UFC color commentator Joe Rogan has reflected on the time he was begging a fighter to tap out.
Submissions are a part of the sport of MMA, and while most bouts are completed without a horrifying injury, fans have still seen their share of gnarly breaks. UFC middleweight contender Jared Cannonier was a guest on Rogan’s “JRE MMA Podcast.” During the show, they discussed some of the worst MMA injuries.
What is the Greatest Submission of All-Time?
#7 Seed: Frank Mir and Minotauro Nogueira met in a clash of BJJ heavyweights for an unforgettable back-and-forth ground war that ended in a win by Kimura for Frank Mir – and a painful loss for Big Nog. pic.twitter.com/4ZHqnpDbz3— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) February 12, 2018
Frank Mir Snaps “Big Nog’s” Arm
During the discussion, Cannonier brought up the finish to the late 2011 rematch between Frank Mir and Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira. Mir pulled off a stunning submission win via kimura, and “Big Nog’s” arm snapped.
“I think Nogueira getting his arm snapped was pretty horrific as well,” Cannonier said.
Rogan, who called that UFC 140 fight live, certainly agrees.
“Oh, that was horrible, that was horrible,” Rogan responded as he winced.
Joe Rogan Begs UFC Fighter To Tap
Joe Rogan then looked back on the time he was calling a UFC 205 preliminary bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Michael Johnson. Khabib won the fight via kimura in the third round. The entire time Johnson found himself in the submission, Rogan was hoping he would tap out (second video in the tweet).
12 November 2016
UFC 205
Khabib smashes Michael Johnson.
Won via Round 3 Submission (Kimura)
Sets up his future rivalry on the mic pic.twitter.com/dodDcT0Dgr
— Ocelot MMA (@Ocelot_MMA) January 24, 2023
“I remember when Khabib had Michael Johnson, and I remember thinking, ‘Just please tap, please tap, please tap, just please tap. Don’t make me see this, man. Don’t make me see this, tap. He got you, fight another day. Please tap, please tap. That f*cking spiral arm fracture from that kimura.”
Johnson was able to avoid long-term damage. He returned to the Octagon eight months later and had a memorable brawl with Justin Gaethje that ended at the end of the second round. Johnson lost the fight via TKO. The bout not only earned “Fight of the Night” honors, it also scored “Fight of the Year” awards from numerous outlets.
