Issue 034

February 2008

You want to pull off moves just like the pro’s, so every month we’ll give you step-by-step instructions on techniques as used by your favourite fighters. This month, Matt Hughes’s ground and pound from side control, including his famous fight-finishing crucifix. 

1. Pete (top) has Richie in a tight cross-body pin. Both his knees are in tight, his elbow and knee together, and his shoulder is squeezing Richie's neck and jaw with a tight Gable grip.

2.Pete stays anchored with his far-side under hook and raises his arm to punch down on Richie's face.

3 He delivers a short choppy shot to the jaw.

4.As he raises his arm again, Richie anticipates the defence. He grabs Pete's bicep to prevent the punch landing again.

5.Pete switches his base, back leg outstretched. 

6 He slides his knee over Richie's elbow, trapping his arm to the mat with his shin across the elbow joint. 

7 a+b. From here Pete hammers away again with punches to the face while Richie is unable to defend. From here it is possible to finish the fight as Matt Hughes did with both Carlos Newton and BJ Penn. 

8.Elbow strikes can also be used. The arm must travel parallel to the mat to keep the strike legal as downward elbows are prohibited. 

9.Note the elbow is drawn backward across the jaw, not straight down.

10 Richie frees his far arm and beings his hand across to defend his face from the strikes.

11.Pete takes control of the wrist…  

12.…and pins it to the mat. 

13.Pete feeds his arm through, taking a figure-four grip. 

14 a+b.  To finish the submission Pete drags the palm down the mat, levering the elbow up. 

15.Alternatively, Pete threads one arm through and holds the far wrist, leaving his other hand free to punch and elbow and eliminating both of Richie's arms for defence.