Mixed Martial Arts requires its combatants to have a deep knowledge of every facet of the sport. Unlike basketball where you can play just a single position on the court, fighters who are very good in one sphere but have limited skills in other areas do not last very long.
Technically, one of the most challenging skills to learn in MMA is the art of submission in all of its many forms, but it’s an essential component of any fighter’s game in this day and age.
Submission holds are grouped into two broad categories: Joint locks and chokeholds. Statistically, chokes are much more prevalent in mixed martial arts, primarily because they are easier to pull off during a fight. Four of the top five most successful submission moves applied in major MMA events over the past few years have been chokeholds.
So, with that in mind, what are the best techniques fighters use to send their foes to dreamland? We’ve got some BJJ experts to explain all the moves in detail!
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Login to View Offers!1. Rear Naked Choke
After years of competition inside the cage, the rear-naked choke has become the most successful submission move in MMA. It is applied from the opponent’s back (hence the term “rear”) and was given the term “naked” because it originated from a judo chokehold called “Hadake Jime” or “Naked Strangle.”
A common misconception regarding this move is that it cuts off the opponent’s air supply—that’s not the case. The basic version of the move is what’s known as a “blood choke,” meaning that it’s applied to points on the neck that briefly prevent blood from reaching the brain, causing the opponent to pass out.
To do this, a fighter slides his arm under his opponent’s neck, keeping the opponent’s trachea in the crook of his elbow. He squeezes his forearm on one side of the neck while his bicep presses on the other. The fighter’s other arm pushes the back of the opponent’s neck, which puts pressure on the rear and lateral sides, inducing sleepy time if they don’t tap.
2. Triangle Choke
The triangle gets its name because the attacker’s legs and the opponent’s isolated arm form a triangle shape as the move is performed.
The move is typically used as a counter-attack when the attacker is in guard on his back. Generally, as the opponent throws strikes, the attacker grabs hold of one of his arms, pulls it forward, and then wraps one of their legs around the opponent’s neck and shoulders. Their other leg locks the move by placing the knee around the ankle of the other foot.
Once the lock is in place, the opponent is trapped with their neck being squeezed by the attacker’s leg and their own arm, and with pressure applied, it’s only a matter of time until they tap out or go unconscious.
3. Guillotine Choke
Derived from the medieval execution device, the guillotine choke is one of the most commonly seen moves in the sport. It can be employed both from a standing position and the bottom.
While there are many opportunities to apply the move during a fight, wrestlers, in particular, often fall victim to the guillotine as they shoot for the takedown because they tend to leave their head and neck exposed. That leaves the opportunity for the move to be performed by slipping an arm under the opponent’s chin, grabbing that hand with their other hand, and then pulling upwards.
Often, when this move is performed, the two fighters will drop to the floor, with the person applying the choke closing guard to prevent their opponent from moving and gain additional leverage, as can be seen in the picture above.
4. Arm Triangle
Also called a side choke, this submission is often seen when a fighter secures the top position on the mat.
The fighter traps the opponent’s arm and neck by wrapping his arm behind the opponent’s neck, grabbing his bicep, or clasping his hands together.
From there, he slips off to the side of his opponent and pushes the head of the opponent down until he submits.
5. Gogoplata
It may be best known as the Undertaker’s finishing move in the WWE, but while it’s rarely seen in mixed martial arts, the gogoplata is as punitive as any chokehold.
Again, it is a counter-move done by the guard. It’s applied by pulling the opponent forward by locking their hands behind their head, then slipping one leg over their neck and hooking the other leg under the opponent’s chin.
The fighter then pulls the opponent’s head down until his throat is against the shin, exerting pressure on the trachea.
6. Anaconda Choke
The anaconda is an arm triangle applied from the front headlock position. When an opponent shoots for the takedown on a fighter’s right leg, the fighter sprawls and pushes his right hip downward.
He slips his left arm between the opponent’s right shoulder and head while reaching for his tricep on the other side.
The fighter then triangles their arm while digging their left bicep deep into their opponent’s neck.
After securing the triangle, he drops onto their right leg and turns his upper body to the left, forcing the opponent to roll on his trapped shoulder. Good night!
7. North-South Choke
The north-south choke is a blood-choke submission performed 180 degrees opposite to the opponent on their back on the mat, known as the north-south position.
Often initiated while circling from side control to a north-south position, the attacker slips one arm underneath their opponent’s neck with the bicep firmly pressed against the carotid artery on one side and then shifts over to a north-south position facing 180 degrees from their opponent while flattening out with their hips to the floor and clasping their hands together.
Pressing down on the throat with the shoulder of the encircled arm helps tighten the airflow and complete the submission.
8. Peruvian Necktie
Often credited to mixed martial artist Tony de Souza from Peru, this is one of the rarest submissions in mixed martial arts competition.
To date, it’s only been performed twice in the UFC, by C.B. Dollaway against Jesse Taylor and Brad Pickett against Kyle Dietz. At Bellator 46, Pat Curran produced a Peruvian Necktie on Luis Palomino, who is, ironically, a Peruvian.
The opportunity for this submission often materializes after an opponent has had a takedown stuffed, leaving the attacker’s torso positioned above their head.
From there, one arm slides under the neck and under the opposite shoulder, where the other hand clasps it in place, trapping one of the opponent’s arms in the process.
The attacker briefly begins to stand and then drops backwards to the side with the arm in place while throwing their legs up over the opponent’s back. Cranking this painful move should quickly force the tap.
9. D’Arce Choke
This was named after Joe D’Arce, though he claimed he wasn’t the first to use the submission hold. Interestingly, he has gone on record stating that highly regarded trainer John Danaher, famous for training Georges St.Pierre, first showed it to him.
Also referred to as the Brabo choke, the move often begins from the sprawl position with the attacker feeding an arm under one of their opponent’s arms and then around their neck. The other hand completes the grip, and then that control position is used to roll them over onto their shoulder while maintaining the grip. The choke works by a mixture of the opponent’s own shoulder and the attacker’s bicep, applying pressure on the neck.
