The Best UFC Submission Victories: Grappling Greatness in the Octagon

MMA is a combat sport in which physical fitness and performance in different forms of fighting techniques, such as striking, grappling, and BJJ, are critical. In the UFC, submission wins are one way of proving that a fighter has superior technique and a better fighting brain. These victories not only illustrate a fighter’s capacity to assert and maintain supremacy over an adversary but also the art and style of grappling. This essay focuses on some of the most exciting and perhaps most technical submission wins that happened in the UFC to discuss grappling magic.

Royce Gracie vs. Ken Shamrock (UFC 1)
Any list of UFC submission wins would be incomplete without mentioning the man who introduced the world to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the efficiency of grappling in the cage, Royce Gracie. In UFC 1, Gracie was up against Ken Shamrock, a wrestler with influences from catch wrestling and submission fighting.

Their first fight was a very short one; Gracie took Shamrock down and went for the rear-naked choke to win the match in 57 seconds. This submission win also helped establish BJJ in the early years of MMA and also showed the path for Gracie to follow in the sport. His victory showed the effectiveness of ground fighting and submissions, which became part of the training and fighting strategies of future MMA fighters.

Frank Mir vs. Tim Sylvia (UFC 48)
Frank Mir’s submission against Tim Sylvia at UFC 48 is a good example of how a submission can transform the fight in the blink of an eye. Sylvia, the UFC heavyweight champion, had striking physical attributes and was seen as the champion of the octagon. Nevertheless, Mir, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, had other ideas.

In the first round, Mir was able to lock an armbar from the bottom of the position. When Sylvia tried to struggle free, Mir applied force and snapped Sylvia’s arm as if it were a twig. The referee immediately made the right decision to give Mir the win and the heavyweight belt. Thus, this submission victory was not only technical but also a reminder of the capabilities and the fact that submission is dangerous in MMA.

Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen (UFC 117)
To illustrate, one of the most famous submission wins in the history of the UFC took place when Anderson Silva fought Chael Sonnen at UFC 117. Sonnen, who possesses a wrestling and high-pressure style, was able to push Silva around for most of the fight and pound him on the mat.

Towards the end of the fifth round, it was all but clear that Sonnen was going to win the fight via decision. But Silva, an expert in BJJ, did not panic at all. From his guard, he was able to get a triangle armbar, which made Sonnen submit at 3:10 of the last round. This epic comeback is the epitome of Silva’s fighting spirit, his technical prowess, and his simply never-say-die attitude that put him in the pantheon of MMA All-Time Greats.

Ronda Rousey vs. Cat Zingano (UFC 184)
The former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion, Ronda Rousey, was famous for her judo and highly effective armbar submissions. One of the examples is her fight with Cat Zingano at the UFC 184 event, where she demonstrated her grappling skills.

Zingano, who was also infamous for her aggressive approach, started pressing Rousey as soon as the bell was sounded. But Rousey tied her up with a straight armbar again, and with no hesitation, Zingano tapped right at 14 seconds into the first round. This victory was the record for the quickest submission in a UFC title fight and proved for the first time that Rousey is an extraordinary talent who can instantly seize her rivals’ mistakes and make them pay for them.

Demian Maia vs. Carlos Condit (UFC on FOX 21)
Demian Maia is considered one of the top BJJ practitioners in MMA, and his submission win over Carlos Condit at the UFC on FOX 21 was a perfect example of that. In the fight, Condit, a southpaw striker and former interim welterweight champion, was up against Maia, who had a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Right from the beginning, Maia did not waste time and took Condit down to the mat. He jumped right to Condit’s back, got a rear-naked choke, and made him tap at 1:52 of the first round. Maia was as perfect on the ground as he showed why he is one of the most lethal submission artists in the UFC today.

