Wrestling for MMA: Jussier Formiga

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLCTraditionally, the most effective MMA wrestlers are physical, often brutish players.

Even slick operators like Zach Makovsky lean on insane athleticism to implement their strategy and craft.

When it comes to fighters with jiu jitsu backgrounds, their base wrestling skill varies wildly. There are some with next-to-no takedown game to speak of, who either attempt to wrestle in spite of this or do their best to encourage their opponent to engage them. Others, like Gilbert Burns, diligently trained a more straightforward, physical wrestling style and rounded out their game.

The lines start to blur when you look at someone like Demian Maia. In terms of…