Top 10 Submissions From The Stars Of ONE: CENTURY PART I

ONE: CENTURY is the biggest World Championship martial arts event in history, and fittingly, a plethora of the world’s most dynamic submission specialists will be on the bill.

The first part of the historic showcase at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan will feature competitors well versed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, judo, wrestling and mixed martial arts who boast proficient finishing skills on the mat.

Here are 10 of the finest tapout victories from the martial artists primed for action on the card on Sunday, 13 October.

#1 Lee’s Anaconda Squeeze

“Unstoppable” Angela Lee attacked Istela Nunes relentlessly in the first round of their bout at ONE: DYNASTY OF HEROES, but finally found the finish early in the second stanza.

As Nunes tried to work back to her feet from a takedown, the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion took control with a front headlock, tripped her rival to the mat, and cinched up a tight anaconda choke, despite the challenger’s best efforts to escape.

The Singaporean star will face “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan in a rematch of their ONE: A NEW ERA clash, except this time, it will be Lee’s World Title on the line in Tokyo.

#2 “Mighty Mouse” Lays The Trap

In arguably the most anticipated ONE debut ever, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson had to endure some early heat from Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu at ONE: A NEW ERA, but he found a route to victory in round two.

The American brought his wrestling into play at the start of the second frame, and almost submitted Wakamatsu with a rear-naked choke. The Japanese slugger evaded that threat, but as he tried to escape from Johnson’s side control shortly after, he walked into “Mighty Mouse’s” trap.

The AMC Pankration man secured a grip on the head and landed a couple of knees, before he choked “Little Piranha” with a high-elbow guillotine against the fence.

#3 Kingad’s Slick Armbar 

Danny “The King” Kingad dominated every second of his encounter against Eugene Toquero at ONE: AGE OF DOMINATION, and capped things off with a first-round finish in front of his compatriots in Manila.

The Team Lakay man bided his time from side control until he had a strong underhook on Toquero’s right arm. When his fellow Filipino tried to roll from his grasp, Kingad deftly stepped over his head and locked in a tight armbar to get the tap.

“The King” will battle for the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Championship against Johnson in Japan. 

#4 “The Underground King’s” Comeback

The stakes were increased for Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez and Eduard “Landslide” Folayang when this clash of icons was made into a ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix semifinal contest at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES.

Folayang struck first, but “The Underground King’s” resilience is world-famous. He survived the onslaught of ground and pound that came in his direction and used the Filipino’s aggression against him with a well-timed sweep.

From the top position, the Philadelphian quickly passed to mount, took back control, and then latched on to a rear-naked choke for a dramatic turnaround win.

#5 “Dagi” Passes A Tough Test With Late Armbar

Tetsuya “MMA Fantasista” Yamada gave Saygid “Dagi” Guseyn Arslanaliev the toughest run of his career to date at ONE: IRON WILL, but he still could not survive until the final bell.

Arslanaliev’s pace had taken its toll on the Japanese man by the third round, and “Dagi” countered a labored takedown attempt to land in the mount. From there, he grabbed hold of a kimura grip on his adversary’s right arm, flipped him with it, then isolated the limb to finish with a belly-down armbar.

Along with his BJJ black belt skills, “Dagi” has incredible striking power, and he has steamrolled his way to a ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix Championship final bout with Alvarez with two first-round knockouts.

#6 “Ottogi” Flips The Script 

At ONE: WAR OF NATIONS, Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon’s ground game was no match for that of South Korea’s “Ottogi” Dae Hwan Kim.

When he slipped out of the Filipino’s ill-judged bulldog choke attempt, he went on the offensive with strikes, and when “The Silencer” tried to stand up and escape, he surrendered his back. Kim was quick to jump on the opportunity and thread his right arm under the neck to sink in the rear-naked choke.

“Ottogi” will be back in action against Yuya Wakamatsu at the top of the ONE: CENTURY prelims.

#7 Thani Slams And Stops Chaubey

Agilan “Alligator” Thani’s powerful ground game has helped him en route to most of his victories in The Home Of Martial Arts, and none have been as spectacular as his finish of Amitesh Chaubey at ONE: VISIONS OF VICTORY.

In the second frame, Thani slammed Chaubey with a huge high-crotch takedown, and then immediately transitioned into an Americana shoulder lock to get the stoppage.

Following his win over Yoshihiro “Sexyama” Akiyama, Thani has earned another high-profile bout against Japanese mixed martial arts royalty in the shape of Yushin “Thunder” Okami at ONE: CENTURY.

#8 Hirata’s Flawless Debut

In her debut on the global stage for martial arts at ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST, Itsuki “Strong Heart Fighter” Hirata marked herself as one to watch in the women’s atomweight division by submitting Angelie “D Explorer” Sabanal in fewer than three minutes. 

The judo specialist was patient with her striking, but her aggressive side came out once she closed the distance. The K-Clann representative tackled Sabanal to the floor, and then quickly controlled her upper body and cranked on her rival’s right arm with a crunching Americana.

#9 Ishige Chokes Out Trinidad

Rika “Tinydoll” Ishige and Rome Trinidad were evenly matched at ONE: WARRIORS OF THE WORLD as long as they were striking, but as soon as the Thai star closed the distance on her opponent 90 seconds into the second round, she took control.

Trinidad seemed to be hanging on as she was thrown around and made to absorb punches until the end of the match finally came. “Tinydoll” used a tie-up on the fence to move to her rival’s back, and unlike before, she took full control and locked in a tight rear-naked choke to get the finish.

Ishige will face off against hometown favorite Hirata inside the Ryogoku Kokugikan.

#10 Sunoto’s Relentless Pressure Ends In Submission

“The Terminator” Sunoto’s grinding top game was the undoing of Victorio “Indra” Senduk at ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES.

The Indonesian bravely gritted his teeth through some tough spots, but “The Terminator’s” persistence paid off in round two. He methodically advanced his position while working in his strikes, and then finally snuck his arm around Senduk’s neck to put on the bout-ending squeeze.

Sunoto will look to utilize his grappling against South Korean striker “Pretty Boy” Kwon Won Il in Tokyo.

Tokyo | 13 October | ONE: CENTURY | TV: Check local listings for global broadcast | Tickets: http://bit.ly/onecentury19

ONE: CENTURY is the biggest World Championship martial arts event in history with 28 World Champions featured across various martial arts. No organization in history has ever promoted two full-scale World Championship events on the same day.

The Home Of Martial Arts will break new ground as it brings multiple World Title bouts, a trio of World Grand Prix Championship Finals, and several World Champion versus World Champion matches to the famous Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on 13 October.