We all love a beautiful submission in MMA. From rear-naked chokes to armbars to heel hooks, nothing quite beats the application of pure Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission grappling in an MMA fight. Bellator MMA has released a video compiling the ten fastest submissions in the promotion’s history, and it’s available for all of our viewing pleasure.
Aviv Gozali’s running Imanari roll into a heel hook in just 11 seconds takes the top spot. Gozali is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist and undefeated in professional MMA with each of his five wins coming by way of first-round submission. Perhaps more impressive, Gozali secured a different submission in each win.
Fans of competitive grappling will likely recognize the name Aaron “Tex” Johnson, who makes an appearance on the list. The ADCC trials winner and IBJJF Pans no-gi champion holds the second-fastest submission Bellator history with a lightning-quick armbar on Brennan Ward.
Here are the 10 fastest submissions (with a few ties) in Bellator MMA history. Watch each one of them in the video below:
- Mihail Nica’s anaconda choke on Samba Coulibaly in 36 seconds.
- Bill Albrecht’s armbar on Jason Anderson in 36 seconds.
- Josh Shockley’s guillotine on Eric Moon in 35 seconds.
- Brandon Halsey’s rear-naked choke on Alexander Shlemenko in 35 seconds.
- James Gallagher’s guillotine on Roman Salazar in 35 seconds.
- Denise Kielholtz’s americana on Sabriye Sengul in 32 seconds.
- Evangelista Santos’ heel hook on Brennan Ward in 30 seconds.
- Mike Mucitelli’s armbar on Matt Uhde in 26 seconds.
- Zach Freeman’s guillotine on Aaron Pico in 24 seconds.
- Joe Hamilton’s rear-naked choke on Tyler Freeland in 22 seconds.
- Dave Vitkay’s guillotine on Jesse Peterson in 18 seconds.
- Aaron “Tex” Johnson’s armbar on Brennan Ward in 15 seconds.
- Aviv Gozali’s heel hook on Eduard Muravitsky in 11 seconds.
