The 411 MMA Year-End Awards 1.16.12: Part Five - The Best Submissions of 2011

Posted by Larry Csonka on 01.16.2012

From Tito Ortiz's guillotine choke of Ryan Bader and Frank Mir ripping off Big Nog’s arm at UFC 140 to Pablo Garza’s flying triangle choke of Yves Jabouin at UFC 129 and more, the 411 staff continues their year-end awards by breaking down the top 5 submissions of the year 2011!



Welcome:
Welcome back to the MMA Top 5, year-end awards edition! What we are going to is take a topic each week and all the writers here on 411 MMA will have the ability to give us their Top 5 on said topic, and the end, based on where all of these topics rank on people's list, we will create an overall Top 5 list. It looks a little like this…

1st - 5
2nd - 4
3rd - 3
4th - 2
5th - 1

At the end we tally the scores and get our overall top 5! It's highly non-official and final, like WAMMA. What we are going to do over the next few weeks is run the column twice a week to crown our best of 2011. From best and worst fight to best fighter and KO of the year, the staff will come together to share out best. Thanks for joining us, and lets get down to work.


And now…



THE BEST SUBMISSIONS OF 2011!


Jon Butterfield
5. Pablo Garza vs. Yves Jabouin - There is a video out there of Paul Sass pulling off a flying triangle while propelling himself off the cage Pettis-style. It's sweet. Yet had Sass not incorporated the cage wall-kick, it would have been no different to this awesome flying triangle Garza scored on Yves Jabouin at UFC 129. It was sudden, it was beautiful, and it was oh-so-slick.

4. Vinny Magalhaes vs. Viktor Nemkov - As far as otherworldly mat skills go, 2011 ADCC Champion Vinny Magalhaes has plenty – and he displayed them against Viktor Nemkov by finishing him with an Omoplata Neck Crank. Dubbed the Vinnyplata by Magalhaes' fans and followers, this was a sick submission that NEEDS recognition. So recognize it. Right now.

3. Richard Hale vs. Nick Fekete - MMA fans love extraordinary finishes, and there are few more extraordinary submission holds than the inverted triangle. A move no fighter in their right mind would actively seek out due its bizarre nature, this is one of those things that just kind of comes together when the stars are properly aligned (or something) and ends someone's night. Toby Imada pulled it off once in Bellator already, but when a man 30 pounds heavier repeated it this year, nobody could believe their eyes. What's more, Hale later claimed it wasn't even a move he had practiced! You could've fooled us, Richard!

2. Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia - Leonard Garcia scored a very controversial split decision win over Chan Sung Jung back in WEC, and another much-contested call over Nam Phan saw him become the butt of many a joke amongst MMA fans. Still, one thing is undeniable – Garcia is tough as nails and incredibly difficult to finish. It was time, then, for Chan Sung Jung too not only reveal a much-neglected aspect of his skillset, but also a never-before-seen submission hold (at least as far as UFC fights went). The Twister Jung pulled off was absolutely incredible, and momentous to boot. Who is the better fighter, Jung or Garcia? Yeah, there's not much doubt about that anymore.

1. Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - You cannot argue with the facts – not only was Frank Mir the first man to KO Nogueira, he was also the first man to submit him – even if the only way to submit Minotauro is to break his arm into two distinct pieces. And yet, before the rolling kimura-arm break sequence, Mir was getting outfought by Big Nog, particularly on the feet. Well, after getting smacked around, groggy or no, Mir still had the wherewithal to hook the legendary mat wizard's arm, flip across him and lock on another inescapable submission hold. Nogueira wasn't the only one who couldn't believe what had happened as he looked at his limp and fragmented arm: many of us had thought Mir's feat at UFC 140 all but impossible.

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Stewart Lange
5. Tito Ortiz Vs Ryan Bader - By now, we know the whole "Tito comeback" thing was blown all out of proportion, but to see one of the fighters that got me into MMA get a win with his back against the wall made me mark out like a child. It wasn't even a technically good submission, but for sheer gravity, it makes my list for being one of the moments that make me love this sport.

4. Ronda Rousey Vs Julia Budd - Now, we've seen a few pretty good fights in the Women's divisions of MMA this year and rightfully, someone has listed Meisha Tate over Marloes Coenen already, but the way Rousey grabbed a hold of Budds arm and subbed her so quickly and efficiently was star-making.

3. Frank Mir Vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - Becoming the first man to knock out Big Nog was great for the resume of Frank Mir, but when you add the part where Mir became the first person to submit him too, it's clear that Mir has the Brazilians number. Frank Mir was visibly shaken and very close to being finished himself, but, probably instinctively, grabbed a hold of Nogs arm and held on until it gave out, which is when Nogueira finally tapped out.

