Submission of the Year Watch: June 2013 Edition

The pace certainly slowed in the realm of MMA in May, especially after the UFC's extraordinarily busy April.

The UFC produced just two events in May, while smaller organizations like Bellator MMA and the World Series of Fighting each laid dormant. 

Even with just a small cluster of fights to choose from, a submission from one of the UFC's most feared Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, cracked the Submission of the Year watch for 2013.

Jacare pulled off his second impressive submission of 2013, trumping his kimura of Ed Herman at Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine.

Here's a look at the most enthralling submissions so far of 2013.

5. Renan Barao

Event: UFC on Fuel TV 7

Opponent: Michael McDonald

Submission Method: Arm-triangle choke

Many pundits believed that Michael McDonald possessed the tools to snap the lengthy winning streak of interim bantamweight champ Renan Barao at UFC on Fuel TV 7.

In a fairly cautious affair, Barao narrowly outstruck McDonald and scored on four of 10 takedown attempts. 

On his fourth takedown, which occurred in the fourth round, Barao recognized an opportunity and swiftly turned a McDonald error into a "Submission of the Night" bonus.

Barao slapped on an arm-triangle choke, based himself out, and then squeezed hard, causing McDonald to tap at 3:57 of the fourth round. 

The loss snapped an eight-fight winning streak for McDonald. Barao extended his 31-fight unbeaten streak with the win.

4. Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza

Event: UFC on FX 8

Opponent: Chris Camozzi

Submission Method: Arm-triangle choke

Acutely aware of his opponents' strengths, surging middleweight Chris Camozzi still couldn't survive a round without being submitted by ADCC champ and UFC newcomer Souza.

Jacare landed a takedown on Camozzi, passed the American's guard, and then moved to a mount, where he caught his 14th career submission in smooth fashion.

Once Jacare locked on the airtight arm triangle choke and based himself out, Camozzi had just four seconds to decide whether to tap.

Referee Mario Yamasaki recognized Camozzi's precarious position and wisely stepped in to save the day and call the fight.

Souza not only snapped Camozzi's four-fight winning streak in the UFC, he did it with a slick submission that he made look routine. For his efforts, Jacare took home his first "Submission of the Night" bonus.  

3. Ronda Rousey

Event: UFC 157

Opponent: Liz Carmouche

Submission Method: Armbar

In the months leading up to UFC 157, just about everyone believed that Liz Carmouche would turn out to be just another victim to Ronda Rousey's patented first-round armbar.

But Carmouche nearly shocked the MMA community when she took the back of the two-time judo Olympian and threatened Rousey with a neck crank early in the first round.

Rousey squirmed free from the lock, however, and slapped on her seventh consecutive fight-ending armbar at the 4:49 mark of the first round.

2. Rose Namajunas

Event: Invicta FC 5

Opponent: Kathina Catron

Submission Method: Flying armbar

Before May, those in the MMA community primarily recognized the name Rose Namajunas because of the female fighter's relationship with her boyfriend, UFC heavyweight Pat Barry.

Namajunas, however, broke free from the shadow of Barry when she stunned Kathina Catron with a flying armbar at Invicta FC 5.

Namajunas stormed Catron after the bout's opening bell, only to get temporarily pushed up against the cage. 

Once against the fence, Namajunas grabbed a deep overhook with her right arm, and then aggressively jumped into a flying armbar.

Catron attempted to roll through but was forced to tap when Namajunas pinched her knees and threatened to further hyper-extend her left arm.

1. Kenny Robertson

Event: UFC 157

Opponent: Brock Jardine

Submission Method: Ham ripper

Brock Jardine just never saw it coming.

After getting his back taken by Kenny Robertson in the first round of their preliminary bout at UFC 157, Jardine based out on his left leg and looked to defend against a rear-naked choke or an armbar.

But rather than sinking in a choke, Robertson, who had both of his hooks securely in place, dropped to the mat and grabbed the heel and the back of the left ankle of Jardine.

Using tremendous force, Robertson torqued hard and stretched his opponent's hamstring, causing excruciating pain and forcing a panic tap from Jardine.