Marcus Buchecha and Rubens Cobrinha
Popular vote: Marcus Buchecha
2. Best female BJJ fighter:
GRACIEMAG: Tayane Porfírio
Popular vote: Bia Mesquita
3. Submission of the year:
GRACIEMAG: Roger Gracie over Marcus Buchecha at Gracie Pro
Popular vote: Roger Gracie over Marcus Buchecha at Gracie Pro
4. Best male no-gi fighter:
GRACIEMAG: Felipe Preguiça
Popular vote: Felipe Preguiça
5. Best female no-gi fighter:
GRACIEMAG: Bia Mesquita
Popular vote: Bia Mesquita
6. Male MMA fighter:
GRACIEMAG: Georges St-Pierre
Popular vote: Demetrious Johnson
7. Female MMA fighter:
GRACIEMAG: Rose Namajunas
Popular vote: Cris Cyborg
8. Submission in MMA:
GRACIEMAG: Demetrious Johnson over Ray Borg at UFC 216
Popular vote: Demetrious Johnson over Ray Borg at UFC 216
9. Best non-black-belt BJJ fighter:
GRACIEMAG: Rudson Mateus
Popular vote: Kaynan Duarte
10. Best BJJ fighter in the masters:
GRACIEMAG: Rafael Lovato Jr.
Popular vote: Karla Hipólito
