Closing the gap in MMA can be the most dangerous part of the fight. Sometimes throwing fake strikes allows you to get in close enough to take your opponent down…
White and Black are in punching range.
White throws and overhand right – Black blocks at the bicep and rushes in…
…achieving the ‘over and under’ clinch position, a very common clinch in NHB and MMA competition.
Black uses his right leg and attacks with an ‘inside trip’ takedown (know as O-Ouchi Gari in Judo).
Black and White crash to the ground together.
Black comes up enough to capture White’s left leg under his right armpit…
…and falls back into vicious heel hook submission.
Note: the heel hook is an effective, but dangerous submission. Damage comes on very quickly, making it difficult to tap out in time if applied recklessly. Implement a ‘catch and release’ policy with your training partners.
For more background on how MMA mixes striking, wrestling and the ground please read The MMA Formula, which is the parent article for this technique.