There are some things in MMA that happen so seldom, most fighters are either unable to prepare for them, or that are so unexpected that a fighter is caught off guard with little or no time to properly react to the unconventional technique.
Sao Paulo, Brazil’s 20-year old Thiago Moises pulled off a spectacular submission victory earlier this month in the main event of Resurrection Fighting Alliance 35 at the UCCU Center in Orem, Utah that left many mixed martial arts fans’ jaws on the floor.
Moises’s opponent, David Castillo, is a nearly eight year veteran of the sport, who entered the fight with a record of nineteen wins and seven losses. Despite having had a wealth of experience, Castillo could never have predicted how he would be finished in his bout against American Top Team/011 MMA Team’s Thiago Moises.
With less than two minutes left in the second round of their fight, Castillo had secured top control and was sitting in Moises’s guard, while Moises was careful to keep his feet on his opponent’s hips, which granted him more control over Castillo’s movement, as well as expanded his options in terms of transitions.
In what appears to be all one motion, Thiago Moises is able to pull David Castillo’s right arm across and to the right side of his body while using his feet to push Castillo into the air, giving him enough space to turn his body, throw his leg over Castillo’s face and secure the highlight reel armbar.
Moises was declared to victor at 3:19 of the second round, making him the Resurrection Fighting Alliance’s lightweight champion.
Watch the entire fight
RFA 35 results:
•Thiago Moises beat David Castillo via submission (armbar) – Round 2, 3:19 – for vacant lightweight title
•Thiago Alves Cavalcante Rodrigues beat David Putvin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
•Curtis Blaydes beat Luis Cortez via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 0:41
•Dervin Lopez beat Joe Rodriguez via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:47
•James Nakashima beat Brad Darrington via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
•Ricky Steele beat L.J. Schultz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
