The Best of 2013 series is starting to come to a close and we are saving the best for last. Today we will be going over the first of the big three categories, the top 10 submission of 2013.
As usual the picks were made by members of the MMA Freak staff. There were those submissions that were nominated but did not receive enough votes to make the top 10. However, they will be listed as honorable mentions:
~ Honorable mentions ~
Piotr Hallman‘s submission by kimura over Francisco Trinaldo at UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Bader (Submission of the Night)
Brendan Schaub‘s submission by d’arce choke over Matt Mitrione at UFC 165: Jones vs. Gustafsson
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza‘s submission by kimura over Ed Herman at Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine
Demetrious Johnson‘s submission by arm bar over John Moraga at UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Moraga (Submission of the Night)
Alexander Sarnavskiy‘s submission by triangle choke over Ricardo Tirloni at Bellator 105
Sergio Moraes‘ submission by triangle choke over Neil Magney at UFC 163: Aldo vs. Korean Zombie (Submission of the Night)
Michelle Waterson‘s submission by arm bar over Jessica Penne at Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson
Michael Chandler‘s submission by rear naked choke over Rich Hawn at Bellator 85
Urijah Faber‘s submission by rear naked choke over Ivan Menjivar at UFC 157: Rousey vs. Carmouche
Antonio Braga Neto‘s submission by knee bar over Anthony Smith at UFC on Fuel TV: Nogueira vs. Werdum
Ryan Bader‘s submission by guillotine choke over Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Dodson (Submission of the Night)
Sarah Moras‘ submission by arm bar over Peggy Morgan during The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate (Sub of the Season)
Julianna Pena‘s submission by guillotine choke over Sarah Moras during The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate
Nick Newell‘s submission by standing guillotine choke over Sabah Fadai at World Series OF Fighting 7: Karakhanyan vs. Palmer
Urijah Faber‘s submission by guillotine choke over Michael McDonald at UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Benavidez 2 (Submission of the Night)
Jim Miller‘s submission by arm bar over Fabricio Camoes at UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2
Bobby Green‘s submission by rear naked choke over Jacob Volkmann at UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar (Submission of the Night)
James Krause‘s submission by guillotine choke over Sam Stout at UFC 161: Evans vs. Henderson (Submission of the Night)
So here we go with the top 10 submission of 2013:
~ 10 ~
Ronald “Jacare” Souza’s submission of Chris Camozzi at UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold
Going into this fight both men had a similar amount of momentum with Ronald Souza riding a three fight win streak and Chris Camozzi riding a four fight win streak. The difference was that Camozzi’s streak was in the UFC while this was Souza’s first match inside the Octagon from Strikeforce.
However Octagon jitters was not a factor for Souza who went in, took Camozzi to the ground, and eventually found an arm triangle which rendered Camozzi unconscious before he could even tap. For his efforts, Souza was given Submission of the Night honors. It was one of two fights that would propel Souza into the title picture; the other being a TKO victory over Yushin Okami later in the year.
~ 9 ~
Ronda Rousey’s submission of Miesha Tate at UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2
There was ALOT of tension between Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate coming into this fight after their coaching stint on The Ultimate Fighter. Rousey had gone in with an incredible amount of hypersensitivity to every little thing Tate did and after a while Tate decided to start edging her on with little pranks here and there.
At the same time Tate went into the fight more relaxed since their first outing in Strikeforce and clearly improved. In fact she became the first fighter to take Rousey not just into the second round, but the third round as well where Rousey was finally able to find her trademark arm bar. Rousey got the Submission of the Night but not before a little un-sportsman like conduct.
~ 8 ~
Chael Sonnen’s submission over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen
Unlike most Chael Sonnen fights, this one didn’t have too much drama or smack talk behind it. This fight had more significance behind it in that it was the first UFC fight on Fox Sports 1 which launched earlier that day. The fight was a back and forth war with neither side really scoring any significant hits and surprisingly a lot of wrestling going both ways.
