The conversation on a recent episode of the JAXXON Podcast turned heated when former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold delivered an assessment of modern Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In his view, much of what dominates today’s grappling competitions simply does not translate to mixed martial arts.
During a UFC recap discussion with MMA veterans Frank Shamrock, Andre Fili, and Khalil Rountree, the group began debating the role of grappling in contemporary MMA. The conversation centered on featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and his ability to deal with elite wrestlers like Movsar Movsar Evloev.
Fili pointed to the growing influence of submission grappling innovations, particularly techniques popularized by world-class grappler Craig Jones.
“But the other thing is Volk, he also has that Craig Jones-like anti-Dagestani wrestling,” Fili said. “Like they do the weird cross butterfly hook. Like all that anti-wrestling s**t that Craig Jones is doing is f**king good.”
Rockhold immediately pushed back, cutting off the optimism with a sweeping dismissal of modern sport jiu-jitsu.
“None of the new jiu-jitsu works in MMA,” he said. “None of that butterfly stuff…. None of that s**t works in MMA.”
He doubled down moments later. “Stop trying to do X guards and butterfly guards and butt scoots,” Rockhold said. “F**k off with that s**t. None of it works.”
Fili challenged the claim directly, pointing to Volkanovski’s ability to survive dangerous grappling situations against elite opponents.
“If none of it works, then what did Volk use to get up when Islam took him down?” Fili asked.
The exchange quickly shifted to the match between Volkanovski and Brian Ortega. Rockhold dismissed the idea that technical innovation was responsible for the escape.
“What did Volk use to get out of Brian Ortega’s guillotine?” he said. “His goddamn guts and his balls.”
Fili tried to steer the discussion back toward technique. “Some technique, I mean…” he replied.
But Rockhold remained firm. “No,” he said. “He scrambles.”
At that point, Frank Shamrock offered a more philosophical perspective rooted in his experience from the early days of MMA.
“I can say as someone who survived it all,” Shamrock said. “Everything works and nothing works for long.”
