The Suloev Stretch Submission Breakdown

Sep 9, 2018

In this analysis, I’m going to give a quick breakdown of the Suloev stretch submission. A hamstring submission is executed from the back mount as your opponent tripods to escape. The Suloev stretch is a name coined by writer KJ Gould after the Armenian MMA fighter Amar Suloev who you can see using it here to submit Paul Cahoon. Amar previously fought in the UFC against Chuck Liddell and Phil Baroni.

Suloev Stretch in Folkstyle Wrestling

The move is very reminiscent of the banana split pin in folkstyle wrestling, which can be modified into a painful submission and has been used to get a tap in MMA. But the banana splits are executed from only one hook in and from a cross-body ride where you will reach across and grab the far leg of the opponent. It is also used in folkstyle wrestling matches where both boots are thrown in and as the opponent stands and tripods the leg is grabbed and used to off-balance the opponent knocking them over and securing back points.

Suloev Stretch in MMA

And there are some additional examples of its use in MMA when you have your opponent’s back and they tripod up to throw you off the top of their shoulders, it will bring you closer to their foot which you can grab to then peel back and apply the submission. While it may look like a kneebar the majority of the pressure is being placed onto the hamstring hence the stretch name. While it’s not advisable to get that high on your opponent’s back to look for the submission, it does give you an option if you do find yourself there.

STRETCH SUBMISSIONS in the UFC

Aljamain Sterling had previously looked for it in a UFC bout against Renan Barão but he escaped. But the first successful application of the Suloev Stretch in the UFC belongs to Kenny Robinson in his match against Brock Jardine where again Brock tripods up and Kenny reaches down and grabs his ankle extending his hips and pulling back on Brock’s leg to obtain the submission. And that was the only example of it being used in the UFC until of course Zabit and Aljamain Sterling both got on the same evening. I hope you enjoyed this quick look at the Suloev Stretch.