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If you asked people 20 years ago what the best way to win a fight was, the answer you’d likely get would be to punch or kick your opponent. That mindset changed forever on Nov. 12, 1993.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship was born and a 170-pound Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert named Royce Gracie altered how people viewed the art of fighting after he submitted his way to a UFC 1 tournament win.
To date, there have been 650 submissions in UFC history. Gracie holds the record for most submission wins with 11. The quickest submission belongs to Oleg Taktarov, who finished Anthony Macias in nine seconds at UFC 6 in 1995, while the latest submission in a UFC bout came earlier this year when Demetrious Johnson tapped John Moraga with an armbar 23 minutes and 43 seconds into their flyweight title bout.
Mixed martial arts has evolved more than any other sport over the last two decades and perhaps the one element in MMA that has changed the most during that time is the art of the submission.
So, in honour of the UFC’s 20th anniversary, here’s a look at the top 20 UFC submissions of all-time:
Mir breaks Nogueira’s arm
In a battle of the two greatest heavyweight submission artists in MMA history, Frank Mir put on a brilliant grappling display in his UFC 140 win over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Mir overcame adversity after being rocked and defending a guillotine choke attempt. The American swept the Brazilian and transitioned to side control where he locked in a kimura. Big Nog attempted to flip Mir, but the former two-time heavyweight champ rolled with him, stepped over the head and torqued Nogueira’s arms until his humerus bone snapped in two.
Korean Zombie pulls of the Twister
The “Zombie Twister” sounds like it could be a great novelty song, but in reality it’s arguably the best submission in UFC history. From back control, Chan Sung Jung locked in one of the most complex submission holds you’ll see as he contorted Leonard Garcia’s spine en route to victory and infamy. It’s the only Twister in UFC history.
Silva taps Sonnen to salvage title
It’s the greatest comeback in UFC history because of what was at stake. Chael Sonnen had dominated Anderson Silva, who many thought was invincible at the time, for nearly five full rounds at UFC 117. Silva, who fought with a severely injured rib, showed a champion’s resolve and locked in a perfectly executed triangle with fewer than two minutes remaining in the final round of one of the most memorable main events in MMA.
GSP dominates Hughes
Anyone that says GSP can’t finish fights, here’s a refresher course into the vast skill set that the Canadian possesses. He started with a judo throw into side control, stepped over Hughes’s head for a triangle from the top, started working on a kimura before he locked in a vicious armbar that had Hughes screaming to verbally tap.
Maia schools Sonnen
Demian Maia is known as one of the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu artists to ever transition to MMA and his most impressive submission in the UFC was this triangle on Chael Sonnen. He sets it up with a beautiful foot sweep before securing the hold from the top and rolling to his back finish the fight.
Gracie becomes the first UFC champion
There’s nothing special about the hold itself, other than it was executed perfectly, but Royce Gracie’s rear-naked choke of Gerard Gordeau is arguably the most significant submission in martial arts history because it essentially introduced the world to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which is a cornerstone of MMA. Gracie was the smaller man, but his display in the finals of UFC 1 proved that technique was more important than size, strength and intimidating looks.
Hazelett’s wild armbar
While controlling a deep wizzer on Josh Burkman’s right arm during a judo throw attempt in 2008, Dustin Hazelett flung his left leg over his opponent’s head to lock in the perhaps the most creative armbar ever seen in the Octagon.
Jones puts Machida to sleep
This was MMA’s equivalent of a standup comedian telling the perfect joke, dropping the mic and strutting off stage. Jon Jones pinned Lyoto Machida against the cage at the UFC 140 main event and secured a modified guillotine aided by his notorious long limbs.
Mir spoils Lesnar’s UFC debut
It was maybe the most anticipated non-title fight in UFC history at the time and Mir derailed the Brock Lesnar hype train with a swift kneebar.
Oliveira taps Wisely with a calf slicer
The crafty Charles Oliveira originally went for a heel hook then knee bar, but transitioned to the first calf slicer submission ever in the UFC much to the dismay of Eric Wisely and his leg.
Penn submits Florian at height of dominance
BJ Penn has probably the best rear-naked choke in MMA history and this example against Kenny Florian is terrific. He set up the finishing hold with some heel strikes to the midsection before locking in the choke in rapid succession. Florian defended with proper technique but he could only hold on for so long.
Hughes catches GSP at UFC 50
When a fighter overcommits on a kimura attempt from the bottom, an advanced counter is to step over the head and lock in an armbar. Hughes did so perfectly with one second remaining in the first round of his first meeting with GSP. It was the first loss of St-Pierre’s career and the only time he’s been submitted to date.
Dollaway’s Peruvian necktie
The first Peruvian necktie in UFC history came courtesy of CB Dollaway against TUF 7 rival Jesse Taylor. It looks odd but man is it effective.
“The Mr. Wonderful”
It’s now known as “The Mr. Wonderful” in honour of Phil Davis’s nickname, and it’s the most creative kimura in UFC history.
Mir snaps Sylvia’s arm
Until his kimura on Nogueira, this armbar of Tim Sylvia defined Mir’s career. The significance of the term “tap or snap” increases tenfold after seeing the hold that earned Mir the heavyweight title back in 2004.
Garza’s risky move pays off
Pablo Garza was the first featherweight to win in the UFC and he was the first fighter to win at a UFC event in the province of Ontario. Early in the first fight at the historic UFC 129 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Garza used his length and leverage perfectly while in the clinch as he locked in the first and only flying triangle submission in UFC history.
Hughes turns tables on Trigg
UFC president Dana White has gone on record saying this UFC 52 bout is his favourite fight of all-time. In an anticipated grudge match, and a rematch of a fight Hughes won two years prior, Trigg nearly had Hughes finished early. He hit Hughes with an illegal knee to the groin that was missed by the ref and he followed up with punches that almost put Hughes away. He locked in a rear-naked choke, but Hughes escaped, lifted Trigg over his head, ran across the cage, slammed Trigg to the ground and locked in a rear-naked choke of his own to retain his welterweight title.
Diaz’s double birdy triangle
Nate Diaz’s triangle choke of Kurt Pellegrino was not only superbly executed, but it came with a whole lot of attitude.
Palhares humbles Salaverry
Rousimar Palhares is known for his devastating leg locks, but in his UFC debut he showed Canadian Ivan Salaverry he had other tricks in his bag, as the Brazilian transitioned from back control to a perfect armbar.
Lesnar plays role of comeback kid
Brock Lesnar was beaten to a pulp in the first round of his UFC 116 main event against fellow behemoth Shane Carwin. However, he survived and in the second round secured a takedown, locked in an arm-triangle choke and squeezed his way to victory. Lesnar hadn’t fought in a year after being diagnosed with diverticulitis. It was the last time Lesnar would win in the Octagon.
