Saturday, October 31

UFC: Jon Jones Needles Daniel Cormier over New Mexico Confrontation

Barely one week after his UFC reinstatement, Jon Jones is pulling out all the stops to irritate Daniel Cormier.

Jones took to Twitter over the weekend to needle his nemesis in the context of a new camp opening in New Mexico. The two had said they might meet in Albuquerque (h/t Brent Brookhouse of MMA Junkie) for the opening of a new facility for Jackson's MMA, Jones' home training base. (WARNING: Tweet language NSFW.)

Cormier claimed he flew to New Mexico for the occasion and to meet in person with Jones, but he was prevented from entering the building.

As many fans know, Jones was suspended in April after his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run collision that left a pregnant woman with a fractured arm. He also previously failed a drug test for cocaine metabolites and was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

After Jones' suspension, Cormier defeated Anthony Johnson to capture the newly vacated UFC light heavyweight title. Since Jones has been reinstated, he has been spoiling for a fight with Cormier. Jones defeated Cormier in January to retain what was then his championship.

Even before they fought at UFC 182, Jones and Cormier had what seemed to be a personal feud. Jones and Cormier previously brawled at an official UFC media event. In summer 2014, the two got into what appeared to be a heated exchange (WARNING: NSFW language in this video) during the down time of a mutual ESPN appearance. Microphones were apparently not supposed to pick up the verbal activity during the commercial break.

Jones' use of the "p" word to describe Cormier may have been a reference to his use of the same invective during that ESPN exchange—a reference that, at the time, appeared to stoke Cormier's temper.

There has been no word from the UFC on a next opponent for Jones or Cormier.

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UFC Star Conor McGregor Spars with 'Game of Thrones' Monster 'The Mountain'

This may just be some sparring, but it's definitely entertaining to watch.

UFC fighter Conor McGregor recently found himself an interesting sparring partner—Hafthor Bjornsson, aka "The Mountain" from Game of Thrones. To perfectly describe the matchup, it was a 5'9", 145-pound fighter up against a 6'9", 419-pound Strongman.

Imagine what that fight would look like. If they ever did fight for real, who would you take? In case you think that question is laughable, how long would the fight last?

[YouTubeHafthor Bjornsson]

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With Nurm Out, Edson Barboza vs. Tony Ferguson Still Has Real Title Implications

MMA fans felt a painful—albeit familiar—twinge when Khabib Nurmagomedov announced earlier this week that he will withdraw from his December 11 lightweight bout with Tony Ferguson.

It's hard to replace an athlete as talented and exciting as the Dagestani, but credit to UFC officials: They found the next best thing in Brazilian super striker Edson Barboza. The news came Friday afternoon from Marc Raimondi of MMA Fighting

Even with the replacement, the bout, taking place at the finale show of The Ultimate Fighter 22, will carry very real implications for the top of the UFC's 155-pound division. 

Ferguson, 31, has won six straight. His combination of striking and wrestling seems to become more potent every time he fights, and it has netted him four stoppages and three performance bonuses in his last six contests. 

MMA fans have long clamored for Ferguson to become a bona fide title contender, and a win over Barboza should cement him there. 

To notch that win, Ferguson will have to defeat perhaps the best striker in the entire division. Barboza has a mind-bending arsenal of kicks and combinations, as well as some serious takedown defense and nice jiu-jitsu to back it up. Barboza has won four of his last six, with this losses coming to Michael Johnson and Donald Cerrone.

Most recently, Barboza won a shootout with Paul Felder that notched both men Fight of the Night honors at UFC on Fox 16 in June.

Barboza is currently listed at No. 6 on the official UFC lightweight rankings. Ferguson appears at No. 8, though some might argue that's a little low given his winning streak.

Meanwhile, the bad news keeps coming for Nurmagomedov and his fans. The 27-year-old is undefeated at 22-0 and is the only person in the past four years to defeat current champion Rafael dos Anjos. A win over Ferguson would almost surely have secured a title shot for Nurmagomedov.

That win over dos Anjos also is noteworthy, however, because it was the last time Nurmagomedov was able to compete. That was April 2014. Knee injuries and, in the case of his date with Ferguson, a rib injury have conspired to keep him on the sidelines.

Now, it appears Ferguson or Barboza may be poised to leapfrog the Dagestani phenom in the rankings, and he could get to a title shot sooner rather than later. There's a lot of reward waiting for the man who can take care of business on December 11.

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Americana to Von Flue: 10 Grappling MMA Moves, Explained

Mixed martial arts is a dynamic, exciting sport. It's also highly technical, and for someone who may not be familiar with it, you can watch MMA and have no idea what you're seeing. An elementary understanding why striking works is almost innate, but when it comes to submission attempts, ground game and grappling positions, the goals may not be as readily apparent.

Following Patrick Wyman's MMA in 10 Moves: A Technical Introduction, this list is 10 grappling-specific moves we see in MMA. Transitions in grappling can happen so fast, it can be difficult for the uninitiated to keep up. So in this piece, I'll explain why a submission works, what to look for to recognize a set up and common defenses for the submission. Most submissions have numerous variants and can be set up or achieved from multiple positions; as a primer, this piece breaks down the fundamental mechanics of a basic version of the submission.

I'll also review three positions, how they control the opponent, their weaknesses and the opportunities they can offer. 

We'll start with submissions and proceed in alphabetical order. First up...

 

Submissions

Americana/Keylock

While kimuras are referenced more frequently in MMA, the Americana incorporates the same mechanics and is essentially the same technique. This submission is primarily a shoulder lock, often achieved when Fighter A has full mount on Fighter B or has Fighter B in side control.

Structure: From mount, Fighter A reaches across Fighter B with her right arm to secure a grip on Fighter B's right wrist, with Fighter B's palm facing up. To further immobilize Fighter B, Fighter A should shove her right elbow against Fighter B's neck, forcing B's head off-center. Then, Fighter A reaches under Fighter B's bicep with her left hand and grabs her own right wrist, creating a "figure-four" control on Fighter B's right arm. From there, Fighter A pulls the structure down the mat, toward the hips, keeping the arm pinned to the mat.

