Submissions

Submissions are fight-ending holds designed to force the opponent to quit, either by targeting one of their major joints, such as the elbow or knee, or by rendering them unconscious through the use of a choke.

Simply press down on the Clinch/Grapple stick to try and lock in a submission hold. Or hold the Technique Modifier trigger while pressing down on the Clinch/Grapple stick to attempt a technique submission, assuming your fighter is able.

Most submissions are performed on the ground, but some can be employed from the clinch, or even while standing.

Blocking Submissions

Submissions can be blocked and prevented just like clinch and ground transitions—simply tilt and hold the Clinch/Grapple stick away from the opponent to block all subs.

An aggressive grappler may eventually be able to pass your guard and improve position, but submissions can always be blocked by simply tilting and holding the Clinch/Grapple stick away from your foe.

The submission Battle

Once a submission attempt has succeeded, the submission battle begins. Both fighters must use their Movement sticks to maneuver their colored bar around the onscreen Octagon HUD element. Here’s the idea:

• If you’re trying to lock in the sub, race to cover the opponent’s bar with your own. Keep the bar covered until you lock in the sub and force the tap. This is more difficult as the submission battle wears on, because your bar steadily shrinks over time.

• If you’re the defender, strive to keep your bar away from the opponent’s until time runs out. This becomes easier as time passes, for the aggressor’s bar shrinks over time.

Several factors determine how easy or difficult a submission will be to finish:

Skill : All fighters have Offensive and Defensive Submission skills that indicate how learned they are at applying and avoiding subs. The higher your fighter’s Submission ratings, the better he’ll be at submission defense and forcing the tap.

Position : Attaining a dominant position before attempting a submission helps you secure the tap more easily. The various sub positions that are available from the top ground position are ideal.

Stamina : An exhausted fighter won’t have much chance of finishing a sub, regardless of skill or position. Manage your Stamina carefully if you wish to secure or defend against submissions later on.

Rocked: If a fighter has been rocked, he’ll be much easier to submit than normal. Hurry up and finish him off!

The fighter who has the advantage going into the submission battle will enjoy the following benefits:

• If the fighter who’s applying the submission has the advantage, his bar will be longer and will move faster than the opponent’s. This makes it easier to track him down and keep him covered during the battle.

• If the fighter who’s defending has the advantage, his bar will be shorter and will move faster than the opponent’s. This makes it easier to keep away from the opponent’s bar until time runs out and the fighter manages to escape.

• In addition, when the defender has the advantage in the submission battle, it is likely that he will perform a dramatic escape, such as a slam, that will greatly improve his position after the escape.

Submission Switching

Some submission artists are able to switch from one sub to another, chaining submissions together to increase their odds of securing the tap. If the Submission Switch icon appears onscreen during a submission battle, press down on the Clinch/Grapple stick to quickly transition into a different sub.

Submission switching gives you more time to force the tap, making it very useful when time is about to run out and the opponent is about to escape.

Reversal Submissions

When the opponent attempts certain transitions, it may be possible to press down on the Clinch/Grapple stick and reverse the transition into an instant—and powerful—submission hold. Reversal submissions require precise timing, but they’re incredibly useful to submission experts.

Reversal submissions are generally available when the opponent tries to throw you from the clinch, or when he’s attempting to escape from the bottom of a ground position.

Reversal Submissions” section so that it reads: “See the “Positions & Moves” chapter to discover which positions allow for reversal submissions.