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Knockouts and submissions have always been the most exciting part of MMA. While knockouts are mostly about brute force, submissions are slicker and usually more pleasing to the eye of a MMA fan.This year we have already seen several amazing submission victories. Georges St-Pierre’s rear naked choke on Michael Bisping last month is still fresh in our minds. However, every once in a while we see submission victories which stand out either because of the difficulty involved in executing them or because they are used so rarely in the ring. As the curtain drops on 2017, here is a look at some of the craziest submissions this year.
#5 Rousimar Palhares(Heel Hook)
Alexei Ivanov learned the hard way, that when Rousimar Palhares gets hold of your ankle you better tap fast! The Brazilian welterweight is known as one of the most feared exponents of leg locks in MMA and wasted little time to go for Ivanov’s heel. Once Palhares got the hook in, it was a battle for survival for the Russian. Ivanov tried to roll over, but that just made the hold tighter and Ivanov tapped soon after, writhing in pain.
#4 Jonno Mears (Boston Crab)
When Jonno Mears submitted Aaron Jones in the first round, the little known Englishman created MMA history. After all, this was the first time someone had made their opponent tap with the Boston Crab. The hold has been traditionally used only in professional wrestling. Those who have followed the in-ring exploits of Chris Jericho in WWE have seen him use the move in several matches as the ‘Walls of Jericho’.
#3 Oleksiy Oliynyk(Ezekiel Choke)
At UFC Fight Night 103, the world witnessed why Oleksiy Oliynyk is nicknamed ‘The Boa Constrictor’.The Russian submission artist came up against Czech prospect, Victor Pesta who was 12 years his junior. Pesta started the fight strong and was raining punches from side control, when Oliynyk suddenly slapped in the rarely seen choke from the bottom, forcing him to submit. Incidentally, this was the first submission victory in UFC with an Ezekiel choke.
#2 Ali Bagov (Reverse Triangle Choke)
We have all seen submissions via the triangle choke but what about a reverse triangle? Russian lightweight Ali Bagov, pulled off this amazing maneuver against Bellator veteran Bubba Jenkins in March this year. Bagov took Jenkins’s back in the second round and seemed to be working on an armbar, but instead pressed his calf into the American’s throat, in a modified triangle, which soon rendered him unconscious.
#1 Diego Brandao (Helicopter Armbar)
Former UFC featherweight contender, Diego Brandao, started his stint with Russian promotion FNG in spectacular fashion. The TUF 14 winner started slow in the first round and was taken down repeatedly by local favourite Murad Machaev, who came into the fight on a 11 fight wining streak. Brandao, who is known for his aggressive striking, displayed his slick ground game in the second round and trapped Machaev with a rarely seen technique, called the ‘Helicopter Armbar’, which immediately made the Russian submit.
