MMA DieHards Awards: Submissions of the year

(The MMA DieHards staff has compiled a list of the best fighter of the year, fight of the year, KO of the year, submission of the year and breakthrough fighter of the year to close out 2011.)

Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140
Oh yeah, that’s broke, for sure.

Mir was nearing defeat from Nogueira’s hard-hitting, technical boxing early in the first round.  However, when the match hit the ground Mir kept composure and displayed textbook transitioning that eventuated to a kimura.  As if the contest wasn’t exciting enough, Mir then did something seldom seen in MMA.

Mir broke Nogueira’s arm when the Brazilian refused to tap, making the submission an unforgettable sight.

Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia at UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis
You don’t see that every day.

Jung and Garcia met in a rematch and the “Korean Zombie” avenged his loss from their first meeting.  Similar to their first match, it was an action packed crowd pleaser, but nearing the end of Round 2, Jung accomplished a submission the majority of fans have never seen.  The Korean was attempting to take Garcia’s back, but when that didn’t work, Jung abandoned the rear-naked choke for a twister.  The pressure on Garcia’s spine was so intense he tapped out with one second remaining in Round 2.

Rich Hale vs. Nik Fekete at Bellator 38
Insane submissions: Not just for the little guys anymore.

Light heavyweights can sometimes be acrobatic, but none showed the chops that Richard Hale did in the quarterfinals of the Bellator 205-pound tournament on March 26 when he hit a stunning inverted triangle against Nik Fekete, choking him unconscious and riding him to the mat. It was amazing when Toby Imada did it to Jorge Masvidal at lightweight in the early Bellator, but previously unthinkable for a light heavyweight to pull it off.

Ronda Rousey vs. Julia Budd at Strikeforce Challengers: Britt vs. Sayers
Oh no you didn’t, girl.

Rousey had an outstanding year, going 4-0 with four first-round armbar finishes, but the final submission was the nastiest.  It took Rousey just 36 seconds to snatch Budd’s arm and dislocate her elbow.  Budd tried with all her will to defend the inevitable, but the judo Olympian overwhelmed her and put the Canadian on injured reserve.

Pablo Garza vs. Yves Jabouin at UFC 129
A seven inch height is advantageous for more than striking.

Garza punished Jabouin on the feet with leg kicks, and picked the Haitian apart headshots. Garza capitalized when the two clinched, and when Jabouin was focused on defending knees in the clinch, “The Scarecrow” latched on a flying-triangle choke.  Jabouin attempted to escape the choke, nevertheless, Garza had the submission in deep, forcing the Tristar teammate to tap.