4 Jaw-Dropping Submissions From The Stars Of ONE 159
Over the last decade, ONE’s MMA superstars have delivered some of the wildest submissions under mixed martial arts rules, and at ONE 159: De Ridder vs. Bigdash that trend could continue.
Whether slapping on creative double submissions or single stunners, the athletes competing on the July 22 event know how to get the job done.
Before the action kicks off live at the Singapore Indoor Stadium this Friday, we relive some of the best submission finishes from the mixed martial arts stars of ONE 159.
Bigdash Finishes Niimura With Two Submissions At Once
Vitaly Bigdash served Yuki “Yu-King” Niimura two submissions for the price of one when they met in a middleweight MMA showdown at ONE: DESTINY OF CHAMPIONS, finishing his Japanese foe in just one round.
Initially, Niimura controlled the ground game until Bigdash reversed the tide and got on top. The former ONE Middleweight World Champion then unloaded heavy ground-and-pound before taking Niimura’s back and locking in a reverse triangle choke.
When “Yu-King” refused to budge, Bigdash then hammered on an armbar, tightening both submissions until his rival finally tapped.
Bigdash will get his chance to reclaim the middleweight throne when he faces two-division king Reinier “The Dutch Knight” de Ridder for the latter’s ONE Middleweight World Title in the main event of ONE 159.
De Ridder Submits Aung La N Sang To Claim Middleweight Gold
Current two-division World Champ De Ridder earned both of his straps by beating former double-champ Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang twice, but it was their first encounter at ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX that fans remember most.
The action began moments into the first round, when the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt dragged Aung La N Sang to the canvas and took his back. He then secured a seat-belt grip on his opponent before inching his way toward the rear-naked choke and subsequent tap.
De Ridder was awarded the ONE Middleweight World Title, which he then defended after submitting Kiamrian “Brazen” Abbasov in February of this year.
Now the undefeated Dutchman will defend his ONE Middleweight World Championship for the second time against Bigdash on Friday night.
Gafurov Side-Steps Urrutia For Submission Victory
Former ONE Featherweight World Champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov broke through Emilio “The Honey Badger” Urrutia’s closed guard to deliver his submission from side control when they met at ONE: HEROES OF HONOR.
“Cobra” stalked Urrutia around the Circle until the American threw a kick at Gafurov, who then shot for a single-leg takedown and moved into his opponent’s guard.
For most of the tussle on the canvas, Urrutia held the former ONE Featherweight World Champion closely until Gafurov broke free and gained side control. He then clasped on the arm-triangle choke, forcing the tap halfway through the opening stanza.
Gafurov will face Ariel “Tarzan” Sexton next in a lightweight MMA fight at ONE 159 in an attempt to re-scale the division he once ruled.
Sexton Serves Shimoishi A Double Submission
Sexton may have needed three rounds to finish Kota “Kong” Shimoishi, but the two simultaneous submissions he delivered in their battle at ONE: PURSUIT OF POWER inflicted more than a full fight’s worth of punishment.
Sexton dominated his Japanese foe for most of their battle, nearly finishing him twice during their fight. Then, in the third round, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt dropped “Kong” with a right hand and knee.
Afterward, he effortlessly stepped over his opponent to lock on a triangle choke. While pinning Shimoishi with the submission, Sexton slapped on an Americana for good measure, forcing the tap.
At ONE 159, Sexton will square off with Gafurov in a lightweight mixed martial arts battle with big implications for the future of his career.
