Knockouts make all the highlight reels. There’s nothing quite like seeing one man punch, kick or knee another man into unconciousness.
But MMA is not all about putting your opponent to sleep with your fists. It’s also about technique and submissions. And Friday night at Resurrection Fighting Alliance 4 in Las Vegas, Marcio Cruz, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu wizard, pulled off one of the slickest chokes you’ll ever see.
As his opponent Joe Yager was going for a takedown against the cage, Cruz stepped over Yager’s left arm with his right leg. He then scissored his left leg around Yager’s throat rendering him all but immobile. After raining down some elbows to his rib cage, Cruz flipped Yager over with his legs and the pressure on his windpipe forced Yager to tap out due to an inverted triangle choke.
Absolutely beautiful jiu-jitsu. After all, Cruz is a six-time BJJ world champion and has a UFC win over Frank Mir. Not too shabby.
RFA 4, which aired on AXS TV (formerly HDNet) was a success with former UFC star Tyson Griffin beating Efrain Escudero in the main event and top prospect Chidi Njokuani, brother of UFC fighter Anthony, stopping Phil Dace via TKO in the third round in the co-feature. Another stud prospect and UFC sibling, Sergio Pettis, also won.