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With the action-packed MMA month just around the corner, MMA Junkie is highlighting the best submissions for April 2024. Here are the winners of MMA Junkie's April Submission of the Month award and his five nominees listed in chronological order.
Vote for your choice at the bottom of the post and let us know if we got it right.
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candidate
Candidate: Tyra Santos def. Ilara João at 2024 PFL 1
The UFC's subtraction appears to have been quite an addition for the PFL, as former UFC title challenger Tyra Santos makes his promotional debut and dispatches Ilara João (11-9).
It was light work for Santos, who grounded Joao and ended the bout with a rear-naked choke less than four minutes into the women's flyweight bout.
Candidate: Gene Matsumoto def. Dan Argueta at UFC Fight Night 240
Gene Matsumoto (15-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) had to fend off endless takedown attempts from Dan Argueta (9-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC) , ultimately used one to his advantage to end the match.
Matsumoto, who was highly touted as a top prospect in the bantamweight division, fell to the bottom multiple times from Argueta over nearly two rounds. He then applied an arm-in guillotine choke with one second remaining and forced a tap at the 4:59 mark of the second round.
Contender: Deiveson Figueiredo def. Cody Garbrandt at UFC 300
Former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo (23-3-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC) defeated former titleholder Cody Garbrandt (14-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) in a bantam He continued to make a name for himself in the class.
Figueiredo became the first fighter to submit Garbrandt in MMA competition. The Brazilian secured a takedown in the second round and, after numerous submission attempts, earned the tap with a rear-naked choke.
Contender: Kayla Harrison def. Holly Holm at UFC 300
Two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison (17-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) will compete against former women's bantamweight titleholder Holly Holm (15-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC). He easily made his long-awaited debut in the Octagon against (Loss). ).
Harrison, making his career debut at 135 pounds, dominated Holm on the mat time and time again. Harrison landed a number of judo raises, and on the final one, quickly transitioned to back mount and finished with a rear-naked choke, forcing Holm to tap.
Contender: Chris Padilla def. James Lontop at UFC on ESPN 55
Chris Padilla (14-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and James Rontop (14-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) are the only rookies to have won their first Octagon victory. And it was the former that won. Have you finished your work.
Padilla showed off his masterful ground skills during a scramble on the lightweight mat, getting behind Ron Top for a rear-naked choke and tapping with 27 seconds left in the opening round. “Octopus” entered the event tied as the biggest betting underdog, but the fight didn't look that way when he finished the job.
winner
Winner: Deiveson Figueiredo
Figueiredo's move to bantamweight has been very positive for him.
The former UFC flyweight champion is currently 2-0 since moving up to 135 pounds in December. Figueiredo made his successful debut in the division by submitting Garbrandt in the opening match of the historic UFC 300 event.
The Brazilian got off to a tough start in the first round, with Garbrandt knocking him out several times, but Figueiredo bounced back in the second round to score a commanding victory. He immediately took down Garbrandt and threatened him with an arm triangle choke, then switched to the back and secured a rear naked choke.
Figueiredo has won two straight since losing the flyweight title to Brandon Moreno in January 2023. Figueiredo, 36, defeated veteran contender Rob Font in his first fight at 135 pounds in December.
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