Many fight fans only have the desire to witness back-and-forth brawls that end in a big knockout. However, when a stellar submission occurs it can leave everyone in the audience in awe.
With that in mind, here are the top 12 submissions of 2012:
1. Joe Lauzon def. Jamie Varner, transitional triangle choke
Not only was Lauzon part of two of the best fights of the year, but his finish of Jamie Varner at UFC on FOX 4 takes home Sportsnet.ca’s submission of the year for 2012.
Lauzon used what’s known as a crackdown sweep to flip over Varner after the former WEC champ shot in for a double-leg takedown. As Varner posted in an attempt to regain top position, Lauzon sunk in his left hook while controlling Varner’s right arm and slipped his right leg over Varner’s left shoulder. It was transitional jiu-jitsu at its finest and it earned Lauzon his fifth-career Submission of the Night award.
2. Ronda Rousey def. Miesha Tate, nasty armbar
For many mainstream fans this fight put women’s MMA on the map. Rousey displayed her world-class grappling and uncanny ability to lock in her patented armbar against a feisty Tate.
Not only was this a gruesome finish — Rousey severely dislocated Tate’s elbow — but also it was flawless and beautiful technique.
3. Charles Oliveira def. Eric Wisely, reverse calf slicer
If a fighter attempts a leg lock and their opponent begins spinning out of it, that doesn’t mean other submission opportunities aren’t available. At UFC on FOX 2, Oliveira capitalized on a Wisely mistake and locked in the rarely seen, and quite painful, reverse calf slicer. Check out this in-depth Gracie Breakdown of Oliveira’s crazy submission (and calf slicers in general).
4. Matt Wiman def. Paul Sass, armbar
Not only did Wiman fight off several leg lock attempts from Sass — a leg lock specialist — at UFC on FUEL 5 in Sass’ home country of England, but he reversed his fortunes and locked in an armbar off his back becoming the first person to defeat Sass.
5. Dustin Poirier def. Max Holloway, triangle-armbar from mount
At UFC 143 when this fight went to the ground, Poirier had been controlling Holloway in mount, but as Holloway was trying to regain position, Poirier locked in an armbar. Holloway resisted but Poirier transitioned to a triangle. When he had the triangle locked in, he then moved back into mount and also began cranking on Holloway’s arm. It was the only armbar-triangle from mount seen in the UFC this year and that’s why it’s on the list.
6. T.J. Waldburger def. Jake Hecht, armbar
Very much like Dustin Hazelett’s armbar of Josh Burkman a few years back, Waldburger used a deep overhook from Hecht to trap his opponent’s arm at UFC on FX 2. He swung his leg over Hecht’s head and seconds later the fight was over.
7. Nate Diaz def. Jim Miller, mounted arm-in guillotine
As Miller shot to take Diaz down, Nate secured a one-arm guillotine while sprawling as the two went to the ground at UFC on FOX 3. Diaz then switched to an arm-in guillotine and flipped Miller, who was essentially biting his own tongue while being choked, into mount where he tapped. It was the first and only time Miller has been finished and Diaz earned a title shot because of it.
8. Jessice Eye def. Zoila Gurgel, standing arm-triangle
Jessice Eye put herself on the map with this dominant showing at Bellator 83 against proven veteran Zoila Gurgel.
9. Chan Sung Jung def. Dustin Poirier, d’arce choke
In the fourth round of their Fight of the Year candidate at UFC on FUEL TV 3, the Korean Zombie choked Poirier unconscious with a d’arce choke — a submission that happens to be Poirier’s go-to hold.
10. Lloyd Woodard def. Patricky Freire, kimura
It wasn’t quite as vicious as Frank Mir’s kimura on Big Nog at UFC 140, but at Bellator 62 Lloyd Woodard pulled off the armlock of the year.
11. Eduardo Dantas def. Zach Machovsky, arm-triangle
In a case of technique over strength, Eduardo Dantas won Bellator’s bantamweight title in impressive fashion at Bellator 65.
12. Bibiano Fernandes def. Yoshiro Maeda, triangle
Canadian-based Brazilian Bibiano Fernandes finished off the year by choking Yoshiro Maeda unconscious at Dream 18 on New Year’s Eve in Japan. Fernandes took Maeda’s back early and attempted several armbars. Even though Maeda was landing punches on Fernandes while he was on his back, the standout bantamweight sunk in a trangle choke and Maeda was unconscious within seconds.
Honourable mention: Ivan Menjivar def. Azamat Gashimov (armbar), T.J. Waldburger def. Nick Catone (guillotine to triangle), Martin Kampmann def. Thiago Alves (mounted guillotine), Rousimar Palhares def. Mike Massenzio (heel hook), John Maguire def. DaMarques Johnson (kimura to armbar)
