If you’re a fan of mixed martial arts (MMA), it’s highly likely you love watching knockouts. If, however, you’re a true student of the game, your preference may drift toward submission moves. Granted, submission moves may not be as glamorous as knockouts, yet they involve a lot more skill and strategy. Unlike knockouts, which center around brute force and striking precision, MMA submission moves can look a little milder to the casual observer, but they are every bit as devastating.
Here, for your pleasure, are our favorite top 10 MMA submission moves.
No.10 – Gogoplata
From the guard position, the fighter will pull his opponent forward and try to execute a choke hold. With his own leg crossed over his body (as though he was lying cross-legged) and hooked under the chin of his opponent, the fighter will simply pull his opponent’s head down until his throat is against the shin. From there, he’ll continue to pull until his opponent begins losing oxygen and is forced to tap out. This move would be higher on our list if it were more common. However, perhaps because it requires impressive flexibility, it’s not often performed by MMA fighters, especially those in higher weight classes.
No.9 – Knee bar
If you have knee problems, this submission move will make you cringe as it can be quite gruesome. This move commonly occurs after coming out of an opponent’s guard. After the guard is broken, the fighter on top will turn his back on the prone opponent and wrap his arms around a leg. Using his own body weight as leverage, the fighter falls backward with both his arms and legs around the opponent’s isolated leg. To increase the torque — and pain — the fighter can also pull down on his opponent’s toes. The knee bar hyperextends the opponent’s knee, causing him to tap out.
No.8 – Ankle lock
While an opponent is on his back, the fighter will wrap one arm around the opponent’s ankle, placing it in his armpit. He’ll then lock that arm to his other arm. His free hand is placed on the opponent’s shin, and using his leg as leverage, the fighter will lean back. The pressure, on the opponent’s calf or Achilles tendon, causes a hyperextension of the ankle joint, and such pain that he’ll be forced to submit before long.
No.7 – Kimura
This submission move is named after judo great Masahiko Kimura, who used the move to snap MMA legend Helio Gracie’s arm in a match in 1955. Applied from either the guard or side-control positions, the fighter in guard will grab the opponent’s hand or wrist, open his own guard and sit up or rotate to the side. The fighter will then reach over his foe’s arm that’s being held by the hand, grab his own wrist and start pushing the prone opponent’s arm away from his body, moving it toward his head. This lock hyper rotates the shoulder and has been used as a successful submission move in several notable fights.
No.6 – Arm triangle
Often executed from the guard or side position, the arm triangle choke will cut off the opponent’s blood circulation. From guard, the fighter will pull his opponent forward with his arm up and alongside the fighter’s head. The fighter will then wrap one arm behind the opponent’s neck and with that arm’s hand, grasp his own bicep while placing his other hand’s palm on the back of the opponent’s head. From there, he’ll push his opponent to the side and push his head down until he submits.
For the other five moves, along with videos for all ten, please continue reading this article at AskMen.com.







