Top 15 leg locks of all time
10. Rumina Sato vs. Rafael Cordeiro: Vale Tudo Japan 1999, December 1, 1999 Before losing to Carl Uno, in what…
10. Rumina Sato vs. Rafael Cordeiro: Vale Tudo Japan 1999, December 1, 1999
Before losing to Carl Uno, in what many called one of the best fights in the history of MMA, Sato was considered the best lightweight fighter in the world. During the mid-to-late nineties, Sato personified aggressive grappling, overwhelming his opponents with his non-stop submission attacks from every angle. His fight with Cordeiro personifies his aggressive approach; Sato ran over the Brazilian, finally slapping on a perfect knee-bar.
9. Andrei Arlovski vs. Tim Sylvia: UFC 51, February 5, 2005
Any leg lock that wins you the UFC heavyweight championship belt (albeit the interim championship at the time) deserves to be in the top ten. At UFC 51, Arlovski would get a top 15 foot lock against the man that would later come to define his career, Tim Sylvia. Arlovski stunned Sylvia with a hard right. When Sylvia fell, Arlovski took advantage and secured a perfect ankle lock and won the title.
8. Oleg Taktarov vs. Dave Beneteau: Ultimate Ultimate 1995, December 15, 1995
Oleg Taktarov was one of the most compelling figures in the early days of the UFC. While serving in the Soviet military, Oleg became the self-defense instructor for an elite sector of the KGB, but after a near-death experience, Oleg decided a career in acting suited him better. So Oleg packed up and headed for Hollywood. However, Oleg found not speaking great English was a real impediment to finding work in Hollywood. Until his acting career took off, Oleg decided that he would give the UFC a try. Fortunately for us he did, because he gave us this little gem at Ultimate Ultimate 1995.
7. Masakazu ‘Ashikan Judan’ Imanari vs. Yoshiro Maeda: Deep 22 Impact, December 2, 2005
‘Ashikan Judan’ translated means the ‘10th Dan of Leg Locks.’ With a nickname like that, you’re destined to make the top 15 leg locks of all time. At Deep 22, Imanari lived up to his nickname when he was given a title shot against a very tough Maeda. As the fight wound down, Imanari got Maeda in an omoplata which Maeda reversed and put Imanari in a triangle which Iminari reversed into a toe hold forcing Maeda to tap, making Imanari the new Deep Featherweight Champion.
6. Genki Sudo vs. Craig Oxley: Pancrase Trans 6, October 31, 2000
Genki Sudo is a lot of things: Pop Star, Author (eight books), and baseball player. But he is best known for being a Mixed Martial Artist with elaborate ring entrances and an unorthodox fighting style. On October 31, 2000 the genius of his fighting style was on full display with his whirling/flying foot lock.
5. Frank Mir vs. Brock Lesnar: UFC 81, February 2, 2008
A submission victory over the baddest man on the planet is great, but a kneebar on baddest man on the planet gets you in the top five leg locks of all time. Frank Mir was taking a beating from Brock Lesnar, but Mir patiently waited for an opening and capitalized against a technique-deficient Lesnar. However, when Lesnar escaped an armbar attempt, Mir quickly transitioned into a perfect kneebar, causing Lesnar to tap out.
4. Masakazu ‘Ashikan Judan’ Imanari vs. Jean Silva: Cage Rage 25, March 8, 2008
Iminari has taken the one dimensional fighter to a new level–a man that specializes in foot locks only. It is beyond me why Silva would attempt a foot lock on the 10th Dan of Leg Locks. Predictably it did not work out for Silva as he found himself tapping to a foot lock soon after.
3. Ken Shamrock vs. Bas Rutten: Pancrase Eyes Of Beast 2, March 10, 1995
Ken’s third and final leg lock to make the Top 15, from a 1995 Pancrase match, is truly a classic. The spin from half guard to Knee Bar is what makes this so special. Shamrock works it perfectly and Bas Rutten’s wailing is the cherry on top.
2. Ryo Chonan vs. Anderson Silva: Pride Shockwave 2004, December 31, 2004
One of the prettiest moves in the book, it was also one of the most unexpected. Anderson Silva was dominating the fight when Chonan out of nowhere does a flying scissor sweep to a heel hook combo snapped before the man who trains BJJ under Nogueira could make a move. The loss, in an ironic way, actually contributed to Silva’s legacy. The heel hook is the last time that Silva truly lost (save a DQ), and the fact that it required one of the rarest moves to beat him only adds to the mystique.
1. Masakazu Imanari vs. Mike Brown: Deep 22 Impact, December 2, 2005 .
Mike Brown, the former WEC Featherweight Champion, proved to be no match for Iminari’s leg locks. Imanari proved that he is the 10th Dan of Leg Locks when he attempted what is considered one of the finest submissions ever. A submission that needs to be seen to be believed, Brown could only scream in pain as Imanari dislocated his leg from an unbelievable flying head kick to heal hook combination.
