The year 2023 is coming to an end and the time has come to choose the main highlights of the MMA season. After we met the five best knockouts of the year, it's time to move on to grappling and define the best and most striking submissions.
To reach the final result, each member of the SUPER FIGHTS created its own top 5, in which first place was worth 5 points, second place was worth 4 points, third place was worth 3 points and so on. At the end of voting, the scores were added together to form the team's definitive top 5 finishes. Let's go to the list.
Honorable mentions
Let's start with the submissions that were mentioned by one or more members of the team. SUPER FIGHTS, but did not achieve enough points to guarantee a place in the top 5.
They were: Yair Rodriguez x Josh Emmett, Bobby Green x Tony Ferguson, Mayra Sheetara x Holly holm, at UFC, and Abdoul Abdouraguimov x Rafal Haratyk, at Ares FC.
5- Alexa Grasso x Valentina Shevchenko – UFC 285
Opening our top 5, with four points, is the protagonist of one of the main upsets of 2023. In UFC 285, in March, Alexa grasso took advantage of a rare technical error Valentina Shevchenko and quickly took the then champion's back, closed the rear naked choke and secured the UFC flyweight belt (up to 56,7 kg).
4- Jon Jones x Ciryl Gane – UFC 285
In the main fight of the same event, Jon Jones returned from a three-year hiatus of inactivity, did not take notice of the former interim champion Cyryl Gane and demonstrated enormous ease in finishing the Frenchman in just over two minutes, becoming the new champion of the category and securing fourth place on our list, with eight points.
3- Davey Grant x Raphael Assunção – UFC Las Vegas
Opening our podium, in third position, with 14 points, davey grant Brazilian veteran retired Raphael Assunção with an inverted triangle ‘taken out of the hat’, deserving the bronze medal in the ranking of submissions in the SUPER FIGHTS.
2- Shavkat Rakhmonov x Geoff Neal – UFC 285
O UFC 285 It was really special in terms of finishes. Stage of victories Alexa grasso e Jon Jones, already mentioned in our ranking, the event also promoted the incredible triumph of Shavkat Rakhmonov about Geoff neal, when, after a 'war', the Kazakh secured a standing rear-naked choke over the North American to secure second place in the submission rankings, with 20 points.
1- Da'Mon Blackshear x Jose Johnson – UFC Las Vegas 78
With 21 points, just one away from second place, the gold medal in our submission ranking went to bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg) Da’Mon Blackshear, who managed a very rare twister over his compatriot Joseph Johnson.
