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UFC Commentator Laura Sanko Breaks Down the Bread Cutter Submission

UFC Commentator Laura Sanko Breaks Down the Bread Cutter Submission Former mixed martial artist turned UFC commentator Laura Sanko, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt, has once again demonstrated her…

Former mixed martial artist turned UFC commentator Laura Sanko, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt, has once again demonstrated her expertise in the grappling world, this time breaking down the bread cutter submission from mount.

Laura Sanko Teaches The Bread Cutter Submission

Known for her insightful fight analysis and as the first female color commentator in UFC history, Laura Sanko likes to teach Brazilian jiu-jitsu submission techniques. In a recent instructional video, Sanko shared her approach to the bread cutter, a submission that combines elements of the Ezekiel and key lock chokes. She highlighted the importance of leverage from the mount position, making the move effective without requiring excessive weight shifts that could leave a fighter vulnerable to being bucked off.

UFC commentator Laura Sanko began the explanation by emphasizing how to set up the move from side control. “I start by isolating the arm and transitioning into mount,” she explained. From there, Sanko demonstrated how to pass the arm from one hand to the other, positioning the arm under her opponent’s neck. This transition sets up the crucial step where she threads her arm across the throat, creating a choke similar to the Ezekiel.

“Blade your hand as you thread it through,” Laura Sanko advised, showcasing how to make the technique more effective by turning the hand to the side to slide it across the neck with ease. She then emphasized the importance of tightening the grip by making a fist, which significantly increases the pressure applied in the choke.

One key detail in Sanko’s breakdown was her focus on maintaining control throughout the process. “Make sure your legs are tight,” she reminded viewers, explaining how keeping a solid base is essential for maintaining position and finishing the submission.

Despite being a highly effective technique, Sanko pointed out that the bread cutter can be applied without necessarily transitioning into full mount. “You don’t have to go all the way to mount. If you have enough pressure, you can still execute it while keeping your opponent flat on their back,” she said, demonstrating her ability to adapt the move to various situations.

Start in Side Control: Begin in side control, with your left arm underneath your opponent’s head (similar to a neon belly position).
Isolate the Arm: Begin isolating the opponent’s arm that will be used for the submission.
Transition to Mount: While isolating the arm, transition into the mount position.
Pass the Arm: Once in mount, pass the arm from your left hand to your right hand.
Thread the Arm Across: Take your right arm and thread it under your opponent’s neck, aiming to cross it across their throat.
Blade the Hand: As you thread your arm across the throat, blade your hand (turn it to its side) to get it through easier.
Make a Fist: Once your hand is through, make a fist to strengthen the choking pressure, similar to an Ezekiel choke.
Tighten the Submission: With your hand in position, tighten the grip to apply pressure for the choke.
Maintain Control: Make sure your legs stay tight to prevent being bucked off, keeping control of the position.
Finish the Submission: Once tightened, the submission will usually lead to a quick tap from your opponent.

Sanko’s technical knowledge and clear instructions show why she’s earned her reputation as an expert. As both a practitioner and a commentator, Laura Sanko continues to educate.

Islam Makhachev Questions Black Belt Standards in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – Are BJJ Black Belts Given Too Easily?

Reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has sparked a heated debate within the martial arts community, questioning whether black…

Reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has sparked a heated debate within the martial arts community, questioning whether black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are being awarded too easily. The Dagestani fighter is known for his elite grappling and ground game and he shared his candid thoughts on the matter in a recent interview.

Islam Makhachev on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

“Why are you scared to go with him on the ground? You’re a black belt,” Makhachev said to Demetrious Johnson, referring to instances where BJJ black belts appear hesitant to engage in grappling exchanges. “But now, it’s a big deal to give some fighters a black belt. No, it’s not. It shouldn’t work like this, you know. I think people agree with me. If you’re a UFC champion, you cannot be a black belt in one day. No, it’s not working like that.”

Islam Makhachev emphasized that earning a black belt should require years of dedication, competition experience, and proven mastery of the art. “Train, like, hours—hours like five, six years—to be a black belt. They have to go to some competitions, World Championships, like international, and do something special, you know, to deserve this,” he continued.

