"The ankle pick set up just made it 1000% nastier" - Fans react as Islam Makhachev's win over Dustin Poirier receives UFC's 'Submission of the Year'

The UFC officially names Islam Makhachev's D'Arce choke finish of Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 last year as 2024's Submission of the Year, as voted by fans. The submission, which allowed Makhachev to successfully defend the UFC lightweight title, topped off a gruelling, Fight of the Night-worthy battle.

Check out UFC's Instagram post about the award:

Fans reacted to the winning submission, with @blakegibb1 saying:

"The ankle pick set up just made it 1000% nastier. #andstill"

Meanwhile,. @markpeebles4793 said:

"Hurt and soothed my soul in a way, hard to describe. Wanted DP to win, but the chess match with Islam was just too clean"

Here are more comments:

Comments on the post. [Screenshots courtesy: @ufc on Instagram]

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George St-Pierre breaks down Islam Makhachev's "gold swing" takedown of Dustin Poirier

Much of the praise found in the comments section was directed at Islam Makhachev's marvelous leg swing takedown which led to the D'Arce choke. The sequence was so impressive that even MMA legend and former two-division UFC champion George St-Pierre had to make a breakdown of the technique.

In a recent video featuring 'GSP' and his long-time coach Firas Zahabi, the French-Canadian MMA icon spoke about Makhachev's place in the pound-for-pound rankings today. He also mentioned the "golf swing" takedown that the Dagestani champion did and broke it down with his coach:

''One of my favorite moves because when guys put a lot of weight on on their legs you try to lift them by their center line and use the golf swing so it works very well... That's risky move, it's a last resort thing because [MMA fighters wear] no shoes.''

Makhachev continued:

"But it works well if you have a good grip on the foot [grabs Zahab's foot], and I grab the Achilles [heel] and if I got a good hold of his ankle - you see that it stops at thew heel here - I have a good grip and I can do that move very well [does the swinging move]. But when you're in this position you need to do it fast because your opponent's hands are free, so he can land some shots. It's dangerous."

Check out Georges St-Pierre break down Islam Makhachev's takedown below: