The year 2025 is drawing to a close, and it's time to highlight the season's top MMA performers. After a year full of memorable finishes, it's time to turn our attention to grappling and point out the most memorable submissions of the period.
To arrive at the final result, each member of SUPER LUTAS created an individual top 5. First place received 5 points, second 4, third 3, and so on. At the end of the voting, the scores were added up to form the definitive ranking of the team's five best submissions. Check out the list.
See too
Honorable mentions
Charles before fighting in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC
Before the top 5, it's worth highlighting the submissions remembered by one or more team members, but which did not achieve a high enough score to enter the main ranking. These were: Charles Do Bronx 's rear-naked choke on Mateusz Gamrot , Sean Brady 's choke against Leon Edwards , and Mackenzie Dern 's armlock against Amanda Ribas.
5th – Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France
AND STILL! ALEXANDRE PANTOJA SUBMITS KAI KARA FRANCE IN THE 3RD ROUND!
Pantoja now has more wins, finishes, & submission wins than Demetrious Johnson in the flyweight division's history 😳🏆 pic.twitter.com/ODuFM4UsGX
— Combat Buzz (@CombatBuzzX) June 29, 2025
Opening the top 5, with 10 points, is the rear-naked choke applied by Alexandre Pantoja on Kai Kara-France at UFC 317. In a dominant performance, the Brazilian crowned his performance with the submission, the true icing on the cake of the night.
4th – Valter Walker x Kennedy Nzechukwu
Valter Walker taps out Kennedy Nzechukwu in less than a minute with his third straight heel hook submission inside the Octagon!!! All of them coming in the opening round. #UFCNashville 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/YOF1KMNQIW
— Superbeast MMA (@Superbeast_MMA) July 12, 2025
After a shaky start to the fight, Valter Walker landed a powerful right hand on Kennedy Nzechukwu . He then took the Nigerian down and finished the fight with his trademark heel hook. With 11 points, the Brazilian finished in fourth place.
3rd – Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano
Makhachev Vs Moicano was really a Hydrogen Bomb vs A Coughing Baby pic.twitter.com/tgcN1GK2da
— ▸ 💎 primefrog (topuria szn) 🇪🇸 (@primefrogv2) January 29, 2025
Islam Makhachev finished in third place . In the first numbered event of 2025, the champion gave no chance to Renato Moicano , who accepted the fight at the last minute and ended up being submitted in the first round with a triangle choke.
2nd – Jean Silva x Bryce Mitchell
This morning, Brazilian fighter Jean Silva fought American Bryce Mitchell in the UFC , who is openly Nazi. The result? The Brazilian beat him up, in front of Donald Trump, who was in the front row watching his fighter. pic.twitter.com/gpEYZARuDJ
— Vinicios Betiol (@vinicios_betiol) April 13, 2025
In a duel surrounded by controversy and provocations, Jean Silva faced Bryce Mitchell in a confrontation where grappling, theoretically, would be the worst path for the Brazilian. However, in the second round, "Lord" locked in a ninja choke and, with 20 points, secured second place on the list.
1st – Anthony Hernandez x Roman Dolidze
Day 4 with no UFC 😞
So here's Fluffy Hernandez dragging Roman Dolidze across the octagon trying to pop his head off 😩 absolutely mad that this hasn't been nominated for Submission of the Year 😭 pic.twitter.com/bcOl6PVxEc— RedWolf🐺 (@RedWolfMMA) December 17, 2025
Anthony Hernandez topped the ranking . After dominating his opponent in various ways throughout the fight, the American surprised everyone by applying a rare standing rear-naked choke, dragging Roman Dolidze around the cage before releasing him in the center of the octagon. The moment, one of the most memorable of the year, earned him 24 points and the gold medal on the list of best submissions of 2025.
Johnny Walker opens up about his heavyweight debut at UFC 332.
You need to log in to comment.