Islam Makhachev’s remarks reflect his own martial arts upbringing in Dagestan, where wrestling and Sambo are pillars of the region’s athletic identity. As a four-time Russian National Combat Sambo Champion and a World Combat Sambo gold medalist, Makhachev has firsthand experience with the rigorous demands of elite-level grappling. His foundation in Sambo has shaped his perspective.

Since debuting in the UFC in 2015, Islam Makhachev has solidified himself as one of the best grapplers in MMA, often overwhelming his opponents with his ground control and submission skills. His success in the Octagon, including his championship victories over BJJ Black Belts Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier has only added weight to his critique of the current BJJ ranking system.

Are BJJ Black Belts Given Too Easily?

Makhachev’s comments have reignited a long-standing debate in the martial arts world. Traditionalists argue that earning a black belt should symbolize years of hard work, competition, and technical proficiency.

In MMA, black belts are often awarded to fighters who display exceptional grappling skills during fights, even if they lack the competition experience traditionally required in BJJ. This practice has drawn criticism from purists who feel that the integrity of the black belt is being diluted.

Makhachev’s stance echoes the frustrations of many who believe that the martial art’s highest rank should not be given out as a symbolic gesture. “It shouldn’t work like this,” he asserted, calling for a return to more stringent standards.

Whether or not the BJJ community will take his words to heart remains to be seen. For a fighter who has spent years proving himself on the mats and in the Octagon, he knows the power of grappling being a lifetime student under the UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Islam Makhachev Questions Black Belt Standards in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – Are BJJ Black Belts Given Too Easily?

Reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has sparked a heated debate within the martial arts community, questioning whether black…

Islam Makhachev on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Are BJJ Black Belts Given Too Easily?

Mikey Musumeci Explains Why he Left ONE for the UFC: “We don’t have to question if they’ll have money a year from now.”

Darth Rigatoni’ Mikey Musumeci was a fan favorite in ONE Championship and a reigning titleholder in their submission grappling…

Darth Rigatoni’ Mikey Musumeci was a fan favorite in ONE Championship and a reigning titleholder in their submission grappling division. The American-Italian grappler walked away from ONE and signed with the UFC.

Mikey Musumeci

It is an interesting signing as Mikey Musumeci does not currently compete in MMA, but the UFC also does not have a submission grappling division. Thus, it may be an indication for the future that the UFC is looking at expanding into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions.

Musumeci was scheduled to face fellow grappler Kade Ruotolo in a BJJ match but Ruotolo suffered an injury and had to withdraw. ‘Darth Rigatoni’ was then rebooked but at a much lower weight and was forced to cut nearly 30 pounds in just a few days which led to illness. He was unable to make weight and was hospitalized. To add insult to injury, Mikey Musumeci was also stripped of his title due to this incident.

Mikey Musumeci Leaving ONE Championship

Recent news has come out that Mikey Musumeci left ONE Championship and has signed with the UFC. He will be competing at the UFC Fight Pass Invitational 9 grappling event on December 5 against Felipe Machado. The event will be hosted at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Speaking in an interview with Ariel Helwani, Mikey Musumeci explained why he left ONE. He said:

“My contract was coming to an end, basically. I just wanted to be back home in the U.S. Again, I love ONE Championship, but I was there because of my relationship with Chatri. He was like a parent to me. He was probably my closest friend for a few years, and that’s why I moved to Asia. Then I decided I wanted to be back in the U.S., close to my family. The UFC is 10 to 15 minutes from my house, so it’s a no-brainer for me, especially being American. I also feel the UFC can bring a lot to grappling. It’s finally another platform that can expand our sport to people who wouldn’t typically watch jiu-jitsu.

“It’s a platform that will eventually have drug testing, a platform that can make our sport professional. Right now, there’s too much with steroids and craziness. I just want a legitimate, professional platform for athletes. For kids growing up, they can dream of being professional jiu-jitsu athletes without thinking about switching careers. The most fulfillment I can have as a person is setting that path for the next generation.

