MMA Submission of the Day: Yoshihiro Akiyama Displays Ezekiel Choke on Opponent

Japanese Judoka Yoshihiro Akiyama hasn't displayed his ground skills in the UFC, but he has seven submission victories on his record, including this one versus Katsuyori Shibata. 

The fight took place in a 2008 bout in the Dream organization. Akiyama went into the fight with a 10-1 record.

The first five minutes of the bout were fought standing up before Akiyama got the takedown with half of the round to go.

Akiyama quickly maneuvered to mount and locked on a sode guruma jime, or Ezekiel choke, six-and-a-half minutes into the round. Shibata didn't tap but was unconscious when the ref waved off the bout.

Don't count on seeing any submissions like this in the UFC anytime soon. They don't allow their fighters to wear a judogi, which is usually required to lock on the trachea-crushing choke. It has been adapted into no-gi submission fighting but hasn't been used in MMA by a fighter who wasn't wearing the judogi.

Akiyama may have to display a bit of his ground skills this weekend when he takes on Vitor Belfort at UFC 133. Belfort has some of the fastest hands in the UFC and has knockout power.

The Brazilian is coming off his knockout loss to Anderson Silva while Akiyama is on a two-fight losing streak. His lone win in the UFC was a close decision victory versus Alan Belcher at UFC 100.

It will be the co-main event on the card, which is headlined by a light heavyweight bout featuring former champions Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz.

Also, check out Sal DeRose's Knockout of the Day article, here!