2025 has been a banner year for Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ), as the sport rapidly grows and more opportunities are available for athletes in the professional grappling scene. In the next couple of weeks,
we will be going over some of the best performances and top milestones of the year, as we unveil the winners of the 2025 BJJ Awards here at MMA Mania.
Our first award focuses on the best submissions of 2025. This category is a bit subjective, as the “best submission” can either focus on things like new, developing techniques, sheer highlight reel and wow factor, or the gravity and significance of the finish. Fortunately, this list will have a bit of everything.
With countless finishes produced throughout the year, here are the top three submissions that stood out in 2025.
3. Roberto Jimenez’s 16-second flying armbar over Elder Cruz at WNO 26
Roberto Jimenez is known for being one of the most entertaining athletes in BJJ. On WNO 26 last February, he not only lived up to his reputation, he also got revenge and scored an upset over a decorated champion. Elder Cruz, holds a victory over Jimenez in 2023, when he won the second of his three IBJJF no gi world titles.
In 2025, Jimenez found a way to get revenge, with some style points to boot. “The Natural” stole the show at WNO 26, as he landed a 16-second flying armbar on Cruz that will be aired on his highlight reel for years to come.
2. Lachlan Giles debuts new “Lachy Lock” submission against Marcelo Garcia
No one could’ve predicted we’d get a legends match between Marcelo Garcia and Lachlan Giles in 2025, but fans got an unexpected treat as the two renowned giant slayers and BJJ pioneers faced each other early in December. Giles managed to beat his “idol” and debut a new submission in the constantly evolving leg lock meta game.
Finishing an all-time great with his new “Lachy lock” submission earns Giles the number two spot on this list.
While commentators and fans have confused the finish for a kneebar, or even Mikey Musumeci’s “Mikey lock,” Giles explained the difference of his modified heel hook here.
1. Submission of the Year: Elisabeth Clay becomes first to submit Gabi Pessanha, wins world title
Taking the top spot and winning the Submission of the Year honors is Elisabeth Clay for her monumental upset over Gabi Pessanha at the 2025 IBJJF No Gi Worlds.
While Giles’s finish had innovation, Clay’s submission had several other things going for it. From technique, to the size and caliber of opponent, and to the stakes and prestige involved, Clay’s historic upset made her the rightful winner of this award.
Pessanha has been a historically dominant force in BJJ, and has been nearly unbeatable in the last few years. Clay previously got submitted twice against her, and naturally came in as a huge underdog again as they faced off in the open-weight finals.
Clay not only overcame such a significant size and strength advantage to finally get a win over Pessanha, she also became the first to ever submit the 12-time world champion and double grand slam winner. The monumental upset also led to Clay winning double gold, notching her fifth and sixth IBJJF world titles at the event.
With all those factors considered, that now iconic heel hook finish gets Elisabeth Clay our 2025 Submission of the Year award.
Watch the finish and the full match below.
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