Issue 167

A four-time World Jiu-Jitsu Championships gold medal winner, current UFC light heavyweight Vinny Magalhaes shares his best submission moves with the help of UFC middleweight Tom Lawlor.

SKILL: ARMBAR ESCAPE TO SIDE CONTROL

1. Vinny begins in Tom’s guard. Tom has control of Vinny’s right arm.

2. Tom then pulls Vinny’s right arm across his own chest gripping it high with his left hand, and swings his legs up around Vinny’s head to attempt an armbar.

3. Before Tom can torque Vinny’s arm and complete the armbar, Vinny locks his armbarred right hand onto the inside of his left elbow, preventing Tom from pulling the arm towards him.

4. To escape the armbar completely, Vinny ‘stacks’ Tom, forcing his weight on top of Tom’s hips and legs, thereby compressing him and further preventing Tom from torqueing the arm and ultimately hyperextending the elbow.

5. Tom now has little leverage and Vinny pops his right elbow and arm out of the submission attempt. Vinny now has the opportunity to gain dominant position. 

6. Vinny ‘crossfaces’ to restrict Tom’s movement by reaching around Tom’s legs and putting his right arm across Tom’s upper body and face.

7. Vinny advances past Tom’s legs by twisting his right shoulder and hip forward, and moves into side control.