Stop Chasing Submissions

While watching the Facebook Prelims for UFC 161, I observed a trend that happens often in mixed martial arts competition. One of the competitors would get a dominant position but would sacrifice it to chase a submission. He caught the other competitor in close to ten submissions but the other man escaped all ten and one a close split decision. If the guy had maintained dominant position, controlled the fight and done damage from the top, he would have won the fight.

One of the submissions that he kept chasing was a triangle choke, which the announcers said was one of his favorite submissions. He went for it but lost it three times. He also tried to get arm bar from the guard but the competitor kept shaking them off. He would land a couple of elbows from top, which is how he eked out a decision.

This strategy is contrary to the basic philosophy of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The key strategy is to move to a dominant position, control and finish with a submission, when you have the optimum opportunity. Jumping out of mount into guard to go for a triangle flies in the face of this strategy.

What the fighter did was what many people do though. They fall in love with a technique instead of a strategy or principle. The technique becomes their bread and butter but if it gets stuffed, they lose the competition. In a street self-defense situation, it could be lights out for good.

Stop chasing submissions. I know the rules of competition dictate certain strategies but the strategy of obtain a dominant position, control and do damage with strikes or submissions will win you the competition also. Chasing submissions may leave you on the outside looking in.

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