How Wrestlers Lose In MMA: Basic Chokes

by Kid Nate on Jan 29, 2008 10:48 AM EST in MMA Technique

With all the hype about Brock Lesnar's UFC debut this saturday, I thought it would be useful to review the careers of some of the prominent wrestlers in MMA and discuss some of the pitfalls they met in their early days in MMA.

First up, Dan Severn, the trailblazer, the first wrestler to enter MMA, the first to win a UFC tournament, the first to win a UFC championship belt, one of the first to enter the UFC Hall of Fame. But he had some hiccups along the way.

First he met Royce Gracie and discovered the triangle choke (see it here). Then he met Ken Shamrock and learned about the guillotine (see it here).

Here's how a writer for Slate.com described the Gracie-Severn fight in 1999:

Royce Gracie, a 180-pound Brazilian jujitsu specialist, was matched against a 275-pound beast named Dan Severn, one of the top heavyweight wrestlers in the world and a national champion many times over. In 30 seconds, Severn had grabbed Gracie, flung him to the canvas, and mounted him. For the next 15 minutes, Severn pummeled and elbowed and head-butted the smaller man. Gracie's face grew drawn, and he squirmed wildly to avoid Severn's bombardment. Then, all of sudden, Gracie, still lying on his back, saw an opening, wrapped his arms and legs around Severn like a python and choked the giant into submission.

It seems very unlikely that Mir will catch Lesnar in a guillotine -- especially one like Shamrock used on Severn that didn't even involve controlling the opponent's body. But Mir has won a fight with a triangle before. Will Lesnar make the rookie wrestler mistake of leaving his neck out there? Will Frank Mir surive the onslaught and "choke the giant into submission"? We'll see on Saturday.

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Comments

Re: How Wrestlers Lose In MMA Part 1

"leaving his neck out there?"
What neck?

by pr0cs on Jan 29, 2008 11:26 AM EST reply actions

Re: How Wrestlers Lose In MMA Part 1

Good point!

by Kid Nate on Jan 29, 2008 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

Re: How Wrestlers Lose In MMA Part 1

Advantage: Lesnar.

haha

by Richard Wade on Jan 29, 2008 3:03 PM EST up reply actions

Re: How Wrestlers Lose In MMA Part 1

that won't protect him from the triangle though

by Kid Nate on Jan 29, 2008 5:15 PM EST up reply actions

Re: How Wrestlers Lose In MMA Part 1

I've watched a lot of footage of Mir including a lot of grappling footage and I've never seen him finish anyone with a triangle. I'm sure he can, but it's not a high percentage submission in his arsenal.

by Luke Thomas on Jan 29, 2008 5:34 PM EST up reply actions

Re: How Wrestlers Lose In MMA Part 1

He's only won one fight by triangle. I almost said the same thing -- that Mir wasn't a big triangle man -- but then I checked the fight finder.

by Kid Nate on Jan 29, 2008 6:11 PM EST up reply actions

Re: How Wrestlers Lose In MMA: Basic Chokes

Triangle leg chokes are for pussies anyway. They are so escapable for even blue belts, its not even funny. There are three easy escapes, as long as it isnt sunk in, that it amazes me every time it even works.

Luke, wanna name the three or shall I?

I've transitioned to a knee bar from one. They are that easy to get out of. Why are we even taking about triangles, other than Royce vs Beast? Oh yeah, knuckle-dragging wrestlers... Where's Hughes?

Try spinning toward the bent knee side, and planting your own knee in their face. They let go...

Or even better, lean down for the neck crank. The can opener gets an easy tap when their leg is trapped around your head inside your arm.

Or plant your feet on their arms and drop back. You can then grab the upright leg and achilles lock it, or better, roll into a toe hold...

I spun into the bent knee, kneed the head, grabbed the open leg, and kneebarred him. He tapped so fast and hard, I really thought he was trying to punch me...in a grappling match.

Bas instructional, anyone? These have been around for years...

by MoreThanUFC on Jan 29, 2008 10:05 PM EST reply actions