The must-see moves of Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones and other UFC fighters

strikes

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strikes

It's more than a balled-up fist. Don't get us wrong, that's a good place to start. But fighters will use slaps, shoulder strikes and virtually everything in between.

Conclusion

Traditional elements of boxing will always exist in MMA. The "jab, right cross, left hook" isn't going anywhere. But watching elite strikers throw elbows as if they're punches is a unique experience.
— BRETT OKAMOTOIllustrations by Eric Heintz
Photo Reference by Getty

Elbows

The best way to open a cut. A fight can turn on a dime if a slicing elbow colors the canvas red. Violent on the ground, and beautiful on the feet. Curtis Blaydes throws 'bows like they're going out of style.

Hammer fist

Balled fists of fury, whipping at the head of a grounded opponent. They can be an accumulative force (like Andrei Arlovski, below) or a one-shot KO.

Spinning Backfist

It doesn't always land, but boy when it does -- it's a highlight reel waiting to happen. It requires creativity, confidence and a good "flow" to land this perfectly. Check out Petr Yan's strike against Teruto Ishihara for a good look.

Superman Punch

One of the coolest-looking strikes you'll see. Made famous by Canadian star Georges St-Pierre, the key is the little hop-kick at the start. That's intended to draw a reaction from the opponent, which opens the punch down the middle.

Uppercut

The ones you don't see coming hurt the most, and a perfectly timed uppercut is one you don't see coming. In MMA, you can land an uppercut right as an opponent drops for a takedown, essentially multiplying the force. Night, night.

kicks

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kicks

You all remember the end of "Karate Kid," right? Well ... it usually doesn't look like that, but there's no denying it -- kicks are cool. Nothing is more likely to produce a show-stopping moment in the Octagon than a well-executed kick.

Conclusion

These various kicks really put the "art" into "mixed martial arts," don't you think? In every street or bar fight that has ever existed, someone probably threw a right-hand haymaker. But an effective kick, that's a skill -- if not a form of art, when done correctly.
— BRETT OKAMOTOIllustrations by Eric Heintz
Photo Reference by Getty, USA Today

Axe kick

Relatively rare, but effective in certain positions. It consists of drawing the leg straight up and firing it straight down, heel first. It can add a wrinkle standing up, or be launched from a standing position over an opponent.

Back Kick

The spinning back kick sounds like it should take time to develop, but a talented striker can rip off one in a flash. Renan Barão in his prime could have run a clinic on these, and his tended to target the liver. Oof.

Knees from the Clinch

Anderson Silva got this party started in 2006. This sport, in general, is about distance -- so possessing fight-ending strikes at a close proximity is a nice luxury. When a fight is in a phone booth, keep an eye on the knees.

Question mark kick

The only thing worse than getting kicked in the body is getting kicked in the head as you're thinking you're getting kicked to the body. That's this kick. It looks low, but ends high. Holly Holm can demonstrate if you'd like.

Wheel kick

Oh, what it must feel like to separate an opponent from consciousness with the heel of your foot. A taekwondo black belt like Edson Barboza would know. His spinning wheel kick against Kevin Lee last April turned his opponent from a fighter into a dancer.

Chokes

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Chokes

You know what makes fighting hard? A lack of blood flow to the brain. This sport was built on (and has grown from) Royce Gracie's submission success at UFC 1.

Conclusion

It usually takes a second for new fans to realize, but a good ground fight can actually be just as entertaining as a standup war. Some Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialists have made careers out of molding themselves into human quicksand -- and have been revered for it.
— BRETT OKAMOTOIllustrations by Eric Heintz
Photo Reference by Getty, USA Today,
Ed Mulholland for ESPN

Anaconda Choke

Starts with a front head lock, usually after a fighter sprawls on a takedown. It looks similar to other chokes, but you'll recognize the roll. The one executing it rolls the opponent over, so they're facing upward -- providing the cameras a shot of the grimacing, soon-to-be asleep victim.

D’Arce Choke

Named after Joe D'Arce, it's a head and arm choke, often applied from an opponent's half-guard. It also happens to be the name of Tony Ferguson's dog. Tony, as you may have guessed, is a fan of the D'Arce. So is Tyron Woodley, as seen below.

Guillotine Choke

A choke of many different grips and variations. It keeps a wrestler honest during takedown attempts. And it can happen in an instant, because there's not a lot of necessary setup to it.

Rear-naked Choke

It's one of the most common submissions in MMA. Applied from the back, the best way to stop it is fight the hands and tuck the chin. Or just tap and it will allllllll be over.

Triangle Choke

It's one of the great momentum shifters in MMA history because it's applied from one's back (a position most consider disadvantageous). It involves isolating an arm and using it as you create pressure on the arteries in the neck.

joint locks

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joint locks

These are the holds that make you look away or scream "Tap!!!" at the television. Limbs bending in ways they are not intended. Take a peek.

Conclusion

There's something instantly classic about this. Any of us can picture landing a perfect punch to knock out someone, but pulling off a joint lock is a specific skill that takes time to learn. There's something to be said for that.
— BRETT OKAMOTOIllustrations by Eric Heintz
Photo Reference by Getty

Americana

Also called a keylock, it looks like a Kimura, except twisted in the opposite direction. Another relative of the Kimura and americana is the straight armlock. This family of submissions are all usually seen from side control.

Armbar

It existed well before Ronda Rousey, but she put it on the mainstream map. There's a pretty sweet flying variation we don't suggest you try at home. It uses two forces, generated by the legs/hips and upper body. And it's a staple of the MMA lexicon.

Calf slicer

This one hurts. It's painful. It's not about blood or oxygen flow. It's about good old-fashioned pain. It creates a ton of force around an opponent's lower shin/calf. It doesn't happen very often, but it's nasty when it does.

Kimura

A shoulder lock with several variations, frequently executed from side control. Occasionally, you might see it on the feet, or used as a sweep. It's identified by a double wrist grip and places unwelcome torque on the shoulder.

Kneebar

A leg lock that aims to hyperextend the knee. It's accomplished by trapping an opponent's upper leg with your body and working the lower leg with your arms. Check out Zabit Magomedsharipov doing this perfectly.