MMA Junkie’s ‘Submission of the Month’ for November 2019: David Zawada

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best submissions from November 2019: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s “Submission of the Month” award for November.

At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting for your choice.

* * * *

Joshua Pacio def. Rene Catalan at ONE Championship 102

Joshua Pacio (18-3) earned his first ONE Championship flyweight title defense when he halted streaking challenger Rene Catalan (6-3) in the second round due to a slick choke.

Pacio finished Catalan with an arm-triangle choke midway through the second round. Before that, the champion displayed dominance in wearing Catalan down with strikes and grappling until he found the opening to finish the fight by submission.

David Zawada def. Abubakar Nurmagomedov at UFC on ESPN+ 21

Despite entering his matchup against David Zawada (17-5 MMA, 1-2 UFC) as a sizable favorite according to the oddsmakers, Abubakar Nurmagomedov (15-3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) was submitted in the opening round.

The cousin of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Abubakar, was surprised with Zawada’s submission skills in the welterweight bout. The underdog locked in a tight triangle choke from bottom position that caused Nurmagomedov to tap out and spoiling his anticipated octagon debut.

Highlight video from my latest fight last Saturday in Moscow, Russia ________________________________________ #ufcfightnight #moscow #russia #mma

A post shared by David “Sagat“ Zawada (@davidzawada) on Nov 15, 2019 at 12:09am PST

Karl Roberson def. Roman Kopylov at UFC on ESPN+ 21

A nasty eye poke couldn’t stop Karl Roberson (9-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) from achieving victory against highly touted Russian prospect Roman Kopylov (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in their middleweight bout.

Despite taking a nasty poke from Kopylov in the fight, Roberson managed to finish the fight with a rear-naked choke. He overcame adversity and managed to wear down the previously unbeaten Kopylov until he took the back and locked in the choke deep enough to force the tap.

THERE'S THE TAP!

🇺🇸 @KarlBabyK put his heart on full display at #UFCMoscow!

Watch now ➡️ https://t.co/7hWAV27QXh #UFCMoscow pic.twitter.com/sPdqLlyhiB

— UFC (@ufc) November 9, 2019

Randy Brown def. Warlley Alves at UFC on ESPN+ 22

Randy Brown (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) showed once again that he’s a future talent to watch in the welterweight division when he became the first man to submit Warlley Alves (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC).

The odds indicated an evenly matched fight coming in, and for much of the more than six minutes of action, it was. Brown proved to be more the more dangerous of the pair, though, locking in a triangle choke from bottom in the second. Alves tried to struggle, but he had to tap out in front of the fans in his native Brazil.

Wow!@TouchNGo_ submits Alves in brazil! Unreal! #UFCSP pic.twitter.com/6G8AfI95Pz

— UFC (@ufc) November 16, 2019

Ricardo Ramos def. Eduardo Garagorri at UFC on ESPN+ 22

Ricardo Ramos (14-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) was successful in his move up to the featherweight division, defeating previously unbeaten opponent Eduardo Garagorri (13-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) inside the first round.

Ramos’ finishing ability clearly translated up from bantamweight, because he managed to quickly take Garagorri’s back from a standing position and work toward a rear-naked choke. Garagorri did his best to resist Ramos’ advances, but eventually they fell to the ground, the choke was sunk in deep and the fight was over.

Undefeated no more!@RicardoRamosMMA sinks in the choke in round 1! #UFCSP pic.twitter.com/K3kJOx1OWl

— UFC (@ufc) November 17, 2019

* * * *

With his back against the wall and his UFC career likely hanging in the balance, Zawada rose the occasion in a big way against Nurmagomedov.

After dropping consecutive fights in 2018 to begin his octagon tenure, Zawada took nearly a year away from competition before coming back at UFC on ESPN+ 21 in Moscow.

He got no easy draw of opponent for his comeback in Nurmagomedov, either, but used the platform to make the most of the moment.

Zawada strangled Nurmagomedov into submission with a textbook triangle choke, putting himself back in the win column for the first time in 19 months and getting his hand raised under the UFC banner for the first time.