RYO CHONAN

ATTRIBUTES

OFFENSIVE SKILLS

DEFENSIVE SKILLS

ULTIMATE TECHNIQUES

Jumping Leg Scissors to Inside Heel Hook

Level 2—Both Standing, Striking Range

“Piranha” famously used this unorthodox submission to force the great Anderson Silva to tap out during their historic meeting in PRIDE. Few opponents expect to be caught in a heel hook while standing!

Suplex to Side Control, Top

Level 1—Double Underhook, Offense

Chonan can work a pretty effective submission game on the ground. Clinch up and use this suplex to toss the opponent to the mat and land in Side Control, then work for subs.

Direct Catch to Outside Heel Hook

Level 2—Open Guard, Top

“Piranha” has excellent leg submissions, including this fast and effective heel hook that can be applied from Open Guard. Work the opponent’s body to drain stamina, then drop down for the sub.

STRENGTHS

• Well rounded
• Aggressive style
• Submissions

Ryo “Piranha” Chonan was a talented PRIDE fighter who had memorable clashes back in the organization’s days of glory.

Leg locks are Chonan’s specialty, and he’s able to switch between certain subs to increase his chances of forcing the tap.

Chonan also has good speed in his striking game, but his strikes lack power—use his hands primarily to set up takedowns, which “Piranha” has a talent for.

Bring the opponent to the ground one way or another, then work at passing his guard and softening him up with some ground-and-pound.

Drop back for leg submissions whenever you find yourself in Open Guard or Half Guard with the opponent winded and susceptible to subs.

WEAKNESSES

• Strength
• Footwork
• Ground bottom grappling
  

Chonan is a well-rounded fighter, but he has trouble dominating in any one area of the fight game.

Fight to your fighter’s strengths and look to dominate Chonan with superior skills on the feet, in the clinch, or on the ground—whichever area best suits your fighter’s skill set and your own unique style of play.

Chonan’s footwork is far from slick on the feet—exploit his sluggish gait by keeping him at bay with good movement and stiff kicks from the outside.

He can also be controlled and worked over in the clinch by Muay Thai specialists, while ground grapplers will want to try for clinch trips and throws to bypass Chonan’s respectable takedown defense.

“Piranha” isn’t easy to submit, and he’s resilient against strikes—expect to work a bit, grinding him down before finding a means of finishing.