Sherdog’s Top 10: MMA Rivalries

2. Luta Livre vs. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

These two combat disciplines have a deep-rooted rivalry dating back to World War II. It can be traced to a showdown between luta livre founder Euclydes Hatem and George Grace, which saw Hatem defeat a prominent member of the jiu-jitsu family. His victory allowed the new martial art to gain a foothold in terms of popularity in Brazil, drawing the ire of Brazilian jiu-jitsu players across the country.

Jiu-jitsu came to dominate the rivalry, thanks mostly to the Gracies and everything they accomplished, but the intensity between the two camps never died. It led to street fights, challenges in dojos and a famous skirmish on the beach between Rickson Gracie and Hugo Duarte. The Gracies later used film of the fight as proof that jiu-jitsu was the superior discipline.

At a major jiu-jitsu versus luta livre event in 1991, three prominent BJJ players -- Wallid Ismail, Fabio Gurgel and Murilo Bustamante -- were victorious against rivals Eugenio Tadei, Marcelo Mendes and Denilson Maia. Luta livre practitioners have never quite achieved the same success in MMA as their jiu-jitsu counterparts, and the animosity between the two sides remains to this day.

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