2013 Submission of the Year : Toni Tauru’s Gogoplata at EUMMA 7

December 10, 2013

MMAViking.com starts off its yearly Nordic MMA awards with Submission of the Year. This year’s highlights went from the rare on the local stage to crowd-roaring upsets on the main card of UFC events abroad. In the end however, it was Finland’s rising bantamweight talent Toni Tauru (8-1) takes MMA Viking’s Submission of the Year Award with a rarely seen Gogoplata choke that he pulled on Sweden’s Emil Hartsner at EUMMA 7.

After an exciting back and forth battle between the two young prospects the fight hit the floor with Hartsner on top. Off his back Tauru displayed his active guard game and quickly wrapped Hartsner to a tight Gogoplata that forced the Swede to tap out with just seconds left of the first round. The win was Tauru’s fifth consecutive win by choke. The Finn had a great run in 2013 by going 3-0.

Toni Tauru (left) takes the Submission of the Year award with a rarely seen Gogoplata choke

Fight Video

2013 Runner-Ups:

Reza Madadi’s Darce choke at UFC on Fuel 9 (UFC Sweden II): Hometown favorite Reza “Mad Dog” Madadi showed his gameness in the fight against Michael Johnson at the UFC Sweden II event in Stockholm. Madadi was stunned in the first round by Johnson’s heavy head kick but the Swede came back with a vengeance and took the fight to Johnson in the second round. Going to the third round it was anyone’s game. Madadi took the fight to the ground where he punished Johnson with strikes before locking his head to a crushing Darce choke that made the American tap. UFC handed the submission of the night bonus check to Madadi for his spectacular finish that also made the Globen crowd go crazy.

Nico Musoke’s Armbar at UFC Fight Night 30: Musoke’s training partner Magnus Cedenblad’s injury gave him the chance to fight longtime UFC veteran Alessio Sakara on short notice at UFC FN 30 in London. The two went at it straight from the bell and had heated striking exchanges on the feet that saw both guys wobble from strikes. On the ground Sakara ended up on top and landed solid strike on the Swede before Musoke spinned his hips and caught Sakara’s arm to a deep armbar. With the arm secured Musoke rolled on his belly and finished the job by cranking the arm. Huge debut win for the Swede who will next meet Brazilian Viscardi Andrade in his second UFC bout in February.

Magnus Cedenblad’s Guillotine Choke at UFC 164: Cedenblad, who had been sidelined for long due to health issues, didn’t waste too much time in his comeback fight against Jared Hamman at UFC 164. After a brief striking exchange Hamman made couple of takedown attempts. On the second one Cedenblad was ready and snatched Hamman’s head to a fight ending guillotine choke at 57 seconds of the first round. Again injuries have kept Cedenblad out of the Octagon but the Swede should return to action soon.