Vitaly Bigdash Submits Yuki Niimura With Rare Reverse Triangle Armbar

Vitaly Bigdash has added yet another jaw-dropping finish to his highlight reel.

On Friday, 7 December, the former ONE Middleweight World Champion successfully executed one of the most impressive submissions of the year at ONE: DESTINY OF CHAMPIONS.

The 34-year-old Russian tapped out Pancrase Middleweight World Champion Yuki Niimura with a reverse triangle armbar just before time expired in the first round.

Bigdash was extra motivated as he entered the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He desperately wants to reclaim the belt, and this dazzling performance may have punched his ticket to a shot at the World Title.

Just seconds after the opening bell sounded, Niimura fired off a pair of blistering leg kicks, but the Russian countered by planting the Japanese debutant on the mat with a huge takedown.

From there, Bigdash maintained control on the ground for the majority of the stanza and peppered away at his 36-year-old rival with punches.

When the former ONE Middleweight World Champion stood up to rain down some even more powerful shots from the top, Niimura was able to scramble free.

That escape attempt, however, would lead to his demise.

Bigdash seized the moment by jumping on his opponent’s back.

Then, in a remarkable transition, the Russian swooped around his adversary and locked up a reverse triangle choke. As he secured the hold, he battered away at his opponent with elbows.

Niimura’s struggled to break free, but that only cinched up the Russian’s grip when he finally took his left arm.

A split second later, Bigdash wrenched on the Japanese athlete’s limb and forced him to submit via reverse triangle armbar at 4:24 of round one.

It was a big moment for the former middleweight king, who got back in the win column and pushed his professional record to 10-2.

Now, the always-thrilling Russian mixed martial artist finds himself back in contention for the ONE Middleweight World Title and has his eyes set firmly on a rubber match with “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang.