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With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best submissions from March 2025: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Month award for March.
At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting for your choice.
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Nominees
Nominee: Ignacio Bahamondes def. Jalin Turner at UFC 313
Ignacio Bahamondes is a problem in the lightweight division, and he proved it by sending Jalin Turner into retirement.
Bahamondes (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) gave Turner (14-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) his first career submission loss – and ended his time in MMA – with a slick triangle choke submission from the bottom less than half way into the opening round.
Nominee: Carlos Vera def. Josias Musasa at UFC Fight Night 254
Josias Musasa was the biggest betting favorite on the card entering his octagon debut, but Carlos Vera had other plans.
The bantamweight bout opened with heavy striking exchanges and both men looking to score a highlight. It was Vera (12-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC) who delivered it, because he cracked Musasa (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) with a nasty right head kick that had him hurt. From there, he pounded on a rear-naked choke and forced the tap all within the opening round.
Nominee: Brendson Ribeiro def. Diyar Nurgozhay at UFC Fight Night 254
Brendson Ribeiro showed his effective grappling about to take Diyar Nurgozhay’s unbeaten record in their light heavyweight bout.
Ribeiro (17-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC) grabbed hold of the arm of Diyar Nurgozhay (10-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), torqued and got the tap by kimura in the second round.
Nominee: Shauna Bannon def. Puja Tomar at UFC Fight Night 255
Shauna Bannon was in deep trouble before rallying to score her first UFC finish against Puja Tomar.
Just moments after getting dropped by a clean left high kick, Bannon (7-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) was able to whip up an armbar off her back and submit Puja Tomar (9-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in the second round of the strawweight bout.
The winner
The winner: Sean Brady def. Leon Edwards at UFC Fight Night 255
Sean Brady became the first man to finish Leon Edwards – and did it on the former UFC champion’s home soil.
Brady (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) dominated Edwards (22-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) en route to a Round 4 guillotine choke submission at the 1:39 mark of Round 4. The welterweight bout was the UFC Fight Night 255 main event at The O2 in London.
Brady came out swinging in Round 1 as he put the forward pressure on Edwards. The pair clinched briefly a couple of times, but Edwards was able to break free. Brady landed a nice combination as he continued to stalk Edwards. Brady landed a body kick, but was countered with an Edwards right. Brady clinched up yet again, but this time he was able to press Edwards against the cage. With 20 seconds remaining in the round, Brady landed a nice trip takedown.
As soon as Round 2 started, Brady shot right for a double leg and secured the takedown. He took Edwards’ back and was able to keep him on the ground for the entire frame by continuously transitioning from top control to the back.
In Round 3, Brady tried to rush Edwards again, but was met with a nice uppercut and elbow. Edwards stuffed Brady’s first takedown attempt, but wound up on the mat shortly after he attempted his own takedown and was reversed. Brady landed some hard ground and pound as he continued to dominate on the ground. Brady ended the round in back control.
Less than a minute into Round 4, Brady was able to back Edwards up with strikes and take him down. He locked in a single-arm guillotine from top position, forcing Edwards to tap.
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