To finish the submission, Fighter A holds Fighter B's wrist against the mat while she raises her left elbow. Since Fighter B's wrist and shoulder stay on the mat, the flexion on the shoulder causes damage very quickly.

Keys to success: Pulling the structure toward the hips and keeping the wrist pinned to the mat.

Defense: Once the figure-four is on, the threat is imminent and hard to avoid, so defenses need to be fast and usually leave Fighter B in a still very vulnerable position. The best defense is for Fighter B to grasp her hands above her head as soon as her wrist is grasped and turn to her side. Breaking that grip is difficult, so you often see Fighter A transition to S-mount and keep control of the arm, sometimes resulting in an armbar attempt.

Examples: Jon Jones vs Vitor Belfort, Shinya Aoki vs Yokthai Sithoar, Dan Severn vs. Dave Beneteau, Josh Barnett vs. Alexander Emelianenko, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Valentijn Overeem

 

Armbar

Behold! The merciless efficacy of the armbar, first illustrated at UFC 2 by Royce Gracie on an unwitting Jason Delucia, always makes for an exciting finish. As we've seen through the years, armbars can be hit from a variety of positions from seemingly endless set ups. The armbar attacks the elbow and results in plenty of broken arms, if not released in time. There are so many aspects that can be tweaked, attempting to address a fraction of them could fill a series devoted solely to arm bars; this is a breakdown of the mechanics of the basic, traditional armbar.

Structure: The traditional armbar entails Fighter A isolating one of Fighter B's arms, which is possible through a variety of ways, and wrangling Fighter B into a position that allows him to throw one leg over the front of Fighter B's head while seated perpendicular to Fighter B's shoulder. If the other leg can cross Fighter B's chest to have a leg on either side of the arm, that's ideal, but the armbar can be finished without it.

While there are multiple variations, most armbars entail using the hips as the fulcrum, above which the opponent's elbow is hyperextended as Fighter A straightens his body. If that motion doesn't result in a submission—sometimes due to the thighs not squeezing tightly enough—Fighter A will further extend his hips. 

Keys to Success: Fighter B's elbow needs to be above Fighter A's groin. Wrist control—the chances for success are increased when Fighter B's thumb is pointing up, which means Fighter A's hip extension doesn't need to be at an angle. Fighter A should squeeze his legs and pull his heels in tight, minimizing any space between him and Fighter B. 

Defense: The first line of defense is for Fighter B to get a grip on his own arm, requiring Fighter A to break the grip before he can continue the armbar attempt. This is a stalling tactic, not an escape, but is vital to virtually any escape attempt. Escape attempts include standing up and slamming, the hitchhiker (which offers solid opportunity for reversals), a stacking defense that takes away leverage and pulling the elbow to the mat while turning to the side, a variant of which is shown here.

Examples: Ronda Rousey vs Miesha Tate 2, Ronda Rousey vs Cat Zingano, Ronda Rousey vs Liz Carmouche, Ronda Rousey vs Sarah Kaufman, Diego Brandao vs Dennis Bermudez, Frank Mir vs Tim Sylvia, Matt Hughes vs Georges St. Pierre, Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen, Royce Gracie vs. Jason Delucia

 

Arm Triangle

So called because the arms of the attacker make the same structure around the neck and arm of her opponent as a traditional triangle, the arm triangle is a highly technical and fast-acting submission. Usually set up from full mount or side control, the limited defenses mean that, when applied correctly, the rate of return is good. The arm triangle is a blood choke (or strangle).

Structure: From mount, Fighter A scoops Fighter B's head with her left arm, applying shoulder pressure to the jaw for control. Her right arm threads under Fighter B's left arm, working it upward until it's by Fighter B's own ear. Fighter A presses her head against that arm, effectively pinning it to Fighter B's head, and maintains pressure to keep it from lowering.

The next step is to close the structure; this can be done with a grip, but Fighter A will find greater control by putting her left hand on her right bicep (as you see in rear-naked chokes) and then tucking her right hand behind her head. Fighter A's left shoulder needs to slide from from the jaw down to the neck.

While the arm triangle can be finished in mount, it's much more common that Fighter A will dismount to side control, on her right-hand side (same side her head is on), and may begin "walking" around the mat to position herself perpendicularly to Fighter B.

Keys to Success: Fighter A's head pressure against Fighter B's arm, pinning it against Fighter B's own neck; keeping the arm immobile is vital to completion. Keeping her shoulder against Fighter B's neck is necessary as well. For arm triangles achieved on the mat (versus standing, as in Jessica Eye vs Zoila Gurgel below), Fighter A needs to keep her left forearm flat on the mat.

Defense: The defense I see employed most in MMA is to "answer the phone," which means Fighter B brings her left hand to her left ear and pushes against the structure with her elbow. As evidenced in Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin above, this doesn't always work. Another defense is for Fighter B to reach down and clasp both hands behind her own leg and push, using that strength to pull her shoulder away from her neck and create enough space to stave off unconsciousness. From there, Fighter B can roll on her side, away from the choke, if Fighter A hasn't already released the hold. 

Examples: Jessica Eye vs. Zoila Gurgel, Jacare Souza vs. Chris Camozzi, Jacare Souza vs. Alexander Shlemenko, Marcus Aurelio vs Takanori Gomi

 

Guillotine/Arm-In Guillotine 

The guillotine is a versatile submission; with numerous set ups possible from multiple positions, the opportunities seem plentiful. However, this blood choke has a number of small details integral to success. Often achieved on an opponent's bad level change during a takedown attempt (see: Fabricio Werdum vs. Cain Velasquez), the guillotine can be finished standing, with the opponent in guard, and from full mount.

Structure: Fighter A, while facing Fighter B, needs to get Fighter B's head beneath his right arm and wrap it around Fighter B's neck. This can be established either through a sloppy takedown attempt (such as double leg) where Fighter B bends at the waist to change levels rather than bending at the knees, thereby exposing his neck, or by Fighter A moving himself or his opponent off center, allowing him to reach up and around the back of the neck.

