The rear naked choke is one of the most widely seen submissions in modern mixed martial arts. Also known as “Mata Leao”, it can send the dominant fighter’s opponent to sleep, which nearly always produces a tapout when applied properly.
Despite having the word “choke” in the move’s name, it is actually a strangle-hold. Chokes cut off air supply, and strangles cut off brain blood supply. Both however, are deadly if not released in ample time for the submitted fighter to break free.
Steps in applying the rear naked choke submission are …