“I have no hard feelings toward ONE. How could I? They helped me grow so much as a person. I’m full of gratitude for Chatri. We were like a dysfunctional family sometimes—disagreements, fights—but at the end of the day, I’m grateful for everything he’s done for me. I’d never speak badly about him.”

On Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu promoters as a whole, he added:

“Of course. I’ll just say broadly—there’s a lot of shadiness and shady promoters who do messed-up things behind the scenes.

“Being in it for so many years, you get burnt out. It doesn’t feel legitimate or professional. You make money here and there, but then a shady arms dealer promotes an event, and suddenly they have money. You make money once, and then it disappears. Is this what we want for the next generation? No. We need a legitimate organization, like MLB, NBA, or NFL, where we don’t have to question if they’ll have money a year from now.“

Mikey Musumeci Explains UFC Signing

A BJJ athlete has never signed a contract with the UFC just to do submission grappling, but Mikey Musumeci has done exactly that. Being friends and meeting Hunter Campbell at the UFC Performance Institute helped this expansion. On why this happened, he explained:

“During that time, I trained in Vegas and was at UFC PI a lot. I met Hunter there; we became good friends, and that’s how the relationship started … They’re trying to take over jiu-jitsu like they did MMA. Their goal is to grow the sport exponentially—grappling leagues, everything.“

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace ‘Darth Rigatoni’ Mikey Musumeci may be the start of the UFC’s expansion into the submission grappling world.

Mikey Musumeci Walks Away from ONE Championship

Superstar Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete Mikey Musumeci has walked away from ONE Championship. This comes just weeks after the weight-cut…

Superstar Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete Mikey Musumeci has walked away from ONE Championship. This comes just weeks after the weight-cut controversy in his most recent scheduled match that led him to be stripped of his title.

Mikey Musumeci Leaves ONE Championship

“Darth Rigatoni” Mikey Musumeci is an American-Italian standout grappler in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu who has collected impressive titles in IBJJF world championships. He recently reported on Instagram that he stepping away from ONE Championship leaving the organization behind. He wrote:

“END OF A CHAPTER OF MY LIFE – today I would like to announce I will no longer be living in Asia or competing under One Championship … These past three years I have had some of the best memories and lessons of my life! I met so many incredible people in Singapore and in Thailand … I was the first submission grappling world champion the organization ever had, and I had the platform and opportunity to help grow our sport of jiu jitsu to so many more people.

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A post shared by Mikey Musumeci (@mikeymusumeci)

Some people speculate that the submission grappler is not happy with how he was treated in his last match. Musumeci was originally scheduled to face Kade Ruotolo at 170 lbs. However, Ruotolo withdrew due to injury. ONE Championship then asked Musumeci to defend his flyweight (135 lb) title against a replacement opponent, Bebeto Oliveira, on short notice. This required Musumeci to attempt to cut approximately 35 lbs in just 72 hours, which many considered an unreasonable and dangerous request.

Musumeci failed to make weight, coming in at 136 lbs, and also failed hydration tests. As a result, ONE Championship stripped Musumeci of his flyweight submission grappling title. The grappling community largely rallied behind Musumeci, criticizing ONE Championship for putting him in this difficult position. The incident led to significant backlash against ONE Championship’s weight-cutting and hydration policies.

Just weeks after this controversy, Mikey Musumeci announced he was leaving ONE Championship. The chief executive officer of ONE Chatri Sityodtong and ONE Championship has not made any official announcement regarding this news.

He made history in 2019 by securing the fastest submission ever in an IBJJF World Championship final, tapping out his opponent with an ankle lock in just 12 seconds. Since joining ONE, Musumeci has remained undefeated with a 7-0 record, including 5 submission victories. He has successfully defended his world title multiple times against high-level opponents.

Car-Jitsu: Inside the Wildest Combat Sport in the World

The designers of the 2006 Toyota Scion probably envisioned many possible uses for the car, from family road trips to morning commutes to drives to the grocery…