Quick Answer
UFC submissions fall into two main categories: chokes (which cut off blood flow or air to the brain) and joint locks (which hyperextend a joint until the opponent taps out). The five most common submissions in UFC history are the rear naked choke (33% of all UFC submissions), the guillotine choke, the armbar, the triangle choke, and the kimura.
Around 20% of UFC fights end via submission. Charles Oliveira holds the all-time record with 17 career UFC submission victories across a remarkable variety of techniques. If you are new to MMA, our beginner’s guide on how MMA works covers the rules, format, and scoring from the ground up. Below is the complete UK guide to every major submission used in UFC competition, broken down by type, technique, and the famous moments that defined them.
The Two Main Categories of UFC Submissions: Chokes vs Joint Locks
Every submission in UFC competition falls into one of two main categories. The distinction matters because chokes and joint locks attack different parts of the body and produce different physiological responses. Chokes target the neck and head. Joint locks target limbs.
According to peer-reviewed analysis of every UFC pay-per-view event from UFC 1 through UFC 294, chokes account for approximately 65.5% of all UFC submission finishes. Joint locks account for the remaining 34.5%. The dominance of chokes reflects how MMA has evolved since Brazilian jiu-jitsu entered the sport at UFC 1 in 1993.
Chokes (Strangulation Submissions)
Chokes work by restricting either blood flow or air flow to the brain. There are two sub-types:
- Blood chokes: Compress the carotid arteries on the sides of the neck, cutting off blood flow to the brain. Result in unconsciousness in 8 to 13 seconds if the opponent does not tap. The rear naked choke, triangle choke, and arm triangle are blood chokes.
- Air chokes: Compress the windpipe directly, cutting off airflow to the lungs. Take longer to finish than blood chokes and rely on pain compliance rather than unconsciousness. The pure guillotine choke can function as either a blood choke or an air choke depending on grip and angle.
Joint Locks (Articular Submissions)
Joint locks work by hyperextending or twisting a joint past its natural range of motion. The opponent must tap out before the joint dislocates or the ligaments tear. There are three main sub-types:
- Arm locks: Hyperextend the elbow or shoulder. The armbar and kimura are the most common arm locks in UFC competition.
- Leg locks: Hyperextend or twist the knee, ankle, or hip. The heel hook is the most feared leg lock in MMA due to the speed at which it can damage the knee ligaments.
- Compression locks: Trap a muscle against a bone to create excruciating pressure. The calf slicer and bicep slicer are compression locks.
The 5 Most Common Submissions in UFC History
Five submissions account for the majority of all UFC tap-out victories. These are the high-percentage techniques that every elite MMA fighter drills to the point of muscle memory.
1. The Rear Naked Choke (RNC)
The rear naked choke is by far the most successful submission in UFC history. Statistical analysis of every UFC pay-per-view shows the rear naked choke accounts for approximately 33% of all UFC submissions, with over 585 recorded victories since UFC 1. No other submission comes close.
The rear naked choke is applied from back control, widely considered the most dominant position in MMA. The attacker wraps one arm around the opponent’s neck from behind, with the bicep on one side of the neck and the forearm on the other side, then secures the position with the other arm to create a tight, inescapable grip. The compression of both carotid arteries cuts off blood flow to the brain.
An opponent who does not tap will lose consciousness in an average of 8.9 seconds. The technique does not require a gi (hence the name naked), works equally well across all body types, and offers multiple grip variations including the figure-four lock and the clasped-hands finish. Demian Maia, Charles Oliveira, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev are among the most prolific rear naked choke artists in modern UFC history.
2. The Guillotine Choke
The guillotine choke is the second most common submission in UFC history, with approximately 264 recorded wins. The technique is applied from a front headlock position, with the attacker wrapping one arm around the opponent’s neck from the front and pulling upward to compress the neck against the wrist or forearm.
The guillotine is particularly effective as a counter to wrestling takedowns. When an opponent shoots for a single-leg or double-leg takedown, they often leave their neck exposed. The defending fighter can snap on a guillotine grip and lock the choke as the takedown attempt collapses. Jon Jones used a standing guillotine to knock out Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 in December 2011, with Machida collapsing on the canvas unconscious moments after Jones released the grip.
There are several guillotine variants including the arm-in guillotine, the high-elbow guillotine, and the no-arm guillotine. Brian Ortega, Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira are among the most successful guillotine artists in modern UFC competition.
3. The Armbar
The armbar is the most fundamental joint lock in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the third most common submission in UFC history. The technique accounts for approximately 15% of all UFC submission victories.