Then towards the end of the first round Sonnen was able to lock in a guillotine choke on Shogun which didn’t look secure at first, but was apparently strong enough to force the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champ to tap. For his efforts Sonnen was awarded Co-Submission of the Night honors and afterwards challenged Wanderlei Silva.
~ 7 ~
Michael McDonald’s submission over Brad Pickett at UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen
Both these men were dealing with losses in some way or another. Michael McDonald was just coming off a loss to at the time Interim Bantamweight Champ Renan Barao while Brad Pickett has just rebounded from a loss with a win over Mike Easton.
McDonald though was the clearly better fighter this outing though because during the first round he dominated Pickett in the striking. Then in the second round he found a triangle choke against Pickett. For the match both men were award Fight of the Night and McDonald got Co-Submission of the Night.
~ 6 ~
Rose Namajunas’ submission over Kathina Catron at Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson
This is probably one of the most impressive submissions on this list. Rose Namajunas had already earned a Submission of the Night at her professional debut at Invicta FC 4. Needless to say she walked into Invicta FC 5 with a lot of confidence.
Namanjunas needed only twelve seconds to set up a flying arm bar reminiscent of Ronda Rousey early in her career to finish opponent Kathina Catron, earning her Submission of the Night honors. While she would lose her next bout she was signed to compete on The Ultimate Fighter season 20.
~ 5 ~
Renan Barao’s submission over Michael McDonald at UFC on Fuel TV: Barao vs. McDonald
There are several examples as to why many believe Renan Barao is the top pound for pound fighter in the world right now and this is one of them. This was Barao’s first defense of his at the time Interim Bantamweight Championship.
Challenger Michael McDonald was riding an eight fight win streak. However, Barao was riding a much more extensive winning streak and Barao controlled the fight eventually sinking in an arm triangle choke in the fourth round.
Barao was awarded Submission of the Night honors and is now the Undisputed Champion.
~ 4 ~
Kenny Robertson’s submission of Brock Jardine at UFC 157: Rousey vs. Carmouche
Once again this is an impressive submission that under normal circumstances, normally wouldn’t work. Kenny Robertson went into his fight with Brock Jardine and was controlling the fight.
Then while rolling around he was in a position where normally it would be smart to bail. However, he instead grabbed Jardine’s leg and hyper extended it. Jardine submitted verbally and Robertson got Submission of the Night.
~ 3 ~
Fabricio Werdum’s submission of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC on Fuel TV: Nogueira vs. Werdum
There was a lot of background going into this fight. Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira had faced each other in Pride FC and Nogueira had won. Also the two had just finished coaching opposite each other in season 2 of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.
The match was a BJJ grapple fest until Werdum locked in an arm bar forcing Nogueira to desperately submit, clearly worried about the arm that was snapped by Frank Mir. That submission victory is essentially what set up Werdum for an upcoming title eliminator match with Travis Browne.
~ 2 ~
Ronda Rousey’s submission of Liz Carmouche at UFC 157: Rousey vs. Carmouche
This match is simply history to be remembered. It was the first women’s match inside the Octagon, the first women’s title fight, and the first women’s fight to headline a UFC event. That being said there were high expectations for newly crowned champion Ronda Rousey and challenger Liz Carmouche.
They certainly delivered as Carmouche has so far been the only woman to put Rousey in any danger as she hopped on her back and almost sank in a rear naked choke. However, Rousey dumped her off and eventually found her arm bar.
~ 1 ~
Anthony Pettis’ submission of Benson Henderson at UFC 164: Henderson vs. Pettis
Many have viewed this as Submission of the Year and as of right now, MMA Freak is joining the bandwagon. Going into this fight Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis had a history as they put on a show in the WEC which Pettis came out on top of, partially due to his famous “Showtime Kick.“
This time around we didn’t see any spectacular kicks off the cage. What we did see was Henderson trying to grapple with Pettis but Pettis pulling an impressive arm bar in the heat of battle. Pettis not only got Submission of the Night but became champion.
Stay tuned for a special article tomorrow. Also regardless of where you are in life, Happy Valentines Day!