For the traditional guillotine, Fighter A grabs his right hand and physically pulls or pushes it up with his left while driving his hips forward. This creates the necessary height to choke or tightness to strangle. Guillotines on the ground utilize similar mechanics to finish.

Keys to Success: Fighter B's posture has to be broken down, with his head off-center and his neck trapped securely in the bend of Fighter A's arm, which is why the set up is achieved so easily on bad takedown attempts. Ensuring Fighter A's right arm stays on the back of the neck and doesn't slip onto the head is necessary, or Fighter B can pull his head out with relative ease.

Closing the distance between the fighter's hips is vital; without doing so, Fighter A won't have the leverage to finish, as we just saw with Louis Smolka's high-elbow guillotine attempt on Paddy Holohan at Fight Night 76.

Defense: If Fighter B can grab Fighter A's forearm and pull downward, he'll buy a little time to work on nullifying the threat or escaping, although you don't see this very often in MMA. He can do that by keeping his hips back and away, including blocking Fighter A's hips with his hands. Posturing and looking up uses superior back and leg strength to Fighter A's shoulder and arm pressure, breaking the guillotine structure, and has the added bonus of setting up an easy back take.

Another option is for Fighter B to throw his right arm over Fighter A's left shoulder with his hand flat on Fighter A's back, which relieves the upward pressure necessary to finish.

Examples: Fabricio Werdum vs. Cain Velasquez, Renzo Gracie vs. Pat Miletich, Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida, Minotauro Nogueira vs. Tim Sylvia, Scott Jorgensen vs. Chad George, Charles Oliveira vs. Nick Lentz, Joseph Benavidez vs. Tim Elliott, Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles

 

Kimura

A close relative of the Americana, the kimura is a judo move originally called ude-garami. Following Masahiko Kimura's submission of Brazilian jiu-jitsu forefather Helio Gracie with it, the move became known as the kimura and filtered through many grappling styles. This shoulder lock is widely used today and, like the Americana, can cause considerable damage very quickly. It's accessible from a variety of positions, especially closed guard, side control and mount.

Structure: From side control with Fighter A on top and on the left side of Fighter B, Fighter A reaches across Fighter B's chest with his left arm to secure a grip on Fighter B's right wrist, with Fighter B's palm facing down. Fighter A's right arm then threads underneath Fighter B's right shoulder and arm to grasp his own wrist.

To limit Fighter B's options to defend, Fighter A should push the figure-four structure away from Fighter B's torso until he can brace his left elbow against it. Pulling the structure up the mat, in the direction Fighter B's elbow is pointing, further immobilizes the endangered shoulder. 

To finish the submission, Fighter A lifts the structure and rotates Fighter B's arm backward and up toward the head. As Fighter B's head and shoulders come off the mat, Fighter A will often step over Fighter B's head and exert pressure with his legs or hips to take away Fighter B's space and force him back down. 

Keys to Success: Keeping Fighter B's arm away from his body prevents one of the most common defenses. The frame made by bracing the elbow against Fighter B's torso is strong, and Fighter B's already impeded range of motion is comparatively weak. Fighter A needs to keep Fighter B's arm from straightening to finish the kimura, although there are other attacks a straightened arm creates. 

Defense: The defense mentioned above entails Fighter B reaching between his legs and grabbing his shorts or thigh. Since the arm has to be away from the body to endanger the shoulder, this defense takes away the submission opening and frequently breaks the figure-four structure. Other defenses, depending on the position from which the kimura is attempted, include rolling forward and straightening the arm and reaching above the head.

Examples: Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Renzo Gracie, Phil Davis vs. Tim Boetsch, Fabricio Werdum vs. Alistair Overeem, Nick Diaz vs. Josh Neer

 

Triangle

The triangle is a blood choke that is difficult to defend. Like the arm triangle, it involves a figure-four, except with the legs instead of the arms. While triangles are not seen all that frequently in MMA, they make for an exciting finish as Fighter B flails like a fish out of water before tapping. Even if Fighter A doesn't get the finish, triangles are an effective control that take some time and effort to escape.

Structure: Fighter A is on her back while Fighter B is in her guard. Fighter B's head and left arm are caught in a figure-four made by Fighter A. Fighter A's left leg is crossed over the back of Fighter B's neck and her right leg folds over her left, with her left ankle secured in the crook of her knee. While setting up the triangle and before crossing her right leg over her left, Fighter A may reach up with her right hand and grab her left shin close to the left side of Fighter B's head. This limits Fighter B's options to escape the set up.

While it's helpful to have Fighter B's left arm reaching across toward her right, it's not necessary to finish the choke. To finish, Fighter A squeezes with her thighs, sometimes pulling Fighter B's head down with both hands.

Keys to Success: Fighter A's left shin/calf should be parallel to the mat after it's in position around Fighter B's neck. It should to be straight across Fighter B's neck, rather than angling back toward the shoulder. Fighter A can make this adjustment by using her hands to push on her left knee or by grabbing her left shin or ankle and pulling it toward her. Taking away any space is instrumental in completion, so the crook of Fighter A's left leg should be tight against Fighter B's neck. 

Additionally, it's important that the right leg folds over the left ankle, not the foot. With the flexion of the foot, it's usually not tight enough for completion. 

Defense: Sometimes a slam is possible, especially if the triangle was set up from standing. Posturing up and looking upward will buy time, as Fighter B's posture needs to be broken down to complete the triangle. The gloves make it difficult, but if Fighter B can work her right hand in between the legs from the back, just enough to grasp her hands together, she may have enough leverage to create some space.

Alternately, she can reach her left arm back and around Fighter A's right leg and grab her own right wrist, which also creates space and may expand her shoulder some. Fighter B can sit back as Chael Sonnen did in the example above, but that doesn't always work. 

The best defense is not allowing the triangle to fully close. Once it's closed, it's extremely difficult to get out of. 

Examples: Demian Maia vs. Ed Herman, Demian Maia vs. Chael Sonnen, Nate Diaz vs. Kurt Pellegrino, Daiju Takase vs. Anderson Silva, Fabricio Werdum vs. Fedor Emelianenko, Jessica Penne vs. Naho Sugiyama

 

Von Flue

Sometimes called a shoulder choke, the Von Flue is a clever form of retribution for a failed guillotine attempt. At UFC Ultimate Fight Night 3, Jason Von Flue submitted Alex Karalexis with the choke, which he then had to explain in his post-fight interview. While Von Flue finishes aren't particularly common, they're especially gratifying because they capitalize on such an elementary mistake.

Structure: A common defense when on the receiving end of a guillotine attempt is to take Fighter B down and into side control. If Fighter B tries to hang on to the guillotine, which is virtually never finished while in the bottom in side control, the opportunity for the Von Flue presents itself.

After the failed takedown attempt, Fighter B's left arm is around the back of Fighter A's neck. With Fighter B in side control and against his right side, Fighter A scoops the head with his left arm and reaches across Fighter B with his right arm, trapping Fighter B's left wrist in his armpit.

With the head scooped, Fighter A can push his left shoulder into the neck and drive his weight forward, or come to a tripod-like position and push his weight down into the neck. As in the example above with Ovince St. Preux and Nikita Krylov, the choke can quickly put people to sleep.

Keys to Success: Keeping Fighter B's hand trapped in the armpit will take away much of the defense. The rest is obvious: good shoulder pressure, keep the head scooped tight.

Defense: If Fighter B's guillotine attempt fails and he's being taken down into side control, he can completely nullify the threat by releasing Fighter A's head. If Fighter A's center of balance is too far over Fighter B, it's possible to roll Fighter A. 

Examples: Jason Von Flue vs. Alex Karalexis, Derrick Krantz vs. Brock Larson, Chad George vs. Mark Vorgeas, David Branch vs. Jesse McElligott

Positions

Half Guard

Half guard is a position most fighters don't aim for, but end up in—either put there by a defending opponent or grasping for it to keep from suffering an even worse fate. Undesirable as it may be, half guard is a versatile position that can be advantageous for either opponent, with sweep opportunities from the bottom, multiple ways to pass from the top and some attack openings from both. Half guard also acts as a defense on the bottom to immobilize the top fighter and complicate her attacks. Mitch Clarke did this with great success in his fight with Al Iaquinta. Half guard from the bottom is best utilized by grapplers who have trained it extensively; 

Structure: Fighter A is on top of Fighter B on the mat, and Fighter B wraps her legs around one of Fighter A's, above the knee. Fighter B's legs are often secured in a figure-four, with one ankle tucked securely behind her other knee.  When Fighter B is flattened on the mat, Fighter A has the advantageous half guard.

When Fighter B is on her side and bending in half, keeping her head low and deep between Fighter A's legs, she's in excellent positioning for sweeps and a few attacks. Sweeping from the bottom requires disrupting Fighter A's balance, which Fighter B can achieve by leveraging herself underneath Fighter A's center of gravity. 

 

Potential attacks/transitions

Several of the submissions listed below can start to be set up in half guard and are completed after transition.

From top: Pass into side control, S-mount, or full mount and pursue submissions from there; guillotine, punches, elbows, kimura, armbar, d'arce.

From bottom: Full guard recovery, back take; kimura, straight armbar, guillotine, twister, various leg locks (if you're Rousimar Palhares)

Weaknesses: If Fighter B doesn't quickly sweep or attack, she can easily get stuck clinging to a leg control that does nothing except keep her underneath Fighter A's attacks. Half guard bottom is overall a dangerous place to be, and as noted, fighters usually end up in half guard rather than seek it.

Examples of effective use: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Fabricio Werdum, Mitch Clarke, Frank Mir, Wilson Reis, Rousimar Palhares

 

Mount

Mount is a close runner-up to rear mount as the best position. Fighters want to get mount and don't want to be in it. The top position is excellent for both striking and for submission attempts, and the fighter on the bottom is not only extremely vulnerable, but has to contend with escaping from a very dominant control.

Structure: Happily, the structure is simple. Fighter B is on her back, while Fighter A, kneeling, straddles her midsection. Small adjustments can be incorporated to create anticipated reactions, set up submissions, immobilize a joint and so on.

For example, if Fighter A drives her hips downward and much of her weight off her knees, the pressure on Fighter B is greatly increased, further limiting mobility. Fighter A can also grapevine her legs underneath and around Fighter B's, which reduces the knees' range of motion. Paired with hip pressure, it's a brutal position to be stuck in.

There's also a variation called high mount, which sees Fighter A working her way up Fighter B's torso. This takes her out of reach of Fighter B's legs and removes her from the position most affected by any bridging Fighter B tries. Sometimes, the mount is high enough that Fighter B's arms are forced upward, exposing them even more, and Fighter A can squeeze the shoulders with her knees. 

Potential Attacks/Transitions: Nearly limitless. Great for ground-and-pound. Usually, if a fighter goes for a sub from mount, it'll be attacking the arm or shoulder. Armbars, kimuras, Americanas. There are plenty of chokes available from mount, including arm triangles. Mounted guillotines are another option, though they're more likely to be the result of a transition from another position. With a high enough mount, fighters can even set up triangles.

Weaknesses: Few, if any. The biggest risk is that Fighter A's body is within reaching distance, which could potentially provide a short-lived, meager defense. The more flexible fighters on the bottom can bring their legs up and try to snag Fighter A by the armpits. If Fighter B is able to bridge and roll to the side, she'll end up in Fighter A's closed guard.

Examples of effective use: Gunnar Nelson, Tonya Evinger, Cheick Congo, Fedor Emelianenko, Dan Henderson, Cain Velasquez, Charles Oliveira, Jacare Souza, Shinya Aoki, Shogun Rua

 

Rear/Back Mount

Easily the most dominant position one fighter can get on another, rear mount affords Fighter A numerous advantages and ample protection. The only parts of Fighter A's body that are exposed are portions of his limbs. His head may be exposed, but Fighter B typically can't take advantage of it in any meaningful way—striking backwards over your own shoulder isn't exactly powerful.