The armbar is applied by trapping an opponent’s arm between the attacker’s legs while pulling the wrist downward, forcing the elbow joint to hyperextend past its natural range of motion. The technique can be applied from mount, from the bottom in closed guard, from side control, or from a standing position via the flying armbar.
Ronda Rousey built her entire dominant UFC women’s bantamweight title reign around the armbar from her judo base, finishing the majority of her UFC wins with the same technique. The armbar is one of the first submissions taught to every white belt in BJJ because the underlying mechanics teach foundational concepts that apply across the entire grappling game.
4. The Triangle Choke
The triangle choke is a blood choke applied using the legs rather than the arms. The technique traps the opponent’s neck and one arm inside a figure-four leg configuration, compressing the carotid artery on one side of the neck with the leg and on the other side with the opponent’s own trapped shoulder.
The triangle choke is most commonly applied from the closed guard position, but can also be set up from mount, from side control via the head and arm position, or as a counter to an armbar. The choke accounts for approximately 8% of UFC submission finishes, with around 89 recorded wins in the promotion’s history.
Anderson Silva produced one of the most spectacular triangle choke moments in UFC history when he submitted Chael Sonnen at UFC 117 in August 2010. Silva had been losing the fight badly for nearly 23 minutes before locking on a triangle choke in the fifth round to retain his middleweight title.
5. The Kimura
The kimura is a shoulder lock that traps the opponent’s arm in a figure-four grip and rotates the shoulder past its natural range of motion. The technique is named after Masahiko Kimura, the Japanese judoka who used the technique to defeat Helio Gracie in their famous 1951 match in Rio de Janeiro.
The kimura accounts for approximately 40 UFC submission wins, making it the sixth most common UFC submission overall. The technique is significantly more versatile than the win count suggests, since the kimura grip itself functions as a position, a control system, and a launchpad for transitions to back takes, sweeps and other submissions.
Frank Mir used the kimura to break Tim Sylvia’s arm at UFC 48 in June 2004, in one of the most memorable submission finishes in heavyweight UFC history. Sylvia refused to tap and Mir continued the rotation until the joint dislocated, with the referee forced to intervene.
Other Important Submissions in UFC Competition
Beyond the top five, several other submissions appear regularly in UFC competition. These techniques are less common but no less effective when applied by specialists.
The Arm Triangle (Head and Arm Choke)
The arm triangle is similar to the standard triangle choke but applied using the arms rather than the legs. The attacker traps the opponent’s neck and one arm between their own bicep and the opponent’s trapped shoulder, creating a blood choke. Brock Lesnar used the arm triangle to defeat Shane Carwin at UFC 116 in July 2010, despite Lesnar absorbing significant damage in the opening round before securing the finish.
The Anaconda Choke
The anaconda choke is a front headlock variation that wraps the attacker’s arm under the opponent’s neck and through the armpit on the opposite side. The choke compresses both the neck and the trapped arm simultaneously. Charles Oliveira holds multiple anaconda choke victories in UFC competition. The choke earns its name from the Amazonian snake known for crushing the life out of its prey.
The D’Arce Choke
The D’Arce choke is a relatively rare submission in UFC competition with approximately 20 recorded finishes. The technique is a front headlock choke where the attacker shoots their arm under the opponent’s near-side arm rather than over the top, creating a different angle of compression. The D’Arce works particularly well for grapplers with long arms.
The North-South Choke
The North-South choke is applied from the north-south position (chest-to-chest with the attacker’s head facing the opponent’s feet). The attacker’s bicep compresses the opponent’s carotid artery from above. The technique is rare in UFC competition but produced one of the most memorable finishes in modern UFC history when Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted Conor McGregor via what appeared to be a north-south choke variation in the closing round of UFC 229 in October 2018.
Leg Locks in UFC: The Heel Hook and Beyond
Leg locks have become increasingly common in UFC competition over the last decade as specialist grapplers from the Danaher Death Squad and Eddie Bravo’s 10th Planet system have entered the sport. The techniques target the knee, ankle, and hip joints with potentially devastating consequences for fighters who do not tap quickly.
The Heel Hook
The heel hook is the most feared leg lock in MMA. The attacker traps the opponent’s leg between their own legs and twists the foot past its natural range of motion, putting catastrophic pressure on the knee ligaments. Unlike most submissions, the heel hook produces little pain warning before the knee tears, meaning fighters often do not tap before the damage is done.
Rousimar Palhares built his UFC career around aggressive heel hook attacks before being released from the promotion for failing to release submissions promptly. Modern leg-lock specialists like Ryan Hall have used the heel hook to finish opponents at the highest level of UFC competition.
