Whereas knockout victories within the UFC get a considerable quantity of performs and clicks on the Web, submission victories might be equally thrilling stuff to look at. Generally, most notably within the case of somebody like Ronda Rousey, a submission win might be the stuff of legends.
Anytime you sit down on the sofa for a present from MMA’s high promotion and entry ESPN+ to look at the evening’s proceedings, the traditional quote from the Oscar-winning image Forrest Gump involves thoughts:
“Life is sort of a field of candies. You by no means know what you’re gonna get.”
Whether or not it’s an exhilarating battle that goes the complete 15 or 25 minutes in size to the scorecards, a first-round knockout, or one which ends in a contestant getting tapped out, UFC fights are a blended bag.
5 Noteworthy UFC Submission Artists Attributable to Make The Stroll in 2025
With 2025 now virtually two months previous, there are nonetheless loads of fights available contained in the well-known Octagon and nonetheless loads of opponents who’ve but to enter the sector for his or her bouts. Right this moment, we’ll check out a number of of the contestants who’re primed to attain a submission inside the space contained in the Octagon as this yr continues.
Hyped Submission Artists in 2025: Ikram Aliskerov
Middleweight Ikram Aliskerov (15-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) was already slated to make the stroll to the Octagon on Feb. 1 in the course of the Struggle Night time occasion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, however as a result of circumstances surrounding his opponent, Andre Muniz, being unable to safe a passport forward of the present, the bout was cancelled. Subsequently, Aliskerov was rebooked to look on April 26 versus Muniz in the course of the promotion’s present in Kansas Metropolis, MO.
For the time being, sportsbooks have but to open up betting on this battle, however you’ll be able to collect {that a} submission may be within the offing for Ikram Aliskerov as soon as the cage door closes. A submission is, in any case, how he obtained up to now in his profession.
Numerically talking, Aliskerov has locked in 5 submissions contained in the cage, together with a kimura in 2022 to safe a UFC promotional contract. If he can drop Andre Muniz down of their rescheduled tilt in April, the sky is the restrict for this younger man.
Hyped Submission Artists in 2025: Manel Kape
As we transfer right down to the flyweight division, we’ll discover Manel Kape (20-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC), who’s at the moment booked to battle on March 1 on the UFC Apex versus 23-fight veteran Asu Almabayev (21-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC.) Almabayev is a alternative for Kape’s authentic foe in that evening’s contest, Brandon Royval, who withdrew from the competition as a result of harm.
With this contest being virtually per week away as of this writing, many bettors for Kape vs. Almabayev are in search of a $10 min deposit on line casino.
Presently, Kape is favored to win by the oddsmakers at -246. Kape, very similar to Aliskerov, has secured 5 wins by means of submission all through his profession. Will he be capable to make Almabayev faucet out this time?
Hyped Submission Artists in 2025: AJ Cunningham
Shifting alongside to the featherweight ranks, AJ Cunningham is definitely a submission artist on the rise in MMA’s No. 1 group. Cunningham (11-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) hasn’t made the stroll to the cage in a yr, however shall be headed again to the Octagon on March 15 vs. Su Younger You (14-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC.)
Whereas no betting odds for the battle have been launched as but, from a statistical standpoint, AJ Cunningham has completed 4 fights with a submission all through his profession. Again in Might of 2023, he secured a rear-naked choke within the third spherical of his battle versus Jason Mullen (6-5 MMA.)
It’s nonetheless early days in his UFC tenure, however a win by submission may trigger Cunningham’s inventory, and hype, to rise.
Hyped Submission Artists in 2025: Marvin Vettori
Staying on the March 15 card however transferring as much as middleweight, No. 8 contender Marvin Vettori (19-6-1 MMA, 9-5-1 UFC) will make the stroll in the primary occasion of the night. That evening, he’ll draw Roman Dolidze (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) on the Apex.
He’s already obtained 9 submissions to his credit score in his profession, together with a rear-naked choke vs. Karl Roberson again in 2020. Vettori is a seasoned veteran of 26 fights. Can he rating the tenth submission of his profession in mid-March?
Hyped Submission Artists in 2025: Jalin Turner
Lastly, we finish our journey with a cease within the light-weight division, the place we discover Jalin Turner, who’s booked to look on UFC 313 on March 8 vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (16-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC.) Turner, who’s sporting a 14-8 document within the sport, has recorded 4 submissions in his profession.
His final submission was recorded on July 2, 2022 towards Brad Riddell in Las Vegas. Presently, sportsbooks have but to launch odds for the Turner vs. Bahamondes battle that night, however he’s already notched three submissions in Dana White’s promotion.
Can he make Ignacio Bahamondes faucet out on March 8? Solely time will inform.