UFC 200: Submission Artist Joe Lauzon's 5 Bossest Submissions

At UFC 200 on Saturday, Joe Lauzon heads the Fight Pass prelims when he faces Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Diego Sanchez. Lauzon, however, is a seasoned BJJ practitioner as well and has routinely employed submissions in his fights. In fact, he's won Submission of the Night honors more than any other UFC fighter—six times.

Lauzon's last submission victory came over Jamie Varner in 2012. Maybe UFC 200 will see a return to form for the Massachusetts native. His grappling is a delight to witness, and we're long overdue for it.

He's won 18 of his 25 victories via submission, and we've ranked his top five. Click through to find out which ones made the cut!

No. 5: Gabe Ruediger, 2010

Submission starts at 1:10 of the video.

While this submission at UFC 118 on August 28, 2010, is a traditional armbar, it's really Lauzon's jiu-jitsu in the 90 seconds leading up to it that qualifies this sub for the No. 5 slot. His striking supplemented his ground game, as he caused Gabe Ruediger to reach up with one arm in an attempt to stave off the assault.

Instead, Lauzon took the offering and slapped on the armbar. Ruediger tapped four seconds later.

No. 4: Jeremy Stephens, 2009

Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Lauzon armbars Jeremy Stephens.

Watch the video here. 

The whole fight at UFC Fight Night 17 on February 7, 2009, is entertaining and full of great grappling, from Lauzon's effortless position changes and guard passing to his sneaky face push to take Jeremy Stephens' arm.

What makes this armbar exceptional is the control Lauzon has once he has hold of it. Stephens rolls several times in both directions as he tries to defend, but Lauzon's control is absolute.  

No. 3: Melvin Guillard, 2011

After sprawling on Melvin Guillard's double-leg attempt, Lauzon takes the back and cinches up the rear-naked choke without much difficulty at UFC 136 on October 8, 2011. Unable to grab either of Lauzon's wrists to try to loosen the choke, Guillard turns to his knees. Lauzon takes the opportunity to drive his hips down and flatten Guillard's hips against the mat while forcing his head up with the choke, and that's the end of that.

No. 2: Jamie Varner, 2012

At UFC on Fox 4 on August 4, 2012, after Jamie Varner shoots in for a double leg and ends up in Lauzon's butterfly guard, he's in Lauzon's world. Lauzon sweeps him, and when he starts to take mount, Varner turns over onto his knees.

So Lauzon takes his back instead.

But it's for only a split second, as Varner posts on his left hand as drives his weight to the right. This has the desired effect of stopping Lauzon's back take, but it results in Lauzon closing up the triangle. Varner manages to keep a little space by staying on his feet, but as soon as he drops to his knees, Lauzon cinches the triangle and gets the tap.

Triangles are a less common submission in MMA, and Lauzon made it look effortless. That earns this submission the No. 2 spot.

No. 1: Curt Warburton, 2011

Lauzon's vicious kimura on Curt Warburton at UFC Live 4 on June 26, 2011, was possibly the second finish of the fight. The first might have ended about 25 seconds earlier when Lauzon knocked Warburton down with a left. For a long moment, Warburton is unresponsive; his legs are straight and inactive as Lauzon rains elbows down on him. But the referee doesn't stop the fight, and Warburton regains enough awareness to start defending.

He does so by extending his arm toward Lauzon, trying to fend off the strikes. Lauzon seizes the arm, claps on a figure four, lifts Warburton up by that grip and pulls him into his closed guard, slamming Warburton's face into the mat in the process. When he can’t find the leverage to finish, he walks his legs up Warburton's torso and uses thigh pressure to immobilize the shoulder.

This kimura looks as painful as it must have felt, and Warburton taps out. It's easy to understand why he did—and also why this is Lauzon's best submission of his career.

Which is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!