Anaconda Choke
A blood choke from front headlock — the attacker threads an arm under the opponent's neck, locks a Gable grip, and rolls to compress the carotids.
3 min readUpdated
In Short
The anaconda choke is a blood choke applied from a front-headlock position by threading one arm under the opponent's neck and locking a Gable grip. It is a common finishing technique in MMA because the front-headlock position arises naturally from sprawled takedowns and scrambled exchanges.
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The front-headlock choke
The anaconda choke is a blood choke applied from a front-headlock position. The attacker threads one arm under the opponent's neck (the choking arm), locks a Gable grip with the other arm, and rolls to the side to compress the opponent's carotid arteries between the attacker's bicep and the opponent's own arm/shoulder.
The technique is one of the most-finishing chokes in MMA because the front-headlock position arises naturally from sprawled takedowns, scrambled positions, and stuffed shots.
Mechanics
From a sprawled position with the opponent's head between the attacker's legs:
- Establish the front headlock: control the opponent's head with one arm wrapped under their neck and over their far shoulder.
- Thread the choking arm: the choking-arm hand goes under the opponent's neck, palm pointing toward the floor.
- Lock the Gable grip: the choking-arm hand grips the bicep of the other arm; the other hand grips the choking-arm forearm.
- Roll to the side: the attacker rolls to one side, taking the opponent over with them. The roll compresses the carotid arteries.
- Finish: maintain the grip pressure and the rotational position until the opponent taps or loses consciousness.
The choke takes 6-10 seconds to render the opponent unconscious when fully applied.
Setup positions
- Sprawled takedown defense: when the attacker stuffs a takedown attempt and the opponent's head is in the front headlock position.
- Mounted crucifix: from a mount where both of the opponent's arms are trapped.
- Scrambled exchanges: when the opponent turns to face down after a takedown stuff or scramble.
- Turtle position: when the opponent is in turtle defense and the attacker can wrap the head from the side.
Common errors
- Grip not deep enough: the choking arm's bicep needs to compress against the carotid; a shallow grip just chokes air.
- No roll: applying the grip without the side-roll mechanic doesn't compress the carotid.
- Rolling to the wrong side: the attacker should roll toward the opposite side from where the choking arm went under.
- Losing the front headlock before the choke locks: gives the opponent the chance to escape.
Defense
- Hide the chin: tucking the chin to the chest blocks the choking arm from sliding under the neck.
- Hand fight early: the defender's hands fight the attacker's choking-arm wrist before the grip locks.
- Stand up: from the front headlock position, standing up disrupts the technique.
- Roll into the choke: rolling toward the choking arm can loosen the grip.
Variations
- D'Arce choke: a related submission where the choking arm goes under the opposite armpit and behind the head.
- Brabo choke: a kneeling front-headlock variant.
- Peruvian necktie: a related choke where the attacker's leg traps the opponent's back.
- Bulldog choke: a sitting-out variation of the front headlock.
Exemplified by
- Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: the Tim Sylvia finish at UFC 81 was an anaconda variation.
- Brian Ortega: the Frankie Edgar finish at UFC 222 was a triangle-into-anaconda transition.
- Charles Oliveira: multiple anaconda-choke finishes across his UFC career.
Drills
- Position drill: from a cooperative sprawled position, drill the anaconda entry and roll.
- Hand fight drill: partner defends the choking arm; attacker works to lock the grip.
- Live wrestling rounds: rounds where the front headlock position is the primary target.
- Choke-defense drill: defender practices chin-tuck and hand-fight defenses.
Fighters Who Exemplify This Technique
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Back Control
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D'Arce Choke
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Ground-and-Pound
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Frequently Asked
- How is the anaconda choke mechanically applied?
- The attacker threads one arm under the opponent's neck, locks a Gable grip with the other arm, and rolls to the side to compress the carotid arteries between the attacker's bicep and the opponent's arm or shoulder.
- What are common setup positions for this choke?
- Common setups include sprawled takedown defense, the mounted crucifix, scrambled exchanges after a takedown stuff, and the turtle position.
- How can a fighter defend against the anaconda choke?
- Defenders can hide their chin by tucking it to the chest, engage in early hand fighting to disrupt the grip, stand up to disrupt the technique, or roll into the choke to loosen the grip.
- Which fighters are known for using the anaconda choke?
- Notable fighters who have exemplified this technique include Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Brian Ortega, and Charles Oliveira.
- How long does it take to render an opponent unconscious with this choke?
- When fully applied, the anaconda choke takes 6-10 seconds to render the opponent unconscious.