4 Slick Submissions From The Heroes Of ONE: ETERNAL GLORY

The first ONE Championship event of the year is right around the corner, and more than two dozen of the world’s best martial artists are eager to kickstart their 2019 campaign in style on 19 January.

Topped by the ONE Strawweight World Title bout between Joshua “The Passion” Pacio and Yosuke “Tobizaru” Saruta, ONE: ETERNAL GLORY will feature some of the promotion’s most exciting submission specialists.

You can always expect something special when they step into the cage – whether it is innovative “Baguio Jiu-Jitsu,” or well-worked BJJ fundamentals of a more traditional variety.

Ahead of the massive event, take a look at some of their moments of grappling brilliance.

Pacio Unveils The “Passion Lock”

Pacio tops the bill with the first defense of his ONE Strawweight World Title, and it is only fitting that the 2018 Submission Of The Year gets another mention.

In his battle with then-unbeaten striker Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit at ONE: REIGN OF KINGS, the Team Lakay man surprised everybody with a creative kimura variation he dubbed the “Passion Lock.”

He worked his way to Mitsatit’s back and set his sights on the rear-naked choke. “The Smiling Assassin” defended well but he couldn’t predict Pacio’s next move.

The Baguio City man locked up a two-on-one grip on Mitsatit’s left wrist and used his strength advantage to wrench it behind his opponent’s back, before forcing it towards his head to get a swift tap and a unique finish.

Lee Terminates Yokota

Christian “The Warrior” Lee’s finishing rate stands at 100 percent, with four of his 10 career wins coming by way of submission.

He has showcased different facets to his grappling armory each time he steps into the cage, but this modified guillotine choke over Kazunori Yokota was the most memorable technique to earn a tapout.

Lee searched for the move he calls the “Terminator Guillotine” early in the second round of the bout at ONE: VISIONS OF VICTORY but could not secure it. In his second attempt, he was more clinical.

Yokota escaped “The Warrior’s” back control and scrambled to top position, but Lee pounced right back on him. The Singaporean star punched his left arm all the way under Yokota’s left armpit and connected his hands to drop to his left hip.

Yokota squirmed to escape but fell deeper into the trap as Lee angled further around to his back to tighten the squeeze and get the tap from this rare variation of a popular choke. Hasta la vista, baby.

Lumban Gaol Puts The Squeeze On Limbaga

Jakarta’s own Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol had started her resurgence in 2018 a month earlier, and this slick submission over Krisna Limbaga was the second sign in the space of two months that she could be destined for great things.

Lumban Gaol dominated from the first bell at ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD as she showed a superior clinch and grappling game. To Limbaga’s credit, she was durable and fended off the early attacks.

As “Thathie” hit another hip throw takedown, she quickly sliced past her opponent’s half guard and into scarf-hold side control. Immediately she looked to isolate her opponent’s left arm.

She used her hands to stuff Limbaga’s limb in-between her legs, with her bottom leg acting as a fulcrum to attack the elbow joint, and her top leg putting downward pressure on to the now-extended arm.

The Filipina quickly tapped when Lumban Gaol pinched her knees, and Lumban Gaol emerged with the second of five wins that year.

Catalan Hooks Himself A Victory

From start to finish, Robin “Ilongo” Catalan’s grappling game overwhelmed Adrian “Papua Badboy” Mattheis at ONE: BATTLE FOR THE HEAVENS in Guangzhou, China.

Catalan worked Mattheis over from a string of dominant positions but was unable to secure the finish. He changed tack when the opportunity presented itself in round two, and opted to chase a leg lock.

Mattheis attempted to use his guard to keep Catalan’s strikes at bay, but he left his foot in the danger zone. “Ilonggo” wrapped his opponent’s left leg, sat back and laced his right leg over the top to secure control of “Papua Badboy’s” limb.

He used his right forearm to catch the heel, and his left hand to torque it towards his chin. Mattheis’ knee was isolated in the Filipino’s leg entanglement, and the twist quickly strained the knee ligaments to force a quick tap.