Structure: In a seated position, Fighter A has Fighter B seated between his legs, back to Fighter A. Fighter A will get his hooks in by bringing his feet up and planting them against Fighter B's inner thighs. Outward pressure with the feet helps limit Fighter B's hip mobility. It's dangerous for Fighter A to cross his feet in this position, because Fighter B can cross one of his legs over Fighter A's feet and go for an ankle lock. Sometimes, Fighter A will manage a body triangle on Fighter B, which is uncomfortable, puts a lot of pressure on the diaphragm and can be moved up the torso to squeeze the ribs.

While there are several grips people may use from rear mount, many fighters default to the seat belt grip. This entails Fighter A's right arm going over Fighter B's shoulder and across his chest, while his left arm slides under Fighter B's left arm to grab his own right wrist. Generally, the bottom hand (left, in this example) will grasp the top hand to protect it, as the top hand can threaten Fighter B the most with chokes and Fighter B will first attack the grip at the most exposed hand.

Potential Attacks/Transitions: Almost all of them. Leg locks, kimuras, and Americanas are less readily available, but rear mount is especially great for chokes and armbars. When Fighter A can get Fighter B to turn over onto his stomach, the ground-and-pound from there is brutal, especially when Fighter A pins Fighter B to the mat with his hips.

Weaknesses: None inherent, really. If Fighter A doesn't have a good rear mount game, Fighter B should be able to escape with relative ease. If Fighter B then ends up on top, Fighter A will have accomplished nothing and ended up in the inferior position.

Examples of effective use: Charles Oliveira, Jacare Souza, Shinya Aoki, BJ Penn,  Gunnar Nelson, Tonya Evinger, Urijah Faber, Joe Doerksen, Louis Smolka, Demian Maia, Royce Gracie, Jessica Penne

Proficient grappling at work is a fascinating thing to see. So in parting, I'll leave you with 20 of the best submissions in the UFC. Curious about a move, position or submission? Let us know in the comments!

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Friday, October 30

Oscar De La Hoya Wants to Promote Ronda Rousey's Potential Boxing Career

UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey stated this week that her future athletic goals extend beyond the octagon, including a potential foray into boxing. If that happens, former world champion Oscar De La Hoya wants to serve as her promoter.

Rousey won a bronze medal in Judo at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and has become one of the most dominant athletes in sports since transitioning to MMA. She's got a 12-0 record with all but one of those victories coming in the first round.

Eventually, she may look to broaden her horizons again, as noted by Damon Martin of Fox Sports.

"What I would love to do: I got an Olympic medal, I would want to retire from MMA as one of the greatest of all time, I would love to have the chance to be the boxing world champion, and I would love to have the chance to be a jiu-jitsu world champion," Rousey said. "I'd love to have the chance to be the Divas world champion and just be the best of everything at one point."

She admitted time may be an issue in terms of trying to accomplish all of those goals while still at or near her athletic peak. As the Fox Sports report notes, she's also became involved in Hollywood with more projects—including one with Mark Wahlberg—on tap.

That said, if there comes a time where she seriously wants to pursue her dream of becoming a boxing world champion, De La Hoya is ready to help. Mike Dyce of Fansided passed along comments the creator of Golden Boy Promotions made on Fight Hub TV.

"We've discussed it, and whenever she is ready to step into the ring as a boxer, then obviously Golden Boy Promotions will be right there with her," De La Hoya said.

Surely there would be other promotions eager to sign Rousey. She's developed into a marquee draw for UFC and the mainstream appeal would undoubtedly carry over to the boxing ring.

De La Hoya is clearly trying to get a jump on the recruitment process. It would be a good match on the surface. He's also an Olympic medalist—earning gold in boxing at the 1992 Games—and has a long career in the sport to help Rousey with the switch.

At the very least, it's intriguing to think about Rousey as a boxer. While there's no doubting her athletic ability and tremendous power, boxing is more of a technical sport compared to the UFC brawls she's accustomed to winning in mere seconds with a knockout or submission.

There's no timetable on a potential switch—she's slated to defend her UFC title against Holly Holm on Nov. 15—but De La Hoya and the boxing world are keeping tabs on the situation.

 

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UFC 193: Facing Tough Odds and Tougher Questions, Holly Holm Keeps a Brave Face

What makes you think you can beat Ronda Rousey?

It may be wrapped up with niceties and specifics and endless permutations of phrasing, but that is the core of the question Holly Holm receives, over and over again.

With UFC 193 and Holm's date with Rousey approaching, the questioning is hitting overdrive. During a media conference call Thursday that was joined by Bleacher Report MMA, Holm gamely (if wearily) answered the question as often as it was asked, discussing her own style, her own preparation and her own chances to dethrone the seemingly undethronable UFC women's bantamweight champion.

Making the scrutiny even more intense was the fact that Rousey was not present as scheduled for any of the call, failing to answer even a single question because of what call organizers said were "technical difficulties."

 

 

That left Holm to face the proverbial firing squad alone.

But she was up to the challenge. There are bigger challenges to come than some conference call, but Thursday may indicate that Holm is remaining poised in the crucible of low expectations and the hardest fight of her career.

“Every style makes a difference. Every fight makes a difference," Holm said during the call. "And I think that I can do it. Girls get in there with her and they put her high up on a pedestal. They forget they’re in there for a reason. I’m in there for a reason.”

According to odds posted on Odds Shark, Holm is anywhere from +825 to +1100 to pull what would be a shocking upset on November 15. With those long numbers, it becomes almost literally true that no one is giving her a chance. And Holm knows this. 

Holm also knows that she was selected for more than her blondeness. A former world champion boxer, the 34-year-old is 9-0 since switching to pro MMA. She has yet to look amazing in her two bouts for the UFC but managed to notch a win on each occasion.

When discussing her Rousey-beating ability, Holm draws on her boxing experience.

“I’ve been the underdog more than once, and that’s fine with me," Holm said. “A couple years ago, I got knocked out by [Anne Sophie] Mathis. She hadn’t lost in 17 years, and she knocked me out, and people thought I was crazy for taking that rematch. Those times are when the victories are even better.”

What Holm left unsaid is that she defeated Mathis by decision in the rematch. Will that kind of scenario play out against Rousey? Most people are betting against it, due mainly to the fact that Holm lacks the ground game and knockout power to, respectively, resist Rousey on the ground or end the fight in a flash.

