Penick's Take
PENICK: 2015 Mid-Year MMA Awards - Submission of the Year (So Far)
Jul 4, 2015 - 10:35:24 AM PENICK: 2015 Mid-Year MMA Awards - Submission of the Year (So Far)

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

We're at the halfway point of an already crazy 2015 in MMA, so it's time to take a look at some of the best finishes, fights, and events thus far in the year. With the UFC's increased schedule this year, they've already put on nearly as many cards as they did each year through 2011. That gives us a lot to look through. The mid-year awards continue today with the "Submission of the Year."

2015 Submission of the Year (So Far): Ronda Rousey's 14-second modified armbar over Cat Zingano - UFC 184 - 2/28/15

There have been several outstanding submission finishes this year, but let's not kid ourselves, Rousey takes this one. The whole fight was over in a flash, but the rapid-fire sequence of events led to an armlock that Rousey said she hadn't even attempted in training, and one we just haven't seen pulled off quite like that in the cage. Zingano rushed across the cage, Rousey threw her, and in the ensuing scramble Rousey snuck under Zingano's arm, and in a bit of an inverted omoplata Rousey used the body position to straighten Zingano's arm and force the tap before the fight really even got started. It was, quite simply, a fantastic finish, and my favorite submission so far this year.


The Best of the Rest (In Chronological Order)

Godofredo Pepey sets up flying triangle over Andre Fili – UFC Fight Night 62

Pepey launched into the flying triangle attempt early on in the first round of this one, and though it took a bit of fighting to complete it and force the tap, this was another standout for Pepey. Fili tried his best to get out of it, but he was completely caught off guard by the application of the hold in the first place, and he just couldn't get himself free.


Gilbert Burns' come from behind third round armbar over Alex Oliveira – UFC Fight Night 62

The very next fight after Pepey's finish saw an exciting come from behind win out of the undefeated Burns. Late replacement Oliveira was winning the fight into the third, but Burns got it to the ground late and caught Oliveira with a slick armbar to steal the win.


Aljamain Sterling's arm-triangle from the bottom over Takeya Mizugaki – UFC on Fox 15

This is one of those never-seen type submissions that will always belong on a list like this. Sterling was on his way to beating Mizugaki by decision, but after getting taken down in the third round, he locked on an arm triangle from the bottom and forced the tap. It's just not something you see pulled off at this level, and was a huge win for the surging Sterling.


Demetrious Johnson's last second armbar over Kyoji Horiguchi – UFC 186

For 24:50 of this Championship fight, Demetrious Johnson just completely out-classed the challenger. Then he decided, "Ok, that's enough, let's finish this now." Scoring the very latest submission possible in a UFC fight, setting a record in the process, Johnson forced Horiguchi to tap from an armbar just before the horn. It was an excellent finish following a dominant performance.


Joe Proctor chokes out Justin Edwards with quick third round guillotine - UFC Fight Night 68

Speaking of last second wins, Joe Proctor's come from behind guillotine with time running out last month over Justin Edwards was great. Edwards had put in one of his better overall performances, but as he shot in late, Proctor caught him in a front choke, and tightened it up quickly, putting Edwards out cold with only two seconds remaining in the fight.


Patrick Williams/Efrain Escudero score back to back standing guillotine choke wins - UFC 188

I'm combining these because they happened back to back and were improbably similar finishes. Williams dropped Alejandro Perez immediately in their fight on the UFC 188 prelims, rushing him to the cage, and choking him out with a standing guillotine up against the cage. In the very next fight, Escudero tripped up Drew Dober and locked up the same type of standing guillotine. Dober wound up tapping before going out cold, but it was crazy to see the two back to back like that.


Arnold Allen's third round ninja choke over Alan Omer - UFC Fight Night 69

At the tail end of an already impressive short notice performance in Germany, 21-year-old Englishman Allen caught Omer in one hell of a slick choke as Omer was trying for a takedown. By the time Omer reacted it was already too late, and he was stuck in the scramble and forced to tap out.


Honorable Mentions

-Ben Henderson's fourth round RNC over Brandon Thatch – UFC Fight Night 60
-Marion Reneau's upset triangle choke over Jessica Andrade – UFC Fight Night 61
-Roan Carneiro chokes out Mark Munoz with RNC in the first round – UFC 184
-Jake Ellenberger's north-south choke over Josh Koscheck – UFC 184
-Maryna Moroz upsets Joanne Calderwood with first round armbar – UFC Fight Night 64
-Max Holloway's mounted guillotine over Cub Swanson – UFC on Fox 15
-Alexis Davis' mounted triangle to bottom armbar over Sarah Kaufman – UFC 186
-Alex Chambers catches Kailin Curran in third round armbar for come from behind win – UFC Fight Night 65
-Rony Jason's triangle choke sweep over Damon Jackson – UFC Fight Night 67
-Charles Oliveira's mounted guillotine over Nik Lentz – UFC Fight Night 67