Top 20 Submission Moves In MMA

this artical was written by Robert Rousseau, ExtremeProSports.com

Neck Crank - This submission can be applied when a person is in a dominant position (mount or side mount). It involves pulling or twisting the head farther than it should go with two arms. Not really a choke, but better suited here than anywhere else.

North-South Choke - The performer must be on top in the north- south position to apply this hold. From there the performer cuts off the flow of blood to the neck with his or her bicep. This hasn't been extremely effective in mixed martial arts, primarily because few mixed martial artists end up in the north - south position and it's a slow working submission.

Thus it gives fighters too much time to get out.

Rear Naked Choke - The performer must have access to their opponent's back to pull this off. From there they curl one arm around the their neck, bicep against one side of the neck, forearm against the other. Then the performer tugs it close and place the hand of the choking arm on the bicep of their other arm as that arm comes up behind the opponent's head and touches their hair. Last, the applier tucks their head, expands their chest, and squeezes.

Oftentimes MMA fighters use their legs as 'hooks' for leverage. To see a great example of this popular MMA move, check out Matt Hughes versus Frank Trigg I.

Triangle Choke - This move was made famous by Royce Gracie in an early MMA bout against Dan Severn. While in the guard, the performer traps an arm and extends their opposite side leg across their opponent's neck so that it lands on the other side of the combatant's body. Then their other leg crosses over that leg to tighten the hold.

In effect, this choke traps an opponent's neck in a triangle utilizing the perfomer's leg and their opponent's own arm.


Arm Locks

Americana - A lateral keylock (see keylock below).

Arm Bar (from guard) - Perhaps the most utilized of all mixed martial arts submission holds. The performer traps an arm with one hand and uses their other hand to hold that opponent close (oftentimes by grabbing the shoulder or neck). Next they open their guard, pivot or crunch in the direction opposite of the arm they've isolated, and climb the leg opposite the trapped arm up their opponent's back. At the same time, they make a small loop around their opponent's neck with their other leg. With both hands on the isolated arm, the performer lifts their hips and pulls the caught arm in while pressing out with their legs.

To see an example of this, one need only look to Fedor Emelianenko's recent victory over Mark Coleman in PRIDE's first American contest.

Armbar (from the mount) - The performer isolates an arm with their own opposite side arm. As they do this, they may choose to put pressure on their opponent's neck with their free arm. Then the performer grabs the isolated arm with both hands, comes up to a squat, and pivots around clockwise (if isolating their opponent's right arm) or counterclockwise (left arm), eventually ending up perpendicular to their opponent.

Finally, the performer's legs pinch the isolated arm and they fall back into an armbar.

Keylock - Generally, one needs side mount to pull this submission off. Once side mount is achieved, the performer grabs their opponent's wrist with their near hand and reaches under that arm with their free hand, grabbing their own forearm. The performer then forces the elbow upwards.

Kimura (from the guard) - The performer grips their opponent's hand, opens their guard, pushes off the hips of their opponent, and sits up. Then with their free hand they reach over and through the arm they've isolated to grab their own wrist. Finally, keeping that arm away from their opponent's body, the performer attempts to touch the back of the trapped hand to their opponent's head.

Omoplata - From the guard, the performer places one leg under the opponent's armpit and turns toward that leg, thereby catching their opponent's arm. By pushing the arm away from the back, terrible pressure is put on the shoulder. Sometimes, depending on the emphasis put on the leg, an elbow can also be harmed.

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