But of course, Holm said she has been working on those parts of her game. Helping her along in that regard is one of the best teams in the sport: coaches Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn, and training partners like a certain Jon Jones.

“He might just come to my mitt session and talk about my fighting style," Holm said of Jones. "He’s got a good mind for fighting.”

Holm also notes that she has been working on her mat game, although without sacrificing a focus on the skill set that got her this far.

“Of course I’ve been working on [grappling]," Holm said. "I think it would be a really dumb mistake to not…I know she’s not afraid to stand up…I’m very aware of that...Yes, we look at what she does well, but we also want to capitalize on the things I do well.”

As the questions finally wound down, Holm never strayed off message. Though she acknowledged and almost even embraced the difficulty of the task in front of her, she also maintained that she has the tools to win. If the improbable happens on November 15, no one can accuse Holm of losing faith, even if everyone else seemed to.

“She hasn’t been beaten yet," Holm said, "but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.”


Scott Harris writes about MMA for Bleacher Report. For more, follow Scott on Twitter. All quotes obtained firsthand. 

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Conor McGregor Slams Critics After Wearing Poppy, Says 'F--k You and the Queen'

Irish UFC interim featherweight champion champion Conor McGregor has issued an expletive-filled response after he was criticised for wearing a remembrance poppy.

The poppy is widely worn in the run-up to November 11's Remembrance Day to commemorate those members of the armed forces killed in the line of duty since the First World War.

However, Dublin-born McGregor has been questioned on social media for sporting the symbol, given its associations with the British Army and their historic conflicts with the Irish.

In a remarkable Facebook post McGregor responded to his critics, defending his right to wear a poppy while also seeming to condemn the Queen.

His outburst drew a startling reaction—it has been liked over 40,000 times—to which he then responded with another expletive-filled tweet. 

Both posts can be seen below (warning: NSFW):

The UFC champion is not the first Irish sportsman to cause controversy because of the poppy.

Republic of Ireland footballer James McClean came under fire while at Sunderland for refusing to wear a matchday shirt embroidered with a poppy.

When he again opted against displaying the symbol during his time at Wigan Athletic, he penned a letter to Latics chairman Dave Whelan explaining his decision, which was published on the club's website:

I have complete respect for those who fought and died in both World Wars...and if the Poppy was a symbol only for the lost souls of World War I and II I would wear one...[But] for me to wear a poppy would be as much a gesture of disrespect for the innocent people who lost their lives in the Troubles – and Bloody Sunday especially - as I have in the past been accused of disrespecting the victims of WWI and WWII. 

MMA fighter McGregor has caused quite a furore with his response, but it is somewhat unsurprising given the politics surrounding the symbol and the reaction McClean has drawn in the past.

The 27-year-old will take on UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo in a title-unification clash at UFC 194 on December 12 in Las Vegas. 

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Khabib Nurmagomedov Forced off TUF 22 Finale vs. Tony Ferguson with Injured Rib

The Ultimate Fighter 22 finale took a bit of a ding early Friday morning when MMAFighting.com reported that Khabib Nurmagomedov (22-0) was forced out of his bout against Tony Ferguson (19-3).

The lightweight fight had major title implications. Nurmagomedov is ranked as the No. 3 contender, and Ferguson comes in at No. 8. Nurmagomedov was knocking on the door to a title shot following a dominant performance over now-UFC champion Rafael dos Anjos in 2014, but injuries have plagued his attempt to capture gold.

An injured rib will sideline Nurmagomedov from a possible title eliminator.

There is no word on how long the injury will keep him on the outside looking in, but after a couple knee surgeries and more than a year away from active competition, this is another crushing blow to the stellar lightweight.

If you are searching for a silver lining, the report claims sources are saying the UFC are tabbing No. 6-ranked contender Edson Barboza (16-3) as Nurmagomedov's replacement for the event. That potential fight would also have major title implications at 155 pounds.

Barboza is 3-1 in his last four bouts, with the loss coming to Michael Johnson in February. Ferguson, on the other hand, is riding a six-fight win streak into the event.

Champion Rafael dos Anjos defends the title on December 19 in Orlando against No. 2-ranked contender Donald Cerrone. The timing would put the winner of Barboza vs. Ferguson in prime position to announce himself as the next rightful challenger.

The Ultimate Fighter 22 finale will take place on December 11 at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. Headlining the event is the featherweight title eliminator between Frankie Edgar and Chad Mendes.

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The Ronda Rousey Fame Machine Will Eat Her Alive (Or Die Trying)

You don't have to listen too closely to understand the pressure Ronda Rousey faces down on an everyday basis, that she is feeling and living, that she cannot escape.

It was obviously self-reflective when the UFC bantamweight champion claimed during a UFC 193 media day that her challenger Holly Holm would "enjoy her life a lot more" if she lost, thereby avoiding all of the added responsibilities thrust upon the titleholder. 

The more she talks, the more obvious it gets that being the champ is no longer mostly fun; that it now more closely resembles the relentless grind that both Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre spoke of upon ending their respective reigns.

Another sign came on Thursday night, when Rousey disconnected from a scheduled media conference call after being asked a question about her boyfriend, fellow UFC fighter Travis Browne. While the question seemed relatively harmless, Rousey has often objected to inquiries regarding her personal life.

Just a day earlier, the 28-year-old had decried her treatment in an interview with ESPN, saying, "people stop treating you like a person and start treating you like an event," and said that when she is done fighting, "I'm moving to the middle of nowhere."

The thing is, some of her feelings are completely understandable. Even as a member of the media, I must admit that the media becomes overwhelming to the point of suffocation when it gets obsessed with a topic. And make no mistake, Rousey is a mainstream media obsession.

In the last two weeks, here is a sample of headlines, with corresponding publications:

Most of these stories are nonsense, but because people seem to be fascinated by Rousey, they get assigned, written and disseminated. The media writes, the audience reads, the assembly line needs more. That's the way it works, and the cycle continues ad infinitum. Or at least until that person falls apart or disappears. The machine must always be fed.

