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In the UFC, knockouts typically earn all the fanfare from the promotion's chief spectators. Fans across the globe often cheer their hearts out any time a fighter is flattened by a seismic strike that separates them from their consciousness. Unfortunately, submissions aren't afforded the same level of reverence.
They're more difficult for casual fans to grasp. The setups involved in grappling sequences require a keen eye that's aware of the transitions and positional elements taking place. Even certain submissions aren't fully apparent until the trapped fighter taps out to the manuever.
Regardless, submissions are deserving of respect. This year has had a wealth of stunning submissions and even first-time variations in the promotion's history. So as 2022 comes to a close, this list compiles five of the best submissions of the year.
#5. Zhang Weili vs. Carla Esparza, UFC 281
Zhang Weili is a striker by trade. Her martial arts background is Sanda, a style of Chinese kickboxing. However, she's progressed rapidly as a mixed martial artist due to the sheer volume of training she has undergone in recent years. Chiefly, her training under Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo has benefitted her greatly.
At UFC 281, she showcased the true strength of her training. She faced lifelong wrestler Carla Esparza for the UFC strawweight title. In the second round of the bout, 'Magnum' stuffed a takedown from 'The Cookie Monster' and transitioned to her back.
From there, she wrapped her legs around Esparza's right arm, trapping it in a crucifix position. Instead of raining down elbows, 'Magnum' sunk in a rear-naked choke from an unorthodox position. Within seconds, Esparza tapped out and surrendered her divisional crown.
#4. Jéssica Andrade vs. Amanda Lemos, UFC Fight Night 205
Jéssica Andrade is among the most powerful punchers in the UFC strawweight division, but so is Amanda Lemos. At UFC Fight Night 205, the two women clashed in a bout that they both hoped would determine the next challenger for the divisional throne.
Within three minutes, 'Bate Estaca' had made a read on her foe. Lemos answered her forward movement with a left hook. Once Andrade began to expect it, she ducked under the punch and hooked her arm around Lemos' neck before bullying her towards the fence.
In doing so, she also trapped the arm Lemos used for her left hook against her head. With her foe now pinned against the cage, the end was elementary. 'Bate Estaca' secured a grip and finished her opponent with the first standing arm-triangle choke in UFC history.
#3. Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje, UFC 274
Charles Oliveira leads the UFC in terms of submission wins. No fighter has forced their opponents to tap out more than 'do Bronx' has. He is a finisher, through and through, and at UFC 274 he showed the world why. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu phenom faced Justin Gaethje in what should have been his third title defense.
Unfortunately, Oliveira missed weight and was stripped of the title. Furthermore, only 'The Highlight' was eligible to win the title during their bout due to the mishap. But that didn't matter because Gaethje was denied a title win, and it only took Oliveira a round to secure his victory.
While Gaethje found some early success with his left hook, dropping his foe, he himself was dropped soon afterwards by a right cross. The Brazilian immediately pounced with a triangle choke, but Gaethje managed to scramble free. Alas, he scrambled into a back-take.
The greatest finisher in the promotion's history sunk in a rear-naked choke and 'The Highlight' tapped out against the man he had spent weeks labeling a quitter.
#2. Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira, UFC 280
Islam Makhachev is Khabib Nurmagomedov's heir apparent. For years, he was touted as a future champion, and at UFC 280, he fulfilled his destiny. Prior to facing Charles Oliveira, a multitude of people questioned whether the Dagestani phenom deserved a title fight.
Others went so far as to question his skill due to the perceived lack of top-level opponents he had faced. Regardless, Makhachev's opportunity came on October 22 this year. His opponent was a third-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with a record number of submission wins in the UFC.
In the second round, Oliveira attempted an ill-advised flying knee. To his dismay, he was countered by a picture-perfect right hook from Makhachev. Much like his former foe Gaethje in his previous bout, Oliveira was dropped and smothered. Before long, Makhachev secured an arm-triangle choke.
The strength of his iron squeeze proved to be too much to 'do Bronx', and the record-breaking BJJ specialist tapped out against the man he promised to outgrapple.
#1. Jiří Procházka vs. Glover Teixeira, UFC 275
Before UFC 275, no one could have ever pictured a scenario in which Jiří Procházka defeated Glover Teixeira via submission. Instead, most analysts predicted that the Brazilian's best route to victory was to submit the Czech phenom.
It was believed by everyone that Procházka's best chances involved keeping the fight standing. What ended up taking place, however, was a chaotic war that included equal levels of striking and grappling. The two men rocked each other at various points, and scrambled for positions on the mat in other instances.
Towards the end of the bout, both Procházka and Teixeira were exhausted. With one minute left in the final round, the Brazilian had mounted his foe. However, due to their positioning on the mat, Procházka could place his feet against the fence. With time ticking away, he pushed himself off the fence.
With no other choice, Teixeira rolled with the momentum and his foe ended up on top of him. The Czech phenom secured a slick back-take and landed a few labored but hard shots to his opponent's head. To avoid a possible TKO, Teixeira rolled forward in search of a kneebar.
But Procházka was ready and quickly re-positioned himself before sliding towards side control. As he tried to secure a mounted crucifix, Teixeira sought to avoid any potential elbows by turning away onto his stomach. It was the beginning of the end as Procházka quickly trapped his foe’s neck in a rear-naked choke.
While he never hooked his legs around his opponent's torso for more leverage, it was enough. Teixeira was beyond exhausted and he, a seasoned BJJ black belt, tapped out to a white belt with 30 seconds left in a fight he would've won via decision.