2. Jon Jones Vs Lyoto Machida - Later on in that same event, we had the fourth fight of a busy year for Jones, his second title defense. In what many expected would be a slow paced first round, we watched as Machida seemingly sussed how to hit Jones, blitzing him to score shots past his long reach. The second round started and many "Bones" fans must have been concerned for their hero- but with no need as Jones got Machida down, opened him up and when the fight got back up standing, he wrapped a standing guillotine around the neck of "The Dragon", choking him limp and leaving him slumped unconscious on the mat. This is one submission we'll see again and again for years to come.

1. Chan Jung Sung Vs Leonard Garcia - I was keen to see the "Korean Zombie" beat Leonard Garcia as I'm pretty biased against Garcia (ironic, since I'm a big Cerrone fan. Anyway....) but I couldn't have dreamed that Jung would pull this little beauty out of his box of tricks. The twister is such a strange hold because it literally looks like NOTHING is really happening- until the receiver's body is contorted in pain and their tapping frantically to break the hold. Add in the fact there was merely seconds left in the round and it was made much more incredible.

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Robert Winfree
5. Nick Newell vs. Derek Hernandez - Nick Newell only has one arm. That's somewhat misleading, as one arm was amputated mid forearm, so he does have an appendage, but still to pull off a heel hook submission using just one hand is impressive.

4. Ronda Rousey vs. Julia Budd - This was a nasty armbar. Ronda Rousey announced herself when she dislocated Budd's elbow with a belly-down armbar. Nasty visual and a very well executed move.

3. Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida - This makes the list for a simple reason, these are two of the very best fighters in the world, fighting for the biggest organization and the biggest prize in their weight class, and Jon Jones choked out Lyoto Machida with a standing guillotine. A standing guillotine is rarely a finishing move at this level of competition, and for Jones to choke Machida completely unconscious, it's incredible.

2. Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia - This was not the first twister submission in MMA, but it was the first in the UFC. Moves like this can be seen on smaller shows with more regularity because of the talent levels involved, and that isn't an insult just a fact. To see one done in the UFC between a couple of very talented fighters is rare. Had it not been for my number one entry this would have been number one.

1. Frank Mir vs. Antonio Nogueira - Frank Mir was the first person to TKO Minotauro, and the first person to submit him. Despite being rocked on the feet, Frank reversed Nogueira's guillotine attempt, then grabbed his arm as Big Nog was looking to slip out and take Frank's back. From there he locked up a kimura and rolled through an escape attempt before breaking the legendary Nogueira's arm. Incredible to watch, and just barely edges out the Twister for my number one.

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Scott Kuczkowski
5. Chris Lytle vs. Dan Hardy at UFC on Vs. 5 - These two traded a lot of leather for the first 14 minutes of this fight, slugging it out in the center of the cage with neither man giving an inch (although Lytle was scoring better.) In the last minute Hardy scored a takedown and landed in a guillotine, which Lytle used to submit him and retire with a win. This was an awesome fight capped off with a great submission win.

4. Richard Hale vs. Nik Fekete at Bellator 38 - This -->



3. Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 - The first round of this bout was pretty even, with perhaps Lyoto Machida edging out Jon Jones with his striking game. The second round was all Jones, as he took Machida down and opened him up with a big elbow. Back on the feet, Jones dropped Machida then locked up a standing guillotine choke that put Machida to sleep.

2. Pablo Garza vs. Yves Jabouin at UFC 129 - Jabouin was doing really well in the first round and probably would have gotten the judge's nod for it until Garza locked up a flying triangle which he managed to secure and then transition to a mounted triangle. The move happened really quickly and surprised not only Jabouin but also everyone watching. Truly a Submission of the Night move (which it won).

1. Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia at Ultimate Fight Night - At Ultimate Fight Night: Noguiera vs. Davis, Jung and Garcia put on a war. The first round started off as a somewhat technical kickboxing match that quickly transitioned to a sloppy slugfest. The second round saw each fighter emerge a little cautious, but eventually pick up where they left off. Towards the end of the round, Jung attempted a rear naked choke, but Garcia fought out of it. Jung then switched to a twister, which forced Garcia to tap in the closing seconds of the round.

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Jeffrey Harris
5. Chris Lytle vs. Dan Hardy at UFC on Vs. 5 - This fight was really poetic justice for Dan Hardy. A man who constantly complained about fighters outwrestling him and not "fighting" him got a fight that he probably wanted that but he still didn't have an answer for Lytle who already announced his pending retirement before the fight. In the end, it ended up being Hardy who ironically shot for the takedown and ended up getting the submission. It was a fantastic moment for Lytle who went out on top and left the sport the way he wanted to on his terms, while Hardy is now trying to pick what he feels is an easy fight and win with a legend like Matt Hughes since he can no longer compete with the tougher guys at welterweight.

4. Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader at UFC 132 - Ortiz got one last big moment in the spotlight before it was time to hang it up it seems. Bader was coming off his first career loss to Jon Jones. Granted that was against Jon Jones and still few probably picked him to lose this one especially when Ortiz had not looked all that dangerous for a long time. Ortiz however came ready and blasted Bader on the feet. In short order Ortiz went for the guillotine and once again we saw the famous Ortiz burial pantomime inside the Octagon in a classic moment for the year.

3. Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Minotauro Nogueira at UFC 140 - Two of the premiere grapplers in the sport met yet again this time in a fight that turned out radically different from the first which Mir won by knockout. This time Nogueira appeared to have the advantage as he hurt Mir standing and looked to almost have the knockout win, but then Nogueira went in for the submission and Mir recovered and rolled the position into a kimura. Nogueira waited until it was too late to tap and a split second later he was looking at his broken arm. Mir submitted the previously unsubmittable Nogueira.

2. Lyoto Machida vs. Jon Jones at UFC 140 - The image of Machida plopping to the canvas in unconsciousness is a moment that will not be forgotten in the history of the sport. Machida had a strong first round against the reigning champion in Jones and it looked like maybe Machida had a shot of using his trademark style. However Jones used his strong limbs and reach later in the second round and pulled off a standing choke on Machida, putting his neck at an awkward angle. Machida refused to tap and was unceremoniously falling to the mat moments afterward.

1. Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia at Ultimate Fight Night - In terms of wild and crazy submissions, they don't get much better than this. These two had an amazing brawl at WEC 48, which many believed Jung was at the wrong end of the decision. This time around, Jung didn't leave the fight in the hand of incompetent judges. Jung pulled off the first ever Twister submission in the Octagon and what a moment it was.

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Alex Watt
5. Vinny Magalhaes Vs. Viktor Nemkov – Mounted Gogoplata - M-1 Challenge XXV – If you have not seen this incredible moment of jiu-jitsu from TUF 8 participant Magalhaes, then I implore you to go and seek it out. In a sensational moment of jiu-jitsu wizardry, Magalhaes secured a gogoplata from the mounted position and threw in a neck crank for good measure for one of the most creative submissions of the year.

4. Pablo Garza's Vs. Yves Jabouin – Flying Triangle – UFC 129 – It was the first match of the biggest show in UFC history, and Pablo Garza got UFC 129 started in style. Just a few minutes into the opening round, "The Scarecrow" grabbed his opponent and leapt into the air to secure a mid air triangle. A slick piece of BJJ from Garza, using his long legs to great effect.

3. Richard Hale Vs. Nik Fekete – Inverted Triangle – Bellator 38 – Remember when Bellator made headlines back in 2009 due to Toby Imada's inverted triangle? Well this year it happened again and it was almost a carbon copy of that classic moment. Except this time it was a middleweight locking in the hold. Simply awesome.

2. Frank Mir Vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira – Kimura – UFC 140 - Easily the most brutal submission of the year, Mir's kimura not only snatched victory from the jaws of defeat but snapped the legendary Big Nog's arm in the process. A beautiful display of jiu-jitsu from Mir, which saw him become the first man to ever make "Minotauro" submit.

1. Chan Sung Jung Vs. Leonard Garcia – Twister – Ultimate Fight Night: Nogueira Vs. Davis - After their first fight produced one of the craziest brawls in MMA history who would've thought that their rematch, this time in the UFC's Octagon, would end by submission. Jung and Garcia initially started by leaving exactly where they left off; swinging leather at each other without much thought for technique. But when "The Korean Zombie" secured a takedown in the second round, it was a piece of beautiful technique, which brought him the victory. With mere seconds remaining in the round Jung switched from a rear naked choke to a twister, a submission hold even more rarely seen in MMA than the gogoplata. With his body contorted, Garcia had no choice put to tap out with just one second left on the clock. The result was the best submission of the year, and the first ever twister seen inside the UFC's Octagon.

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Jonathan Solomon
5. Richard Hale vs. Nik Fekete - Inverted Triangle - Bellator 38 - You never expect to see an inverted triangle and the fact we saw it in the first round of the Bellator light heavyweight tournament in March was incredible. Remember, Bellator earned its first bit of fame in 2009 when Toby Imada choked out Jorge Masvidal with the hold, and they were lightweights. Fekete was in side control when Hale threw his legs up, wrapping them around his body. Fekete stood up but the submission was locked on and he was choked unconscious. It is one of the most amazing submissions you will ever see.

