The Americana / keylock... where did it go?

[Grijswaarde]

I remember in the early days of MMA the Americana / keylock was a very common way to end a fight. Obviously fighters with no ground skill at all (there were a lot them back then) fall for it, but even legit ground fighters used to get caught now and then.

So what happened? I can not remember an Americana finish in recent years in the UFC.

I have some basic BJJ knowledge (trained it for about two years) and know ways to defend it BEFORE the lock is set and avoid it, but once you have it i would be fucked i guess.

Without a doubt avoiding the Americana is way more easier than an armbar for example, but then again you would expect some tired fighter to get caught in one once in a while.

Am i wrong and did i miss the times it worked or is the Americana really a thing of the past in professional MMA?

 

[SVG]

Francis N'gannou did a tremendous one quite recently. Freakish strength right there...

 

[sb413197]

Jones finished Vitor with a nice one at 152

 

[FinalConflict2005]

Good point I can’t remember any recent high profile fights ending in triangle either.

 

[tru3f4n]

really? I barely remember it stopping any fights fighters would get it then release it after the other guy didn't tap.

 

[HHJ]

I think most can defend it by rolling it over,so you risk losing position unless guy is exhausted

 

[HHJ]

really? I barely remember it stopping any fights fighters would get it then release it after the other guy didn't tap.

In pride early days alot of fights got finished with it. Wrestlers would use it iirc

 

[JayPettryMMA]

Francis N'gannou did a tremendous one quite recently. Freakish strength right there...

That's a kimura.

 

[JayPettryMMA]

Jones finished Vitor with a nice one at 152

That's the last one the UFC has seen to date.

 

[Dick]

It's easy to defend.

 

[HI SCOTT NEWMAN]

Yeah you are right TS, its really disappeared from MMA, it rarely happens. There is the odd occasion it happens but its very rare. Keylock is totally different than a kimura, those ones in UFC in the gifs is not a keylock.

Keylock is really a strength submission, sure there is technique in it but you have to be strong to do it if your opponent knows BJJ too. I remember Polar Bear Varelans doing a keylock in some old UFC fight too Mark Hall. I had that event on old VHS

 

[tru3f4n]

Got point I can’t remember any recent high profile fights ending in triangle either.

really? Ferguson vs Lee

 

[Grijswaarde]

Francis N'gannou did a tremendous one quite recently. Freakish strength right there...

That's not an Americana i'm afraid.

 

[calisoul]

 

[Grijswaarde]

really? I barely remember it stopping any fights fighters would get it then release it after the other guy didn't tap.

I remember a lot of them, but have been watching since basically the beginning of MMA. Can't name the fights though, i smoke weed on a regular basis.

 

[closequarters]

Guys barely try to pass guard nowadays. If they pass they look to mount.

 

[Grijswaarde]

I agree that looks like one, but i remember it as a kimura and fight finder also says kimura.

 

[superpunch]

Submissions are low % moves. They're not worth the risk of getting yourself into a worse position.

Same reason guys don't go for guard submissions anymore.

They were great in lower level MMA but MMA technique is evolving past them.

 

[Grijswaarde]

Jones finished Vitor with a nice one at 152

Nice find, didn't remember that one tbh.

 

[RiseAboveHat]

Got point I can’t remember any recent high profile fights ending in triangle either.

Lee vs Ferguson?