Elkins takes Johnson’s back and pulls him to the ground to finish. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
This Sunday kicked off the 2018 season of UFC events. And even though the fights of Vitor Belfort and Thiago Pitbull were cancelled, there was still some good jiu-jitsu on display.
Kyung Ho Kang vs. Guido Cannetti
On the preliminary card, South Korea’s Kyung Ho Kang used his ground skills to defeat Guido Cannetti. After trapping his opponent in the triangle and seeing him use the elbow to hamper some of the pressure, Kang needed cold blood to get the submission.
Desperate to escape, Cannetti got up and pressed Kang against the fence. The Argentinian’s error gave Kang a better option for his adjustment, and as he returned to the ground, Kang managed to apply the extra pressure needed and end the fight.
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Darren Elkins vs. Michael Johnson
The first bout of the main card saw Darren Elkins debut in style in the lightweight division. He was the underdog against Michael Johnson, but a good choke can do wonders.
Having taken the back and stabilized Johnson with hooks, Elkins set his sights on the neck. He didn’t succeed right away, but Elkins eventually passed his arm under Johnson’s chin. A swift hand-to-hand grip was crucial to squeezing and getting the tap.
