MMA Submissions: 12 Ways to Finish Your Opponent

These are the submissions that actually finish MMA fights, with a note on how each works and who has used it at the highest level.

1. Rear naked choke

The rear naked choke goes after the carotid arteries and the windpipe. You get behind your opponent, reach around their neck and lock your arm in place to pinch off the blood flow.

It takes little strength to finish, which is why fighters of every skill level end up using it.

See more: Click here to see our full guide on the rear naked choke

2. Arm bar (joint manipulation)

The arm bar hyperextends the elbow. Done fully, it can tear the ligaments and tendons and even dislocate the joint, so only commit to it when you're sure you have it.

Notable uses within MMA: Fedor Emelianenko def. Mark Coleman (Pride 32), Matt Hughes def. Georges St-Pierre (UFC 50)

See more: Click here to see our full guide on the arm bar

3. Guillotine choke

The guillotine is a front choke: you encircle the opponent's neck with your arms. Depending on how it's applied, it's either a windpipe choke that stops airflow or a blood choke that squeezes the carotid arteries.

It's fast and needs little strength.

4. Triangle choke

The triangle is a figure-four choke and one of the most common submissions in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and other grappling sports.

Your opponent's head and one arm are trapped between your legs, and the legs close around the neck to restrict blood flow to the brain. You tighten it by pulling the head down or using your hips and knees to add pressure.

It's usually applied from guard, but it also shows up from side control and mount.

Notable uses within MMA: Kendall Grove def. Jake Rosholt (UFC 106)

5. Kimura (joint manipulation)

The Kimura works in both gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu. Sometimes called the figure-four or the chicken wing, it loads the shoulder, elbow and wrist, and it's one of the most painful holds in jiu-jitsu.

You grab the opponent's wrist with the hand on the same side, then put your other arm behind their arm and grab your own wrist, forming a figure-four. Cranking their arm away from their body puts pressure on the shoulder joint.

The key is controlling the arm with your legs and using your hips and core for leverage. It's most commonly seen in the transition from guard to side control.

Notable uses within MMA: Nick Diaz def. Joe Hurley (WEC 6)

6. Heel hook (joint manipulation)

The heel hook is a brutal leg lock that wraps the foot around the opponent's leg, usually near the Achilles tendon or calf. It can cause serious injury, and rules on it vary, so check the illegal moves guide and your own ruleset.

A good one takes speed, strength and flexibility. If you're in one, tap before things get worse.

Notable uses within MMA: Ken Shamrock def. Patrick Smith (UFC 1)

7. Key lock (joint manipulation)

The keylock, or lateral keylock, attacks the shoulder, elbow and wrist. It's closely related to the Kimura, and like the Kimura it uses your arms to control and twist a single arm of your opponent.

That pressure forces a tap or risks serious damage to the joints involved.

Notable uses within MMA: Josh Barnett def. Aleksander Emelianenko (Pride: Total Elimination Absolute 2006)

8. Knee bar (joint manipulation)

The kneebar hyperextends the knee and can do severe damage to the leg.

It's similar to an armbar in that it needs the entanglement of the opponent's legs, but the target is the knee instead of the elbow, and the hyperextension is more severe. To finish, push your hips forward to straighten their leg.

Notable uses within MMA: Frank Mir def. Brock Lesnar (UFC 81)

9. Achilles lock (joint manipulation)

The Achilles lock presses the Achilles tendon into the back of the ankle or lower leg. You wedge a forearm, ideally the bony part, into the tendon and use the foot and leg over the forearm as a fulcrum.

Notable uses within MMA: Andrei Arlovski def. Tim Sylvia (UFC 51)

See also: Championship Catch Wrestling: The Achilles Lock by Josh Barnett

10. Anaconda choke

The anaconda is a blood choke that cuts off blood flow to the brain and can put an opponent out quickly.

You thread your arm under the opponent's neck and through the armpit, then grasp your own biceps. Pin them onto the trapped shoulder and squeeze.

Notable uses within MMA: Tim Elliott vs Mark De La Rosa, UFC 219

11. The twister

The twister is one of the most unusual submissions in MMA. It usually comes from the bottom when your opponent has you in their guard. You establish an underhook with your right arm, then grip their far leg with your left hand.

From there you turn to face their head and twist your torso while keeping the grip on the leg. That forces them onto their stomach. It can seriously damage the spine and neck, so it's a move for experienced fighters, and only when you're sure you can finish.

12. Americana (shoulder lock)

The Americana is common in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and MMA, and it targets the shoulder. It's also called a figure-four armlock or a keylock. One arm traps the opponent's arm while the other applies pressure to the shoulder.

The aim is enough pressure to force a tap or dislocate the shoulder. You can hit it from side control, mount, or as a counter to a guard pass attempt, and it's often part of a fighter's ground-and-pound.

Which fighters are known for their submission skills in MMA

Royce Gracie: One of the pioneers of the sport, Royce used his Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) to win the early UFC tournaments. He has many victories by submission.

Demian Maia: A BJJ specialist known for his rear naked choke and triangle choke, with numerous submission wins in the UFC.

Fabricio Werdum: Known as "Vai Cavalo," Werdum is a former UFC heavyweight champion and a multiple-time BJJ world champion. He's known for his guard game and his ability to submit opponents from behind.

Frank Mir: Former UFC heavyweight champion and one of the most accomplished submission artists in the division's history. He won with several submissions, particularly the kimura and ankle lock.

Nate Diaz: The younger Diaz brother is known for his durable chin, relentless pace and slick submission game. He famously submitted Conor McGregor at UFC 196.

Charles Oliveira: Oliveira holds the record for the most submission victories in UFC history.

Khabib Nurmagomedov: Known mainly for his wrestling and ground-and-pound, Khabib also has several submission wins, including his neck crank finish of Conor McGregor.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: Known as "Minotauro," Nogueira is considered one of the greatest heavyweights in the sport's history. His Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills were exceptional, especially his triangle choke. He was a PRIDE heavyweight champion and a UFC interim heavyweight champion.

Ken Shamrock: Known as "The World's Most Dangerous Man," Shamrock was a pioneer of MMA with a formidable submission game. He was particularly good with the kneebar and has several wins by it. He was also a UFC Superfight champion.

How do fighters train to improve their submission skills?

1. Drill specific submissions: pick a technique such as the rear naked or triangle choke and repeat it to sharpen execution and timing.
2. Train in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ): it's built around grappling and ground fighting.
3. Spar: live rounds let you apply techniques against resistance and get feedback.
4. Strength and conditioning: you need strong muscles and good endurance to finish submissions, so build both into your training.
5. Work with coaches: they can fix technique and sharpen strategy.

The most common submission in MMA is the jiu-jitsu chokehold, which uses leverage to force a tap. The rest are joint locks, which apply pressure at specific points to hyperextend or break a joint.