Japanese fighter Rei Tsuruya recently secured his place in the UFC with a victory at the Road to UFC Season 2 Finals.
But what got the world of MMA – especially the BJJ community – talking about Tsuruya more than his win alone has been a submission attempt he went for during the match!
It was an attempt of an execution of a rare neck crank, which commentator Laura Sanko described as “some kind of Executioner choke”.
Check it out on the video below:
Welcome to the UFC Tsuruya!!! 🇯🇵
[ #RoadToUFC | LIVE NOW | on UFC Fight Pass ] pic.twitter.com/IuaKW5kSfy— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) February 4, 2024
This innovative submission technique, combined with Tsuruya’s effective ground and pound strategy, earned him the win in the flyweight final – elevating his record to an impressive 9-0.
Alongside him, 23-year-old Rongzhu also earned his UFC debut.
Overcome with joy and perhaps with the added emotional weight of his family’s presence as well, Tsuruya was visibly moved, shedding tears as he returned to the locker room.
Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: you can be slow and unathletic and still kick butt in Jiu-Jitsu.