This is it — the code to jazzy showing and prime performance. No matter how much intelligent grappling someone has, it’s always flashy finisher KOs that get the vote. Most models of combat sports scoring also veer towards it. However, Daniel Sathler took on a new challenge from Matheus Costa at the grappling arm of Karate Combat this Friday. The two cracked it and engaged in a flying WWE-esque pit submission that was a pure head-turner!
With doors opening at 4:30 P.M. MDT, Karate Combat KC50 marked its 50th event in the pit. While matches are required to start standing in the pit for the ‘Submission Series‘, Daniel Sathler took advantage of the apron. He jumped a flying maneuver and got the better of Matheus Costa. Sathler (Catchweight) defeated Matheus Costa via submission (triangle armbar) at the 2:27 mark of R1.
Pit fighting has its advantages of taking cues from positions, even against industry veterans, and it showed. Ex-UFC Luke Rockhold recently found himself at a similar disadvantage against the apron at CJI Submissions Grappling Day 1, after dapping it up with Demetrious Johnson. Kind of reminiscent of Johnson’s infamous flying armbar (Mighty Wiz Bar), Sathler’s Triangle Armbar was a move for the ages. Except it was a more linear, front move.
The Pit is the best format for combat sports. Fight us about it. 🥋 #KC50 pic.twitter.com/V0RicqJzFh
— Karate Combat (@KarateCombat) October 12, 2024
This is one of the craziest submission you will ever see! 👀🔥
Daniel Sathler gets a flying arm triangle at #KC50 #KarateCombat #BJJ #JiuJitsu #PitSubmissionSeries pic.twitter.com/G5mTxtRFjr— Armaan (@armaanyounis) October 12, 2024
One of the filthiest flying subs I have ever witnessed my god. #KC50 pic.twitter.com/I4doHPwT3a
— MacMally 🍀 (@MacMallyMMA) October 12, 2024
Full facelock/inverted headlock and body drive are more frequent to sell moves like DDT or a body bomb in pro wrestling like WWE. However, such flashy moves do sometimes make their foray into other areas of combat sports. Now, so has Sathler and his jump-ey submission gimmick. As such, the matter has gone quite viral.
Fight fans react to Flying front triangle armbar at Pit Submission Series
Pit Submission Series 8 took place on October 11th, 2024, and the promotion booked an increased array of matches than usual. Karate Combat KC50 main card at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT, UFC Fight Pass/ YouTube saw many prime attractions. UFC face Alex Pereira’s sister Aline Pereira scored a familial monster KO to win her debut. There were other such scraps as well.
With how MMA scoring stitches towards flashy stuff, Pereira (3-4 combat sports, Karate Combat debut) and her highlight against Dee Begley are obviously the biggest takeaways. The feature main event heavyweight contest between Artur Alibulatov and Markus Perez was also something else. However, Daniel Sathler and his gimmicky WWE-like move on Matheus Costa will also be talked about a lot.
Subsequently, a prime reaction (@MacMallyMMA) stated: “Dude went WWE on him,” which is not wrong in itself. Here are a few reactions to it:
That was phenomenal lmao
— MacMally 🍀 (@MacMallyMMA) October 12, 2024
Dude went WWE on him 😂😂😂
— MacMally 🍀 (@MacMallyMMA) October 12, 2024
Wow
— Charles ‘DoBronxs’ Oliveira (@CharlesDoBronxs) October 12, 2024
It’s awesome.
— la_gent (@lagent213) October 12, 2024
Setting up the arm bar in the Pit: pic.twitter.com/lTlGsBs3Cm
— MacMally 🍀 (@MacMallyMMA) October 12, 2024
Watched UFC Fightpass this week and one match went out of bounds about 20 times. Almost unwatchable at that point. The pit is by far the best!
— Brawl Energy (@brawl_energy) October 12, 2024
That was F’n amazing! 👏👏👏🤌🤌
— Beefcakeii (@_beefcakeii_) October 12, 2024
This is sick !! we need more of this @danawhite start a league !!
— J A D E D (@JADEDHEART4LIFE) October 12, 2024
Can’t stall your opponent against the cage when there is no cage. Imagine Jose Aldo pulled that move against Bausita last week. Or Dustin Poirier jumping a gilly from the pit wall 😂
— Adam Fridley (@Adam_R_Fridley) October 12, 2024
That is a next level flying triangle!!!
— Brawl Energy (@brawl_energy) October 12, 2024
Yeah that was gnarly
— KDog 🐐🔄 🌎🐍 (@KDog77435942) October 12, 2024
With UFC Fight Pass Invitational 8 (UFC FPI 8) in the books on Friday as well, fans have voiced how the PIT is instead an endgame! Some have accordingly quipped quicker Brazilian brawlers or UFC Lightweight Dustin Poirier would have all the chance to jump the gilly in such a combat space. Alongside, the triangle armbar itself has also garnered much attention.
Honestly, flying limb locks and drop-downs is something the likes of ONE FC fighters/ ‘Mighty’ Johnson, or even WWE star Oscar Gutierrez Rubio aka Rey Mysterio have made infamous. This is exactly why the pit is such a sweet spot for going the extra mile on tactile grappling. All in all, this is quite a win for the otherwise strike-first combat sports culture.
