Twist & Tap: 10 UFC Fighters Who Dominate with the Kimura
Frank Mir: He is arguably the most famous for his devastating Kimura on Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140, which broke Nogueira's arm. This is perhaps the most iconic Kimura finish in UFC history.
Khabib Nurmagomedov: While primarily known for his relentless ground and pound and RNCs, Khabib has showcased strong Kimura attempts and control. His Kimura on Dan Hooker at UFC 254 was particularly nasty, nearly breaking Hooker's arm and forcing a tap to strikes shortly after.
Islam Makhachev: As a protege of Khabib, Makhachev also demonstrates excellent Sambo-style grappling, which often incorporates arm locks like the Kimura for control and submissions. He famously used a Kimura on Dan Hooker in a similar fashion to Khabib.
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira (Minotauro): Despite being submitted by a Kimura from Frank Mir, Nogueira himself was a highly skilled grappler with a strong BJJ background, and he utilized the Kimura as a control and submission threat throughout his career.
Demian Maia: A pure BJJ wizard, Maia is known for his highly technical and fundamental grappling. While he favors the RNC, he incorporates various arm attacks, including the Kimura, to set up other submissions or finish fights.
Jim Miller: A long-time UFC veteran, Jim Miller has a well-rounded submission game and has recorded a Kimura submission among his many finishes. He's known for constantly hunting for submissions.
Joe Lauzon: Another exciting veteran, Lauzon is always looking for finishes and has a history of diverse submissions, including the Kimura.
Cole Miller: With a strong jiu-jitsu background, Cole Miller has utilized the Kimura in his UFC career.
Rani Yahya: A BJJ black belt known for his strong grappling, Yahya has a diverse
submission arsenal that includes the Kimura.
Georges St-Pierre (GSP): While not primarily known for Kimura finishes, GSP's top control and masterful use of wrestling to set up submissions often put him in positions to threaten with arm locks like the Kimura. His overall grappling prowess made him a threat with many techniques.