Common UFC Submissions: A Study By Numbers

**Onr3e** · Posted On: 6/15/2009 8:38pm

I think this is more of a rough but accurate to a degree estimate study more than a 100% completely accurate study. I would expect nothing more.

Just from looking at those charts, there is no denying RNC's are more used than armbars and these are the 2 dominant submissions, which can put to rest some arguments in regards to which ones are the most common and which is the most common.

It does answer questions as the OP has intended and he has also pointed out it is not uber accurate, so take it as it is.

In saying that, I applaud what you have done.

**Wolf** · Posted On: 6/15/2009 8:42pm

I have to admit, I thought there would be more guillotines.

**kwoww** · Posted On: 6/15/2009 8:58pm

Originally Posted by Wolf

I have to admit, I thought there would be more guillotines.

Same.

I'm also surprised to see not a single gogoplata. I thought I saw one in an old UFC, but I realize now that it could have been PRIDE.

**Wolf** · Posted On: 6/15/2009 9:10pm

The only gogo I've SEEN happen in a top tier promotion was Diaz's gogo of Gomi.

**Matt Phillips** · Posted On: 6/15/2009 9:14pm

Originally Posted by v1y

i find it hard to believe there are only 4 keylocks in ufc history (although i'm sure it is a low number)... gonzaga definitely tapped mccully with a keylock (it's listed on sherdog as a kimura).

There are more than 4. Off the top of my head Steven Graham tapped Dmitri Stepanov by keylock. Sherdog has it listed as "Armlock"; Wikipedia has it listed as "Submission". Severn tapped Dave Beneteau by the same (thanks to the Tripps). Whch are the 4 you counted?

**rordogs** · Posted On: 6/15/2009 9:37pm

from a research standpoint should you be including all the ufcs that have happened? i mean early ufc (1-20) was really style vs style, when is the point in time you would describe as mma became a discipline in itself and was pumping out credible fighters from credible coaches? shouldnt you be taking your data from that point onwards?

**Draven** · Posted On: 6/15/2009 9:40pm

Originally Posted by Wolf

The only gogo I've SEEN happen in a top tier promotion was Diaz's gogo of Gomi.

Aoki submitted Hansen with it in Pride and Nagata in DREAM.

**G-Off** · Posted On: 6/15/2009 9:53pm

Originally Posted by Wolf

I have to admit, I thought there would be more guillotines.

I was surprised at how constant they seem to stay over time. I'd have expected a greater proportion in earlier UFCs.

Maybe when wrestlers stop shooting doubles, eh?

**1point2** · Posted On: 6/15/2009 9:59pm

Leglocks are that poorly represented? Also, there's a Journal of Asian Martial Arts article that's directly related to this; it collected data on submission styles (traditional BJJ vs. more adventurous, giving-up-position sub grappling vs. GnP vs. kickboxing was the eventual breakdown). Fun facts: the only standing sub was a guillotine, tho now it includes that inverted backwards triangle recently.

The only thing that could improve those charts is the actual # of events, in addition to percentages.

**[Tycho?]** · Posted On: 6/16/2009 8:31am

Originally Posted by SkipSmith

Some line graphs tracing out which submissions have become more/less popular over time would be cool.

I considered doing that, and still may. But it would only work for the top few submissions, and even then the graphs wouldn't be that enlightening. There is a lot of variation here. In a year where there are 50 submissions, a mere 5 subs counts for 10% of the total. Because the number of submissions isn't very high from a statistical point of view, a line graph would fluctuate very widely from event to event, and probably wouldn't show a clear trend. Graphing it vs time has a problem too, that since 2005 there have been far more events (and subs) in a year than years before that. A graph by time would be very erratic for the first 14 years, only becoming more stable in the past 3 or so.

Which doesn't mean I won't do it, just for kicks.