(Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Matt Hughes shocked the world when he knocked down and put BJJ black belt Ricardo Almeida to sleep at UFC 117. Hughes used a wrestling move made famous by Dave Schultz (who was shot dead by John Dupont at Foxcatcher farm).
The move has been dubbed the ‘Dave Schultz front headlock’ and can be used as a control in wrestling or when pushed further, a deadly choke. It is similar to reverse head and arm choke and with a similar initial hand control as an anaconda choke. The move is not used too often in BJJ nd it is possible that Almeida (who was still groggy from the knockdown) was unfamiliar with the technique.
Dave Schultz was one of wrestling’s most dominant athletes and an Olympic gold medalist in 1984.
During the Los Angeles Games, Schultz’s headlock became so infamous that as soon as he used the position, referees would warn him since submission holds are of course illegal in wrestling.
Here is the fight:
Josh Barnett explains the choke very well despite the strange camera angle:
Matt Hughes showing the technique he used to choke out (put to sleep) Ricardo Almeida at UFC 117 in 3:15 of the 1st round.
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