The Kneebar
The kneebar is the leg equivalent of the armbar. The attacker traps the opponent’s leg between their own legs and pulls the foot upward to hyperextend the knee joint. The kneebar is less devastating than the heel hook but still dangerous, and it has become a more common attack in modern UFC competition.
Achilles Lock and Toe Hold
The Achilles lock and toe hold both target the ankle joint. The Achilles lock compresses the Achilles tendon between the attacker’s forearm and the opponent’s ankle. The toe hold twists the foot inward to attack the ankle ligaments. Both are less common than the heel hook in UFC competition but still appear regularly.
Compression Locks: The Calf Slicer and Bicep Slicer
Compression locks trap a muscle against a bone to create excruciating pressure rather than hyperextending a joint. The calf slicer compresses the calf muscle against the shin bone using the attacker’s leg as a fulcrum. The bicep slicer applies the same principle to the bicep against the forearm. Charles Oliveira holds one of the rare calf slicer victories in UFC history, finishing Eric Wisely at UFC on Fox 2 in January 2012.
Charles Oliveira: The UFC Submission King
No conversation about UFC submissions is complete without Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira. The Brazilian holds the all-time UFC record with 17 submission victories, more than any other fighter in the promotion’s history.
Oliveira’s submission spread is what makes the record especially remarkable. Where most submission specialists rely on one or two signature techniques, Oliveira has finished UFC opponents with the rear naked choke, guillotine choke, armbar, triangle choke, anaconda choke, calf slicer, and triangle-armbar combinations. The variety reflects his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt foundation under team Chute Boxe.
His UFC lightweight title win over Michael Chandler at UFC 262 in May 2021 capped a comeback story that started with multiple losses earlier in his career. Title defences against Dustin Poirier at UFC 269 (rear naked choke) and Justin Gaethje at UFC 274 (rear naked choke) confirmed Oliveira’s status as the most dangerous submission grappler in lightweight MMA. He also holds the UFC records for most finishes (20+) and most Fight Night bonuses (20+).
Behind Oliveira, the all-time UFC submission leaderboard includes Jim Miller (14), Demian Maia (11), Gerald Meerschaert (11), and Nate Diaz (10). Diaz produced one of the most famous submission moments in UFC history when he caught Conor McGregor with a rear naked choke in their first fight at UFC 196 in March 2016.
Famous Submission Moments in UFC History
Some single submissions have written UFC’s biggest chapters.
Royce Gracie at UFC 1 (November 1993): Royce Gracie won the entire UFC 1 tournament by submitting three opponents in one night, including Ken Shamrock via rear naked choke in 57 seconds. The performance introduced Brazilian jiu-jitsu to mainstream American audiences and revolutionised the sport forever.
Frank Mir vs Tim Sylvia (UFC 48, June 2004): Mir captured the UFC heavyweight title by breaking Sylvia’s arm with a kimura. Sylvia refused to tap and the referee was forced to intervene when the joint dislocated audibly.
Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen (UFC 117, August 2010): Silva trailed Sonnen on every scorecard heading into the fifth round before locking on a triangle choke to retain his middleweight title. One of the greatest comebacks in UFC history.
Ronda Rousey vs Miesha Tate (UFC 168, December 2013): Rousey ended her rivalry with Tate via armbar in the third round of their second meeting. The submission confirmed Rousey’s dominance over the women’s bantamweight division.
Nate Diaz vs Conor McGregor (UFC 196, March 2016): Diaz handed McGregor his first UFC loss via rear naked choke in the second round at the MGM Grand. The upset reshaped the lightweight and welterweight landscape and produced one of the biggest pay-per-view buy-rates in UFC history.
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor (UFC 229, October 2018): Khabib retained his lightweight title via neck crank submission in the fourth round, with McGregor tapping verbally. The post-fight melee at the T-Mobile Arena added to the lore of one of the biggest fights in UFC history.
How Submissions Have Evolved Since UFC 1
The role of submissions in UFC has shifted dramatically over the promotion’s three-decade history. At UFC 1 in November 1993, Royce Gracie won the entire openweight tournament with three submissions in one night, despite weighing far less than his opponents. The performance proved Brazilian jiu-jitsu could overcome size and strength differences when other disciplines could not.
In the early UFC era from 1993 to 2000, submissions accounted for approximately 30% of all fight finishes. Today the figure sits closer to 20%. The decline reflects how defensive grappling has improved across MMA. Every modern UFC fighter trains BJJ defence even if they are not submission specialists, and the days of pure strikers being submitted in the opening minute are largely gone.
