BORETSMykola Chaban vs five BJJ belts: wrestling meets leg attacks
July 18, 2026Former Ukrainian national-team freestyle wrestler Mykola “Kolya” Chaban enters at 57 kg against five fresh BJJ athletes. The order runs from white through black belt, with three-minute rounds and only 90 seconds of recovery. Guard pulling is banned. Unlike a takedowns-only challenge, this test continues into submission exchanges, which become central to the later rounds.
A standing requirement with a ground continuation
The no-guard-pull rule makes every opponent engage with Chaban’s standing game. The first two are introduced at 73 kg and 83 kg, already placing the wrestler at a substantial weight disadvantage. Fresh opposition and short breaks add another condition: he must repeat the task while the opponent changes.
That setup matters more than the phrase “wrestling versus BJJ” alone. Taking an athlete down and defending a submission are different jobs. The challenge asks Chaban to connect the strengths of his first sport to exchanges that do not end when the takedown succeeds.
Where the run changes
The episode records Chaban getting through the white-, blue- and purple-belt rounds. An unconventional wrestling action against the blue belt is accepted by the group as a submission; it should not be turned into a claim about a standard named BJJ technique.
The brown and black belts then stop him with leg attacks. The post-match discussion identifies those exchanges as unfamiliar territory for Chaban. His mobility remains part of the story, but it does not automatically solve the submission problem created around his legs.
Watch the transition that exposes the gap
The most useful comparison is between the standing connection and the next decision on the mat. At what point does a mobile exchange become a controlled leg situation? What changes before the wrestler’s usual movement stops being enough? These are viewing questions, not an escape recipe.
The film shows why a strong starting skill needs a continuation adapted to the rules. Chaban’s early success and late difficulties belong to the same performance. Keeping both in view gives a more accurate account than using either half to declare one sport universally superior.
From the YouTube description
BJJ vs Wrestling gets BRUTAL. A 57 kg (126 lb) former national team freestyle wrestler Mykola Chaban faces five fresh Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes — from white belt to black belt — in a no-guard-pull grappling gauntlet. Every opponent starts fresh. The wrestler gets only 90 seconds to recover before the next round. Expect explosive takedowns, chain wrestling, wild scrambles, submission attacks and serious leg-lock pressure as every matchup gets harder. Can a lightweight freestyle wrestler beat EVERY BJJ belt? THE RULES: • Five rounds — three minutes each • No guard pulling • A submission ends the round • If time expires without a tap, the wrestler wins the round • Only 90 seconds of rest between opponents THE MATCHUP: 🤼 National Team Freestyle Wrestler — 57 kg (126 lb) ⚪ BJJ White Belt (73 kg) 🔵 BJJ Blue Belt (83 kg) 🟣 BJJ Purple Belt (73 kg) 🟤 BJJ Brown Belt (78 kg) ⚫ BJJ Black Belt (74 kg) CHAPTERS: 0:00 Wrestler vs BJJ Preview 0:11 The Five-Belt Challenge 0:21 The 125LB Underdog 0:31 Rules of the Gauntlet 0:47 Wrestler vs BJJ White Belt 1:32 Wrestler vs BJJ Blue Belt 2:20 Wrestler vs BJJ Purple Belt 4:41 Wrestler vs BJJ Brown Belt 6:23 Wrestler vs BJJ Black Belt 7:58 Final Result Which BJJ belt gave the wrestler the toughest round? Drop the belt — and tell us why — in the comments 👇 For the rematch, what should we run: a fresh one-on-one against the black belt, another five-belt gauntlet, or one ADCC-style round? All participants are trained athletes. The matches were filmed in a controlled gym under agreed grappling rules. Do not attempt these techniques without professional supervision. Subscribe to BORETS LAB: https://www.youtube.com/@SK-Borets?sub_confirmation=1 #BJJ #Wrestling #Grappling
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