A Taste Of The Submission Wizardry To Be Seen At ONE: REIGN OF KINGS

The knockout artists will be out in full force this weekend, but the submission gurus will be joining the party, too.

On Friday, 27 July, ONE Championship returns to the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines, for its latest martial arts spectacle, ONE: REIGN OF KINGS.

In the night’s main event, Filipino bruiser Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon will challenge ONE Featherweight & Lightweight World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen for the ONE Interim Bantamweight World Title.

While the headlining tilt features two of the promotion’s most famous hard-hitters, the card also features some of the fiercest grappling specialists in the world, including Japanese legend Shinya Aoki, American superstar Garry Tonon, Brazilian jiu-jitsu master Renzo Gracie, and many more.

As event night approaches, check out these three jaw-dropping submissions from the grappling savants competing at ONE: REIGN OF KINGS.

Shinya Aoki’s Triangle Choke

Former ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya Aoki will battle Thai striking ace Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai at ONE: REIGN OF KINGS, and he will attempt to move closer to a World Title shot.

There is no doubt “Tobikan Judan” will try to lock up another incredible submission win, much like the one he earned at ONE: UNSTOPPABLE DREAMS in May.

On that card, the Japanese athlete battled Chechen Jiu-Jitsu & Combat Sambo Champion Rasul Yakhyaev.

Aoki, a black belt judoka and BJJ practitioner, wasted no time in getting to work with his world-class grappling.

Early in the first round, the Japanese sensation attempted to tangle his foe up in a flying armbar. Though this wild attempt failed, it did allow Aoki to drag the contest to the mat, which signaled the beginning of the end.

“Tobikan Judan” rolled into position to lock up a tight triangle choke. Yakhyaev desperately tried to escape — he even got back to his feet and tried punching his way out of the hold.

It did not work, however. Aoki adjusted his position, pulled down on the head, and tightened the choke even more. The Chechnya resident had no choice but to tap.

Joshua Pacio’s Rear-Naked Choke

Wushu stylist Joshua “The Passion” Pacio, who battles Muay Thai specialist Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit in a strawweight battle at ONE: REIGN OF KINGS, has proven himself to be a truly prolific finisher.

The 22-year-old Filipino has earned all but one of his promotional victories by way of knockout or submission.

In his most recent win this past January, he demolished Chinese Sanda Champion Lan Ming Qiang at ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES.

Nearly a minute into the contest, the Team Lakay standout brought his adversary to the canvas with a body lock takedown, and never gave him a chance to get up.

Pacio immediately landed in side control, transitioned to full mount, and then unloaded a melee of ground and pound. It briefly looked as though he was on his way to an impressive TKO victory.

However, when Lan refused to quit, the Filipino changed his strategy. When the Chinese strawweight tried to scramble away, “The Passion” slipped onto his rival’s back and locked up a body triangle.

After Pacio punched his opponent’s ribs, Lan briefly defended and threw an elbow. With his neck free, the Baguio City warrior moved his right arm underneath his foe’s chin and cinched in the rear-naked choke with his left arm.

Following a brief struggle, Pacio switched arms, applied a tight squeeze, and forced Lan to tap.

Xie Bin’s D’Arce Choke

At ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY in April 2017, “The Stalker” Xie Bin stepped into the cage with talented Cambodian warrior Chan Rothana.

Xie could not have been more dominant in this bantamweight encounter.

Early in the first round, the Chinese star grounded the bout with an expertly-timed takedown. From there, he rode out the majority of the round in top position and applied heavy pressure.

In the second frame, this trend of grappling dominance continued — but this time, Xie did not let his foe survive to the bell.

After completing another picture-perfect double-leg takedown, “The Stalker” moved to side control and trapped Rothana’s right arm with his legs.

Xie clasped his arms around the Cambodian’s neck for a D’Arce choke, moved his right leg over his rival’s body, and squeezed with all his might. Rothana tried rolling out of the submission, but the hold got even tighter, and he was forced to tap.

Now a featherweight, Xie will square off against another fearsome Cambodian in Sor Sey at ONE: REIGN OF KINGS.