The trade-off is that the submissions that do happen tend to be more technically sophisticated. Modern UFC submissions often emerge from chained sequences, scrambles, or fatigue-induced mistakes in the championship rounds rather than from clean BJJ exchanges in the opening minute. The submission specialists of the modern era (Charles Oliveira, Demian Maia, Brian Ortega, Gilbert Burns) blend grappling with elite striking rather than relying purely on the ground game.
Blood Choke Mechanics: The Vasovagal Response Explained
Blood chokes work by compressing the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck, cutting off blood flow to the brain. When the brain stops receiving blood, the body triggers what doctors call the vasovagal response: blood pressure drops, heart rate slows, and consciousness fades within 8 to 13 seconds.
Unlike head trauma, which damages the brain on impact, a blood choke does not damage the brain itself when applied for the brief seconds required to render an opponent unconscious. As soon as the choke is released, blood flow returns and the opponent regains consciousness within seconds. This is why fighters who get choked out can walk back to their corner within a minute of waking up.
A clean blood choke applied with both carotid arteries fully compressed cannot be muscled out of. Strength does not factor into the equation once the position is secured, which is the entire reason Brazilian jiu-jitsu was developed: technique and leverage beat strength and size when the choke is in place.
Submissions and the UFC Round Structure
UFC bouts are contested over either 3 rounds (standard fights) or 5 rounds (title fights and main events) of 5 minutes each. The longer round length compared to other combat sports creates extended opportunities for submission attempts mid-round, particularly in the championship rounds where fatigue starts to degrade defensive grappling. For the complete breakdown of UFC round length and championship distance, see our guide on how long is a UFC round and how many rounds in a UFC fight.
Submission attempts in UFC tend to cluster in specific moments of a round: the opening minute after the bell when fighters scramble for position, the middle of the round during clinch and ground exchanges, and the final 30 seconds when one fighter is fatigued and looking to escape rather than defend. Statistical analysis shows submissions occur most frequently in rounds 2 and 3, when fatigue has reduced defensive grappling capabilities but the fighters are still active enough to attack.
Submissions in MMA vs Punches in Boxing: Different Sports, Different Finishes
UFC and boxing produce fight-ending damage in radically different ways. Boxing fights end via knockouts from clean punching delivered with closed fists. UFC fights end via knockouts, technical knockouts, AND submissions, with the ground game accounting for around 20% of all UFC finishes that simply do not exist in boxing.
The contrast in finishing methods shapes how each sport is trained, scored and watched. Boxers spend years drilling the four basic punches (jab, cross, hook, uppercut) to perfect their stand-up game. UFC fighters split training time across striking, wrestling, BJJ and conditioning to cover all phases of the fight. For the complete breakdown of how punches work in boxing including the 6-punch numbering system used in every boxing gym, see our guide on types of punches in boxing.
How Submissions Officially End UFC Fights
A UFC submission can end a fight in three distinct ways:
- Tap-out: The fighter taps the canvas, the opponent, or the cage to signal submission. The referee immediately stops the fight.
- Verbal submission: The fighter verbally yells “tap” or screams in pain. The referee stops the fight on verbal submission even without physical tap.
- Technical submission: The fighter loses consciousness from a choke without tapping. The referee stops the fight when the fighter goes limp, awarding the win to the choking fighter via TKO due to submission.
If a submission attempt does not finish the fight, the attempt still factors into the judges’ scorecards. Under the UFC 10-point must scoring system, effective grappling (including submission attempts and threats) is weighted alongside effective striking when judges score each 5-minute round.
How Submissions Shape UFC Betting Markets
For UK MMA fans, the role of submissions directly shapes the UFC betting markets at BetVictor before every major card. Method of victory markets price submission outcomes alongside KO/TKO and decision outcomes, with the specific submission profile of each fighter factored into the odds.
Some general principles that shape submission-related betting markets:
- A fight involving a submission specialist (Charles Oliveira, Brian Ortega, Gilbert Burns) tends to price the submission outcome shorter on method of victory markets.
- Lightweight and welterweight bouts produce more submissions than heavyweight bouts, because lighter fighters tend to have stronger BJJ backgrounds.
- Bouts between two strikers price submission outcomes much longer on method of victory markets, with KO/TKO and decision being the more likely outcomes.
- Bouts featuring a wrestler against a striker often see submission attempts emerge as a counter to takedowns, particularly via guillotine choke.
- Underdog submission specialists facing favourites who are weaker grapplers can offer strong value on submission-specific method of victory markets.
The upcoming UFC 329 card headlined by Conor McGregor versus Max Holloway 2 features multiple bouts where method of victory and round betting markets are available. Full submission, KO/TKO, and decision markets are priced up for each fight on the card at the UFC 329 odds and betting markets at BetVictor.