4. Chris Lytle vs. Dan Hardy - Guillotine Choke - UFC Live 5 - This fight turned out to be one of the most poetic confrontations in recent MMA history. Going into the main event of this UFC on Versus card, Dan Hardy was on a three fight losing streak. He was frustrated with previous losses to Georges St. Pierre and Anthony Johnson in particular when both took advantage of Hardy's lack of wrestling defense. Hardy wanted a fight where he could stand and trade strikes. Enter Chris Lytle, known for foregoing strategic fighting for an entertaining style. Lytle entered this fight after having told the public he was retiring, win or lose, to dedicate more time to his family.

The fight did not disappoint. For over two rounds, it was Lytle who was punishing the Brit with his stand-up skills. Hardy was taking so much damage that in the third round, he decided to shoot in for a takedown to the surprise of all. Lytle caught him trying to shoot in for a takedown and applied a tight guillotine choke. With under 60 seconds to go in the fight, Lytle forced Hardy to tap out and said goodbye to active MMA competition with his children by his side. You can't write a better story.



3. Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader - Guillotine Choke - UFC 132 - If prior to UFC 132, someone told you to bet money on Tito Ortiz defeating Ryan Bader by submission, you probably would have laughed at them. Tito ended up with the last laugh as he saved his job with the biggest upset of 2011. Tito rocked Bader with a short jab and as the wrestler instinctually shot in for a takedown, Ortiz locked on a guillotine choke. Bader woke up and found himself struggling to breathe and eventually tapped out as Ortiz let out years worth of emotion. For years to come, this moment will be on all sorts of highlight reels.

2. Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - Kimura - UFC 140 - When you look back at the greatest heavyweights in the history of the sport, Big Nog is #2. Frank Mir is somewhere in the discussion (top 10 for sure) and it's reasons like this which make you see why. Mir was the first man to knock out Nogueira and now he's the first man to make him tap. It wasn't just that, it was the context. Minotauro rocks Mir and for reasons I do not know, cannot finish him. They end up scrambling until Mir is on top, reaches for the arm and locks on the Kimura. They literally roll around a few times but Mir maintains the hold and breaks Minotauro's arm, forcing the tap out. You never expected to see a day where Rodrigo Nogueira would tap out in an MMA fight, let alone a day where his arm is popped off. To do that to such a high level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner is quite the accomplishment and is almost certainly the highlight of Mir's career to date.

1. Miesha Tate vs. Marloes Coenen - Arm Triangle Choke - Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson - In women's mixed martial arts, this was THE biggest moment of 2011. Marloes Coenen, considered the most dangerous grappler in the division, defends her bantamweight championship against wrestler, Miesha Tate. Many people did not give Tate much of a chance to go toe-to-toe with the grappling wizard and avoid a submission through 25 minutes of fighting. For much of the first three rounds, Coenen would expend tons of energy shooting for takedowns. Coenen would either defend them or after being taken down, work for submissions. The one moment that comes to mind where Tate avoided being finished by a first round guillotine. When the fourth round began, although she was visibly tired (and marked up by punches earlier in the fight), Tate came out firing with jabs. She shot in for a takedown, got it and somehow, some way, moved to side control and applied the arm triangle. Coenen tried to fight it but was forced to tap out to the bewilderment of many and the excitement of most. I recall being almost speechless at how Tate was able to take the fight to Coenen and beat her at her own game.

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AND 411's BEST SUBMISSIONS OF 2011 ARE…
In the case of a tie, I will break them since I am not involved in the overall voting.

HM: Tito Ortiz's guillotine of Ryan Bader – 6pts*



5. Pablo Garza's flying triangle choke of Yves Jabouin from UFC 129 – 6pts*.




4. Richard Hale's inverted triangle choke of Nick Fekete from Bellator 38 – 9pts.




3. Jon Jones' standing guillotine of Lyoto Machida from UFC 140– 14pts.




2. The Korean Zombie's TWISTER on Leonard Garcia from UFC Fight Night 24– 24pts.




1. Frank Mir rips off Big Nog's arm at UFC 140 – 25pts.


THE 2011 AWARDS
* The Biggest Story Of 2011: The UFC Signs Broadcast Deal With Fox - 32 pts
* The Most Disappointing Fighter Of 2011: Fedor Emelianenko - 17pts
* The Breakout Fighter Of 2011: Michael Chandler – 36 pts
* The Worst Fight Of 2011: Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum From Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum – 35 pts
* The Best Submission Of 2011: Frank Mir rips off Big Nog's arm at UFC 140 – 25pts
* The Best KO Of 2011: TO BE ANNOUNCED
* The Best Fight Of 2011: TO BE ANNOUNCED

Come back Monday when we decide the Breakout Fighters of 2011~!


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