With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best submissions from December 2022: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Month award for December.
At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting for your choice.
Nominees
Nominee: Rafael dos Anjos def. Bryan Barberena at UFC on ESPN 42
Rafael dos Anjos (32-14 MMA, 21-12 UFC) shined in his return to the welterweight division with a one-sided performance over Bryan Barberena (18-9 MMA, 9-7 UFC).
After admitting his pursuit to regain the UFC lightweight title was over, the former champion dos Anjos moved back up a weight class for what seems like the final run of his career. He got things off to a good start, halting Barberena’s momentum when he locked in a rear-naked choke to get the win.
RDA MAKES HISTORY WITH ANOTHER WIN AT #UFCORLANDO 👏 pic.twitter.com/A6ATN4TP5B
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 4, 2022
Nominee: Patchy Mix def. Magomed Magomedov at Bellator 289
Patchy Mix (17-1 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) turned in an incredible performance against Magomed Magomedov (19-3 MMA, 3-2 BMMA), taking the judges out of the equation by putting his opponent to sleep from a deep submission.
The bantamweight grand prix semifinal saw Magomed shoot for a takedown that was countered into a guillotine choke. After adjusting, Mix synched it in even tighter, prompting referee Dan Miragliotta to check on Magomedov, who went cold out from the choke.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩!@TeamMixMMA advances to the $1M final. #Bellator289 pic.twitter.com/DGyK6btIid
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) December 10, 2022
Nominee: Liz Carmouche def. Juliana Velasquez at Bellator 289
Liz Carmouche (18-7 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) left no doubt about the outcome of her rematch with former champion Juliana Velasquez (12-2 MMA, 7-2 BMMA).
After a controversial TKO stoppage in their first meeting in April, Carmouche leaned on her grappling strengths, and found a way to submit Velasquez with an armbar in the second round to keep the flyweight title around her waist.
BACK-TO-BACK SUBMISSIONS 🥵@iamgirlrilla leaves no doubt this time as she makes Velasquez tap out to retain her title.#Bellator289 pic.twitter.com/HQE7bd3KjT
— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) December 10, 2022
The winner: Ilia Topuria def. Bryce Mitchell at UFC 282
Topuria said he would submit Mitchell if given the opportunity, and that’s exactly what happened.
In a battle of unbeaten featherweights, Topuria was the one who kept his flawless record in tact after he locked in an arm-triangle choke that forced Mitchell to tap out at the 3:10 mark of Round 2 inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
STILL UNDEFEATED!
WHAT a performance by @TopuriaIlia! 🙌 #UFC282 pic.twitter.com/PHi5Cn5ywk
— UFC (@ufc) December 11, 2022
Topuria landed a hard leg kick to start the first round that sent a message. Mitchell tried multiple takedowns through the round, but they were largely defended, and he was forced to strike. He looked comfortable there but was clearly weary of Topuria’s power as he ate the harder shots. Mitchell got a takedown and top position late in the round, but with less than minute to work, he wasn’t able to make anything meaningful happen.
Topuria came out confident with his striking pressure to begin the second round. Mitchell began to get desperate with his takedown attempts, which made them easier for Topuria to stuff. Topuria landed a hard uppercut followed by a right hand that stunned Mitchell and dropped him to the canvas, but the American worked his way up. Topuria landed a nice judo throw moments after, then took control from top. He advanced into position for the arm-triangle choke, forcing the submission.
“I had to submit him, because I got the opportunity,” Topuria said in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. “I had to take advantage.”