MMA
Best UFC Takedown Accuracy: GSP, Lawler & Statistical Leaders
For many, UFC takedowns are simply a technical aspect of the sport and nothing more. How horribly wrong they are. The ability to manipulate mixed martial art movements separates champions from challengers. Fighters with the ability to fight on the ground often pacify pure strikers and impose themselves on the fight almost instantly. We take a look at the likes of Georges St-Pierre’s takedowns all the way through to names like Nordine Taleb and everything in between.
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SB Market Index: How We Evaluate the Best Takedown Artists
This evaluation combines a statistical analysis of their takedown accuracy with expert and media perception of their overall greatness and impact to provide a comprehensive ranking. Our SB Market Index then offers a comprehensive approach to evaluating evidence of takedown ability in the UFC.
The two pillars we consider include:
- SB Score (purely based on UFC career takedown accuracy, 100% weighting)
- Industry Insights (a tally of how often fighters are featured in top MMA publications/Hall of Fame or GOAT debates.
Industry Insights
A curated analysis from top 10 MMA and sports media sources measures how prominently each fighter is featured in discussions of the greatest and most impactful UFC fighters of all time.
| Source | Nordine Taleb | Taila Santos | Robbie Lawler | Georges St-Pierre | Bartosz Fabinski |
| UFC Hall of Fame | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| MMA Mania | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| TalkSPORT | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| GiveMeSport | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MMA Junkie | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MMA Fighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| ESPN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| TheKarateBlog | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Reddit/MMA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Wikipedia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
SB Score
| Fighter | Division(s) | Takedown Accuracy % | SB Score |
| Nordine Taleb | MW / WW | 76.20% | 1.000 |
| Taila Santos | W-FLW | 75.00% | 0.984 |
| Robbie Lawler | MW / WW | 73.90% | 0.970 |
| Georges St-Pierre | MW / WW | 73.80% | 0.968 |
| Bartosz Fabinski | MW / WW | 70.60% | 0.927 |
SB Market Index
| Rank | Fighter | SB Score | Industry Insights | SB Market Index |
| 1 | Georges St-Pierre | 0.968 | 10 | 8.194 |
| 2 | Robbie Lawler | 0.970 | 2 | 1.794 |
| 3 | Nordine Taleb | 1.000 | 0 | 0.200 |
| 4 | Taila Santos | 0.984 | 0 | 0.197 |
| 5 | Bartosz Fabinski | 0.927 | 0 | 0.185 |
Georges St-Pierre: The GOAT of Takedown Artistry
His is a name which simply epitomises the top UFC wrestlers of our modern age. With an SB Market index of 8.194, the rest are way off his pace statistically and so can have no real claim to the title of “greatest” UFC fighter – at least in our opinion.
In his prime, he was virtually untouchable. His takedowns were able to dictate the pace of fights and control the energy on the floor. He seamlessly nullified dangerous opponents and was able to keep up an exhausting pace throughout his fights.
So yes, he tops the conversation charts for UFC grappling records. However, he also dominates the GOAT conversations too.
The Statistical Leaders vs. Overall Legacy
Nordine Taleb: A Quiet Efficiency
As a former middle and welterweight fighter, Taleb is another who rarely wasted energy on failed attempts. So, while he lacks the greater recognition or high-profile wins to elevate his legacy, his raw SB Market Index reflects positively at just 0.200.
Taila Santos: Rising Star, Elite Numbers
A standout among the female division, Santos holds a 75% takedown accuracy rating. Her wrestling-heavy approach to fights sees her dominate the women’s flyweight division. While she doesn’t hold any real legacy clout, her numbers throughout her career are simply outstanding.
The Hall of Famer: Robbie Lawler
Although he is often more associated with his brutal knockouts and slugfests, Lawler’s wrestling has largely remained under the radar. Boasting numbers like 73.9% for his takedown accuracy, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to see him on the list.
Given that he is largely a product of Pat Miletich, his wrestling is often as aggressively defensive as it is offensive in nature. His championship run was often rooted in a strong wrestling grounding and many times became its saving grace.
Conclusion on Takedown Efficiency and Greatness
As much as we might enjoy them, raw stats only reveal part of the story in the best UFC takedown accuracy debate. Taleb and Santos might find the number one position numerically, but George St-Pierre (GSP) reigns supreme when you bring together statistical brilliance and legacy.
Our SB Market Index indicates how fighters leave their mark effortlessly. The consistency of the GSP, quiet excellence and execution of Taleb or the often forgotten Lawler, these athletes perfectly embody UFC takedown stats leaders. In the world of mixed martial arts, and in particular, UFC – takedowns will always remain an incredible skill.
Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.