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 would possibly shock anybody acquainted with wrestling pedigree. The previous All-American wrestler and Greco-Roman silver medalist just lately 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 performed 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 determine 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 any individual.”
Georges St-Pierre
The assertion reveals the guts of Sonnen’s argument about what makes MMA wrestling completely different from conventional wrestling. Whereas the UFC double champ St-Pierre lacks typical wrestling credentials, his strategy to takedowns was perfection.
St-Pierre’s background tells a unique story than most MMA wrestlers. He began with Kyokushin karate as a youth below teacher Jean Couture, later including Brazilian jiu-jitsu and finally wrestling when he started coaching for MMA. His karate basis grew to become the key weapon that made his wrestling so efficient.
That’s what I use for my takedown, the shoot, that people see, it’s zero wrestling,” St-Pierre told 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 method 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 grew to become 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 personal coaching session that left Sonnen impressed. “That was the very best fighter I’ve ever taken on,” he recalled. “He had that power, like that outstanding power.”
St-Pierre began wrestling coaching at age 19 at Montreal Wrestling Membership below 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 resembling 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 completely different setups” and “six completely different finishes” for his signature takedown. This targeted strategy contradicted conventional wrestling philosophy however proved devastatingly efficient in MMA.
The technique’s effectiveness showed in St-Pierre’s statistics. He compiled 84 takedowns with a 75% success rate throughout his UFC career, compared to Sonnen’s 44 takedowns at 59% accuracy. More importantly, St-Pierre used his double leg to control fights against elite competition across multiple weight classes.
What makes Sonnen’s endorsement particularly striking is his own wrestling accomplishments. As a Division I All-American and two-time University National 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 assessment also highlights MMA’s evolution. Traditional wrestling techniques often require adaptation for cage fighting, where strikes change positioning and tactics. St-Pierre’s karate-based approach eliminated this translation problem by designing takedowns specifically for mixed martial arts contexts.
Even in retirement, St-Pierre continues studying. Just 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 beyond individual success. His jab-to-takedown combination influenced an entire generation of fighters and changed how MMA athletes approach the striking-to-grappling transition. The technique proved that effective MMA wrestling could emerge from unconventional backgrounds. Today, Georges St-Pierre is widely considered the greatest MMA fighter in history.
Records Held By UFC Great Georges St-Pierre
Over the course of his career, he landed 90 takedowns – the second-most in UFC historical past – whereas sustaining a outstanding accuracy price between 73.7% and 75.0%. This degree of precision and quantity translated to a median of 4.16 takedowns per quarter-hour.
Past sheer takedown numbers, St-Pierre excelled at controlling opponents on the mat. He holds the record 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 have been spent within the dominant high place, additionally the very best mark recorded, underscoring his skill not solely to carry foes to the canvas however to maintain them there.
