Issue 169

August 2018

Awarded to the fighters who score the most technical, exceptional submission.

DIEGO BRANDAO VS. MURAD MACHAEV

Fight Nights Global 58

Showcasing a move rarely seen outside of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu warm-up drills, Diego Brandao submitted Murad Machaev on the Russian’s home turf with a spectacular helicopter armbar. The bout had been back and forth, with the Brazilian coming forward with strikes, whilst his adversary sought to take the fight to the mat. As Machaev continued down that path at the start of the second round, he allowed Brandao to elevate him with his feet on the hips, causing the former Sambo champion to fall straight into the BJJ black belt’s waiting armlock to end the fight.

BRETT JOHNS VS. JOE SOTO

TUF 26 Finale

Brett Johns was not known as a spectacular finisher prior to his contest against Joe Soto, although he had given two great performances in the UFC to earn the step-up in competition. Early in the first, Soto looked for a single leg, with Johns channeling his inner Eddie Bravo to counter with ‘the truck’, locking up an excruciating calf-slicer and forcing former title challenger Soto to tap after just 30 seconds.

ALI BAGOV VS. BUBBA JENKINS

ACB 54

Russia’s Ali Bagov met Bellator veteran Bubba Jenkins in a catchweight contest in Manchester, England, and throughout the fight, Bagov threw every submission attempt possible at his American foe. Late in the second round as Bagov worked from his opponent’s back, he locked up an unconventional triangle choke, seemingly en route to his favoured armbar. However, there was no need to go anywhere else, as he applied enough pressure to send Jenkins for an early night, with referee Herb Dean stepping in to save the unconscious fighter.

BRIAN ORTEGA VS. CUB SWANSON

UFC Fight Night 123

It was the biggest fight of his career, and Brian Ortega could have been forgiven for being conservative and wary in his approach to taking on Cub Swanson at UFC Fight Night 123 in Fresno. Clearly, that’s not his style. After coming close to submitting Swanson with an anaconda choke in round one – the Jackson Wink man had to be saved by the bell – he took the opportunity again in round two, only this time he had the time to work. Moving from the front headlock to a guillotine, “T-City” jumped guard on the tight choke, forcing Swanson to tap, and gifting Ortega his ticket to the top fights.

DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON VS. RAY BORG

UFC 216

Dominant UFC flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson is regularly lauded for his true mixed martial arts game, an ability to blend striking, wrestling and submissions seamlessly. Never has his amalgamation of skills been more evident than in his eleventh straight title defence against Ray Borg at UFC 216. Johnson began to belly-to-back suplex the challenger, bailing halfway to latch on to the arm and pick up a deft armbar finish that you’re unlikely to see executed in the cage again.