This is Rousey's reality now, no matter how much she objects or complains. It doesn't seem quite fair, but when she smashed MMA's glass ceiling, she called attention to herself that never quite left. In fact, it multiplied exponentially.

People tend to reason the overbearing attention that comes with fame by saying it is what you signed up for, but the truth is no one truly knows what they're signing up for until it's too late. There are too many variables involved. Who would have guessed that Rousey would become without a doubt the biggest crossover star mixed martial arts has ever known? 

Yet here she is now, the most famous cage fighter ever, blowing away Brock Lesnar and Randy Couture and even Gina Carano. In the past few weeks, she's gotten magazine covers (Self, Ring), gabbed with major talk show hosts (Jimmy Fallon, Ellen Degeneres) and co-hosted two of America's top sports shows (ESPN SportsCenter, FOX NFL Sunday). On the other side of the world, her event is expected to draw a UFC record 70,000 fans to Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.

Rousey has reached the point where her popularity rivals that of the UFC. She can call her own shots in regards to media appearances, and that includes the biggest shows around. Unfortunately for her, it is the only place where she has control. 

In the last week, she has faced questions about her mom's criticism of her coach, and of her relationship with Browne in the wake of domestic abuse allegations against him. It is really among the first times Rousey has been put in uncomfortable positions.

But as the public gets to know the entirety of the Rousey story, they will want more, and some reporters will continue to push her past the point of comfort. The machine plays along until you no longer play along with it. And then it tries to cannibalize you. It is insatiable. This is how it is, even if that's not how it should be. 

To her credit, Rousey has discussed an "exit plan." She says she wants to retire young, to chase a boxing world championship, then a jiu-jistu world championship, then a professional wrestling world championship. All this while doing movies. Which doesn't sound like an exit plan at all, but more like different stages of the same venue. 

At other times, she has said she will disappear and "no one will ever hear from me ever again," which is about as opposite from the first plan as can be. 

In other words, there is conflict roiling within her. The pressure is intensified; the fun is dulled. That's how it is at this level, when the fame machine must constantly be fed. Rousey is finding out now that either it eats you alive or dies trying.

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Kimbo Slice to Headline Bellator Event in Houston: Details and Reaction

Kimbo Slice will headline the main event in Bellator MMA’s next tentpole Feb. 19 at Toyota Center in Houston, according to Jeremy Botter of the Houston Chronicle.

Slice’s opponent hasn’t been finalized, though Tim Burke of SB Nation speculated it may be the winner of the match between Bobby Lashley and James Thompson on Nov. 6 at Bellator 145 in St. Louis.

Slice isn’t letting his age affect his drive to continue fighting, as he showed in an extensive training video that Bellator released in the summer:

Slice, 41, is 5-2 in his MMA career across EliteXC, the UFC, The Ultimate Fighter and Bellator, which he joined in January. He last fought—and won via knockout—in June against Ken Shamrock.

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Thursday, October 29

Rousimar Palhares Handed 2-Year Suspension, $40K Fine

One of mixed martial arts dirtiest fighters was today suspended for two years and fined $40,000 (plus attorney general's fees) for holding a submission too long earlier this year. 

Rousimar Palhares, the fireplug former welterweight champion for World Series of Fighting, went before the Nevada State Athletic Commission during a Thursday meeting to answer for an incident during his August 1 title defense against Jake Shields.

Bleacher Report was in attendance at the meeting. 

Palhares, a fighter with a history of holding fight-ending submissions despite repeated pleas from referees governing his bouts, did the same thing against Shields. Palhares secured a kimura on Shields in the third round, and referee Steve Mazzagatti stepped in to stop the fight. But Palhares did not immediately relinquish the submission, and Mazzagatti—who testified during Thursday’s hearing—said it took him six or seven taps on Palhares before the fighter let go.

He was stripped of the WSOF championship by the promotion and suspended indefinitely, while the Nevada commission issued a temporary suspension until today’s disciplinary hearing could take place. Palhares appeared before the commission live from Brazil via a Skype video conference call. He appeared without legal representation but was accompanied by manager Alex Davis.

Prior to the August bout, NSAC executive director Bob Bennett approached Mazzagatti and expressed his concern with Palhares’ history of holding submissions too long. He wanted to make sure Mazzagatti clearly explained the rules to the fighter. And so Mazzagatti went in Palhares’ locker room prior to the fight and, according to the official, used both verbal and physical tactics to slowly explain the rules to Palhares. During this meeting, Palhares expressed concern that Shields might use a “false tap” to cheat his way out of submissions, but Mazzagatti assured him that he would only stop the fight with good reason.

Today, Mazzagatti said that Palhares “clearly” held the submission far past the point when he attempted to stop the fight.

“It was absolutely unsportsmanlike conduct,” Mazzagatti said.

Also testifying was WSOF President Ray Sefo, who repeated Mazzagatti’s belief that the act was totally unsportsmanlike. And Davis called famed referee John McCarthy to testify as an expert witness in the hopes that he would be able to point out that Mazzagatti was in an incorrect position to stop the fight. Instead, McCarthy broke down the mechanics of refereeing while watching a replay of the fight and noted that he believes Palhares is a nice person, but that there is a total disregard for the safety of his opponents.

Palhares said it was not his intention to hurt Shields, but just to win the fight. He also said he could not see Mazzagatti and thought it was Shields somehow kneeing him in the back, a claim that seems largely preposterous upon repeated viewing of the video evidence.

New NSAC Commissioner Michele Martin asked Palhares about the 2012 incident in Australia when he was suspended for failing a post-fight drug test after a loss to Hector Lombard. She then asked Palhares if that was the only incident in his career where he has been punished for an infraction. Palhares said that yes, it was.

The problem: It was not the first time. Palhares had been suspended for 90 days after a 2010 incident in which he held a submission too long against Tomasz Drwal. After being repeatedly questioned by Martin, Palhares suddenly recalled his first suspension. Palhares also denied being given a verbal reprimand by California athletic commissioner Andy Foster for holding a kneebar too long against Jon Fitch last year.

During closed deliberations, Commissioner Pat Lundvall said that the response of promoters to Palhares' actions informed the seriousness of the offenses that were before them. Palhares had been released by the UFC and stripped and suspended by World Series of Fighting.

