UFC 317 Delivers Submission Fireworks: Pantoja’s Title Defense Steals Grappling Headlines
Brazilian champion dominates with rear-naked choke while McKinney delivers lightning-fast guillotine
While Ilia Topuria’s brutal knockout of Charles Oliveira grabbed the main event headlines at UFC 317 in Manchester, the card was actually a submission lover’s dream with multiple tap-outs showcasing elite grappling skills.
The Submission Highlights:
Main Card: Alexandre Pantoja successfully defended his flyweight title against Kai Kara-France via rear-naked choke in Round 3 (1:55). The Brazilian champion showed patience and technical mastery, taking Kara-France’s back and methodically securing the classic finish for his third title defense.
Prelims: Terrance McKinney delivered a lightning-fast mounted guillotine against Viacheslav Borshchev, finishing the fight in just 55 seconds of Round 1. The explosive finish had the Manchester crowd on their feet and showed McKinney’s dangerous ground game.
The card proved that while knockouts get the headlines, submissions still rule when it comes to pure technical domination. Pantoja’s patient ground work was a masterclass in flyweight grappling, while McKinney’s guillotine was pure violence wrapped in technique.
