what's the best way to escape a suffocating top game/base like Phil Davis?

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In every Phil Davis fight, once Phil secures the TD, his opponent lies on his back mercilessly. Davis shuts down everything. His base is extraordinary as expected from a NCAA Division I Champion with BJJ tutealage under Loyd Irvin.

It seems like sweep attempts against Davis are futile. It just saps more energy out of the fighter trying to escape. What are some good ways to scramble out from underneath a Phil Davis?
 
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I don't think many guys can escape from under Phil Davis no matter how skilled they are. A guy like that with the gi you must keep your grips and your knees in front of you. Much easier said than done.
 
Open guard, head control and stand up facing him. If you try to scramble or turn away he's gonna keep you down all day long. I think also getting aggressive from the half guard could get you to the feet when he defends a sweep.

But really it depends on exactly how he's holding you down. There's no single method that will always work because there are always going to be variations in how he's holding you down, from position, to posture, to head or arm placement, and more subtle things like pressure. Furthermore, there are no options that will never work. Some things might be lower percentage, but a perfectly executed proper technique will work. I've seen world class wrestlers and judoka swept from the butterfly guard, an omoplata, deep half guard. It's not impossible to do.
 
Wrestlers are surprisingly vulnerable to simple BJJ sweeps. It always amazes me how a guy who is a terror on his feet will just collapse into simple errors left and right when he hits the ground.

See, for example, Nogueira v. Couture.

Of course if the guy is equally good at BJJ, then good luck. You are pretty much hosed. The best technique is to TAKE THE LEG, imho. Leglocks are awesome escapes.
 
x2, if Noguiera can sweep Couture, then Davis can surely be swept. I dont know if theres anyone in the current UFC LHW crop that can but it is possible none the less.

The question isnt whether its possible, but in yall`s opinion who is good enough on the bottom to sweep Davis? And for that matter, who is good enough to sweep Jon Jones?
 
Sweeping in MMA is extremely hard compared to in BJJ/nogi. The guy on top is already considered winning. He doesn't have to attack at all so he is taking a lot less chances than he would if he had to actually pass and achieve something. Until the rules changes to negate this fact it will remain hard to sweep or play from the bottom.

Were the rules the opposite that the bottom guy was winning if he did nothing but control the top guy then it would suddenly turn impossible to pass instead.
 
marceloISbest said:
x2, if Noguiera can sweep Couture, then Davis can surely be swept. I dont know if theres anyone in the current UFC LHW crop that can but it is possible none the less.

The question isnt whether its possible, but in yall`s opinion who is good enough on the bottom to sweep Davis? And for that matter, who is good enough to sweep Jon Jones?
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Jones is tougher to sweep IMO, because of his base. Longer posts and so forth. Now, with a guy like that it's common for their basing out of sweeps to present sub opportunities. But again, that's a tall order.
 
True, its gonna be tough to sweep OR sub someone at such a high level, with a top game like their`s especially when punches are raining down. So you think Jones has better ground game than Davis? He sure as hell has beaten stronger opponents.
 
marceloISbest said:
True, its gonna be tough to sweep OR sub someone at such a high level, with a top game like their`s especially when punches are raining down. So you think Jones has better ground game than Davis? He sure as hell has beaten stronger opponents.
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It is not so much the punches as the fact that they don't HAVE to do anything. They are extremely strong in the current ruleset(obviously what they went for) because their ability to not get involved in a grappling match.

If being mounted suddenly was rated as winning, meaning your opponent had to try submissions fast - being mounted would be pretty easy.

That is the main point to why they are so incredibly hard to work against. Their strikes obviously add to it but not in the same was as the above stated.

I wouldn't want to compare Jones vs Davis as it is pretty hard. Jones has a massive advantage psychologically as his opponents has often been manhandled standing already and when it finally goes to the ground they are psychologically damaged already.

Jones didn't really outgrapple Rampage to get that RNC, Rampage gave up from Jones standup and wrestling and decided to call it a night.

Hence its pretty hard to compare them.
 
Lil Nog did a good job, I certainly don't think Davis was anywhere near as effective as he usually is in that fight. He kept having to retreat out of Minotoro's guard and then jump back in quickly to avoid him getting back to his feet, he lost the grappling in that fight IMO. The way to beat a guy like Davis from your guard is the same way to beat anyone from your guard, by having better BJJ.
 
SuperSuperRambo said:
Jones is tougher to sweep IMO, because of his base. Longer posts and so forth. Now, with a guy like that it's common for their basing out of sweeps to present sub opportunities. But again, that's a tall order.
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im just pointing out your punn. well played sir.. well played.
 
Your best bet is to stand up again, because I can't see someone with a top game like that being easier to sweep/submit than to sprawl/takedown.
 
Zankou said:
Wrestlers are surprisingly vulnerable to simple BJJ sweeps. It always amazes me how a guy who is a terror on his feet will just collapse into simple errors left and right when he hits the

. Leglocks are awesome escapes.
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Davis wasn't really a terror on his feet at Penn State. His takedowns were average at best.

Where he excelled was on the ground/par terre/refs position. That's how he became NCAA champion.

Dan Gable was the same way. J Robinson said that his takedowns weren't very good but once it got to the ground he was a monster.
 
Leg locks.

Leg locks not only make an instant finisher, but arent trained nearly as often as they should be, and are a fantastic way to sweep.
 
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