But Lundvall said that because they have never seen a case of this nature in front of the commission, she could not recommend the most severe punishment—this despite handing out a five-year suspension to Nick Diaz last month for marijuana usage. Perhaps the public backlash to the strong Diaz sentencing made the NSAC gun-shy. The other commissioners agreed with Lundvall, and the sentence was passed unanimously. 

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Conor McGregor Details Pre-UFC 189 ACL Injury, Says He Beat Chad Mendes on 1 Leg

Interim UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor is no stranger to making remarkable claims, so perhaps it’s little surprise that according to the fighting Irishman, he beat Chad Mendes in his previous bout “on one leg.”  

McGregor notched a knockout victory over the American at UFC 189 in July, securing the belt. However, speaking at a Q&A session with some fans in Dublin, The Notorious opened up about a nasty injury he suffered in the buildup to the fight, per Danny Segura of MMAFighting.com: 

Fourteen weeks before the fight I tore 80 percent of my ACL. I could barely walk, I could barely kick. I had a lot of experience coming back from that injury. I was aware of my body, I was aware of my balance. I had a good team around me. I trusted everyone that was there. That's how I perform.

So, once again, I had a lot of adversity to overcome. But honestly, I went into that fight and I beat Chad on one leg. After going through that adversity I feel like I have gained three new legs.

McGregor was scheduled to face pound-for-pound king Jose Aldo back in July, but the Brazilian champion was unable to defend his title after suffering a rib injury during preparations. Mendes stepped to challenge for the interim title, and despite starting the fight well, McGregor sent him to the canvas with a devastating left hand in Round 2.

Here’s a reminder of the thrilling finish, per BT Sport UFC:

McGregor and Aldo will face off at UFC 194 on December 12 in what will be one of the most hotly anticipated showdowns in the promotion's history.

The revelations from McGregor, if to be believed, certainly paint a picture of a fighter who was desperate to make it to the Octagon in July. Early on in the fight, he was caught by Mendes and did look a little static, eating a few sharp punches from his opponent. But McGregor is a fighter who is never overly difficult to hit.

They're claims you can bet McGregor will want Aldo to hear. The Irishman has been critical of Aldo previously after the manner in which he pulled out of the previous fight, insisting “I’m still not sold he’ll show up” for the December showpiece at a Takeover Q&A, per Rory Brigstock-Barron of the MailOnline.

UFC commentator Jon Anik thinks that after his win over Mendes, there are a lot of people expecting McGregor to make good on his promises of beating Aldo:

However, Aldo has shown throughout his career that he’s a class act inside the Octagon. As we can see here, the Brazilian looks to be in devastating shape during his pre-fight camp, too:

The injury to Aldo and subsequent frustration when he pulled out has left many UFC fanatics desperate to see these two go toe-to-toe inside the Octagon. McGregor beating a strong competitor like Mendes in such an emphatic style has also made him a much more legitimate contender to beat the Brazilian, who has never lost in the UFC.

It’s possible McGregor embellished the details of his injury a little, and it’d certainly be a disservice to a quality fighter like Mendes to say he did beat him with such a disadvantage. If he can better the levels he showcased against the American as drastically as he claims, then it's going to be a very uncomfortable evening for Aldo at UFC 194.

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Daniel Cormier Says He Is Willing to Give Jon Jones Immediate UFC Title Rematch

UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier is willing to give Jon Jones an immediate chance to reclaim the belt he was stripped of earlier this year.

The pair squared off for the title in January, with Jones outclassing the current champion over five rounds. But the man from New York was forced to relinquish his crown after being involved in a hit-and-run incident, before recently being reinstated to the UFC’ s active roster after it emerged he would not be serving jail time.

While he’s yet to fight for the promotion since, Cormier has insisted he’s willing to face Jones in his first outing back inside the Octagon, per UFC Tonight (h/t Damon Martin of Fox Sports):

If Jones beat me in January, and he said, 'Daniel you have to earn your way back to a rematch', I would have fought the two best guys in the division, (Anthony) 'Rumble' Johnson and Alexander Gustafsson, to get back there. If Jones was still the champion, I would have earned that rematch.

The thing is, I'm the champion now and I want to fight him. I am willing to give him a title shot immediately back into the UFC. It's great for the fans, great for the organization because he is pound for pound the best fighter in the world.

Cormier has certainly kept himself busy while Jones has been in hot water. He’s fought both Anthony Johnson and Alexander Gustafsson, securing the vacant title with an impressive victory over the former, before a thrilling split decision triumph against the latter. 

As such, the former Olympic wrestler is a worthy champion. However, there are some, including Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Snowden, who feel as though Cormier needs to get the better of Jones to fully warrant that mantle:

Indeed, although Cormier has only lost once in his professional MMA career, the manner in which Jones dismantled him at UFC 182 in January was rather emphatic. Despite the current champion having a distinguished wrestling background, the man known as “Bones” became the first fighter to take him down in a MMA bout; three times, no less.

So for a fierce competitor such as Cormier, perhaps it’s no surprise he wants to avenge this loss, and it appears this showdown could be sorted very quickly indeed. "Tomorrow I'm actually going out to Vegas with my manager,” he said on UFC Tonight. "We're going to discuss the future whether it's going to be Jones, what's it going to be, where's it going to be."

From a purely fighting perspective, the fact that Cormier has become champion and beaten two quality opponents while Jones has been suspended sets this one up perfectly. Indeed, UFC commentator Jon Anik feels as though the reigning champion would be in a much better position to beat the undefeated Jones second time around:

Cormier has had five fights now at light heavyweight after shredding down, and while Gustafsson pushed him close last time out, there’s definitely a lot more assurance about him in this weight class compared to his loss to Jones. Being the champion and the confidence that’ll add is also a factor that will count in his favour should a rematch be set.

But Jones would still be the overwhelming favourite. In their previous bout, the 28-year-old had the edge on his opponent in so many different areas, utilising his superior reach, gnarly work in the clinch and smart boxing to establish an unshakable foothold in the fight. For the dynamic to have shifted so quickly in such a short amount of time would be very surprising.

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