5 best kneebar submissions in the UFC
The kneebar may not be a frequently used move but is incredibly painful when done to submit an opponent. A move that'll have even the most flexible of fighters wincing in pain, kneebars hyperextend the knee joint, forcing the victim to tap out or suffer serious injury.
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While the UFC has seen its fair share of nasty submissions, this move in particular is one of the most painful. Fighters who are savvy in the grappling department are able to use this submission from positions that almost seem completely defensive. Furthermore, the kneebar is one of many leg lock submissions, so it's disguised with the threat of heel hooks, ankle locks, toe holds, etc.
Kneebar's are especially fun to watch because they aren't expected. It's hard to pull off, but when done, the effectiveness is shown via grimaces and frantic taps. To take a better look at this move, we'll delve into the top five kneebar submissions ever performed in the UFC.
#5. Frank Mir submits Brock Lesnar via kneebar
This may be the most popular kneebar of all time. Not only does Brock Lesnar's name hold weight, but the man himself is rather monsterous. Standing at 6'3" and weighing 265lbs, Lesnar is as physically imposing a fighter as the UFC has seen. His very successful wrestling career in college translated perfectly for a spot in the WWE. Lesnar is huge, intimidating, and athletic. He's the quintessential professional wrestler.
While he was succeeding as a professional wrestler, Frank Mir was competing as an MMA fighter. When Lesnar wanted to try his hand at the sport, he dominated in his professional debut and earned a shot in the UFC against the submission specialist.
As the bout began, Lesnar's large presence was the initial takeaway. While the power was expected, his speed caught many off guard. Within ten seconds, the collegiate wrestler scored a takedown on his experienced opponent. Subsequent strikes were doing damage and the going wasn't looking great for Mir. Nevertheless, he believed in his jiu-jitsu and kept his composure.
Frank Mir vs Brock Lesnar at UFC 81 in Las Vegas, NV on February 2, 2008. #DWCOTD https://t.co/pdHLZHntP8
A stray hammerfirst found the back of Mir's head and warranted a point deduction against Lesnar. Subsequent to the foul, the fighters were made to stand up. This striking battle didn't last long as Mir's leg kick was countered with a right hand and he was once again on the mat. Lesnar pursued the finish, but he left his leg out in the open and Mir made him pay dearly. He locked onto the isolated leg and used his body as a pendulum to put his very large opponent off-balance. The kneebar was locked in shortly after Lesnar hit the ground and though he was hesitant, he had no choice but to tapout in his UFC debut.