The best tapouts in UFC history: Part 1: Chokes

#4 Triangle Choke – Pablo Garza vs. Yves Jabouin – UFC 129 – 04/30/2011

Pablo Garza used a rare flying triangle to tap Yves Jabouin

The triangle choke is a submission hold that sees a fighter secure his legs around the head and usually one shoulder and arm of his opponent, using them to cut off the blood supply to the brain in order to either force them to tapout or fade into unconsciousness. It’s a relatively common submission in MMA and has been used plenty of times in the UFC to great effect.

The triangle can be applied from the guard or from the mount, but on this memorable occasion, it was actually used from a standing position in what’s known as a flying triangle choke. Featherweight Pablo Garza had secured a highly memorable finish in his UFC debut by knocking out Fredson Paixao with a flying knee, but few people expected him to deliver another flying finish in his second fight against Yves Jabouin at UFC 129.

That’s exactly what he did, though. After being taken off his feet by a couple of Jabouin’s leg kicks, Garza managed to close the distance and secure a clinch, and from there he leaped into the air and managed to swing his legs around Jabouin’s head and left arm in the process. Before Jabouin could even attempt to defend, the triangle choke was tightened and locked in.

Jabouin managed to last a few more moments before Garza made the choke even tighter by pulling his left leg down, securing it into the crook of his right knee, and that – along with some elbows to the unprotected head for good measure – were enough to secure the tapout.

Garza never went on to much more success inside the UFC but his first two wins were as memorable as any other fighter in promotional history in terms of how great they were to watch, and his flying triangle remains one of the all-time great UFC tapouts.