Gracies: Nog should have finished Mir
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira probably should have finished a rocked Frank Mir with ground and pound back in December 2011. But his Brazilian jiu-jitsu instincts didn’t allow it.
In this Gracie Breakdown from “UFC Ultimate Insider,” Rener and Ryron give an in-depth look at that Rener describes as “one of the most spectacular submission finishes of all time” – Mir’s gruesome kimura finish over Nogueira at UFC 140 in Toronto.
The funny thing is, Nogueira had the fight won. He got the better of Mir on the feet and sent him crashing to the canvas with an overhand right. But instead of continuing to strike a nearly out Mir with his fists, Nogueira went for a choke, pulling guard.
“Nogueira had to go back to his jungle roots,” Rener said, demonstrating the arm-in guillotine choke on Ryron. “He wanted that guillotine finish.”
Big mistake. The suddenly lucid Mir slipped out and countered Nogueira’s switch by going cross body into side control.
“The problem was [Nogueira’s] arm was left behind and even though Mir’s back almost got taken he locked the kimura grip on the wrist,” Rener said.
Once he was in position after Nogueira attempted to roll out, Mir put his leg over Nog’s head and started cranking on the arm. Nogueira refused to tap.
“And it went and it went and it went,” Rener said.
Until Nogueira’s humerus broke and the fight was stopped. Mir won via technical submission – and it was the first time Nogueira, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu icon, had ever been submitted in his legendary career.
“With this unforgettable submission over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Frank Mir cemented his position as one of the elite submission masters in UFC history,” Rener Gracie said.