Tony Ferguson Kevin Lee (UFC 216)
Tony Ferguson’s win over Kevin Lee at UFC 216 is a perfect example of his unbalanced and attack-oriented ground game. Lee is a skilled wrestler and possesses a devastating ground-and-pound; he fought Ferguson for the interim UFC Lightweight Championship.

In the fight, Ferguson demonstrated a variety of abilities, ranging from the stand-up game to grappling and submission attempts. In the third round, Ferguson got Lee in a triangle choke from the ground position. Ferguson continued increasing the choke pressure despite Lee’s attempts to push it off and get away, and ultimately, Lee tapped out. This victory not only gave Ferguson the interim lightweight title but also showed that he is quite creative and quite effective in the clinch.

Fabricio Werdum vs. Cain Velasquez (UFC 188)
This fight is an excellent example of a well-rounded fighter using his grappling to defeat an opponent with a wrestling advantage. Fabricio Werdum won the fight by submission against Cain Velasquez at UFC 188. Velasquez, who was famous for his cardio and high work rate, fought Werdum, who was an ADCC champion and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, for the heavyweight championship.

During the fight, Werdum used striking to weaken Velasquez and drain his stamina. During the takedown attempt in the third round, Werdum caught Velasquez in a guillotine choke. The choke was something that was timed to perfection, and the application of the choke saw Velasquez tap out. This win made Werdum the new heavyweight champion and perfectly illustrated his striking and ground game.

Charles Oliveira versus Michael Chandler (UFC 262)
The more recent addition to this list is the submission by Charles Oliveira to Michael Chandler in the UFC 262 event. Oliveira, who holds the record for the most submission wins in the UFC, challenged Chandler for the vacant UFC lightweight belt.

Oliveira began the fight a little slow, and during the first round, both fighters took turns and had their fair share of the fight. He delivered a series of punches to the body and head of Chandler that appeared to phase him and threw a perfect rear-naked choke, and Chandler had to submit. It was from this victory that Oliveira clinched the lightweight title and, at the same time, made his stand as one of the most dangerous submission artists in UFC history.

Diaz vs. McGregor (UFC 196)
When Conor McGregor faced Nate Diaz at UFC 196 and Diaz submitted him, that has to be one of the biggest moments in UFC history. McGregor, the current featherweight champion, took this fight on short notice with the welterweight division to face Diaz.

The bout was a clash, with McGregor scoring accurate punches in the first round of the fight. But Diaz, who is also very sturdy and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, managed to weather the storm and took over in the second round. Covers McGregor getting hit with a series of punches that made him lose his balance, and then Diaz taking McGregor down and getting a rear naked choke submission on him to make him tap. This victory surprised the MMA world and demonstrated Diaz’s stand-up BJJ and his ability to finish his opponents when they least expected it.

The bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor that took place at UFC 229
The fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor in UFC 229 will always be remembered as the biggest fight in the history of the UFC. That is because the promotion of the fight was characterized by a lot of hatred and arrogant remarks, thus making the fight highly anticipated.

In the course of the fight, Nurmagomedov was able to control McGregor due to his better wrestling and grappling skills. In the fourth round, Nurmagomedov got the back of McGregor and applied a neck crank, and McGregor had to submit. This clinched not only Nurmagomedov’s lightweight title but also illustrated his superior ground game and command of grappling.

Conclusion
Wins on the ground in the UFC are proof of a fighter’s skills and ability to outwit the opponent and avoid getting affected by nervousness. These memorable submissions, from the early days of the UFC to some of the recent title fights, help show the wide and dynamic role of grappling in MMA. Some of the top fighters that have exemplified the art of submission include Royce Gracie, Frank Mir, Anderson Silva, Ronda Rousey, Demian Maia, Tony Ferguson, Fabricio Werdum, Charles Oliveira, Nate Diaz, and Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Thus, submission triumphs will always be an essential component of the UFC’s development, demonstrating the depth of the grappling art. Such moments of sheer force and skill classify the performances of the fighters and encourage generations of martial artists to conquer the craft of submission.