LowKick MMA’s 2025 Awards: Submission of the Year – Jean Silva Def Bryce Mitchell with a Ninja Choke
The submission game in 2025 delivered 91 finishes inside the Octagon, featuring everything from rare keylocks to the year-ending anaconda choke by newcomer Yaroslav Amosov. Yet, one moment stood above the rest for its mix of violence, and technique. LowKick MMA’s 2025 Submission of the Year goes to Jean Silva for his stunning Ninja Choke victory over Bryce Mitchell at UFC 314.
LowKick MMA’s 2025 Awards: Submission of the Year – Jean Silva Def Bryce Mitchell with a Ninja Choke
Tension filled the Kaseya Center in Miami on April 12. The bad blood between the two featherweights was evident before the referee signaled the start, with Mitchell refusing the customary glove touch. The fight began as a clash of styles. Mitchell, known for his suffocating grappling, looked to bring the fight to the mat early. Silva, representing the “Fighting Nerds” team, countered with dynamic striking and taunts, smiling and pointing at the crowd even as Mitchell pressured him.
By the second round, Silva began to take over. He landed a punishing body kick that visibly hurt Mitchell, dropping the Arkansas native to the canvas. Rather than swarming for a ground-and-pound finish, Silva invited Mitchell back to his feet, a confident move that set the stage for the finish.
Mitchell, desperate to recover and ground the fight, shot in for a takedown. Silva anticipated the level change perfectly. Instead of sprawling in the traditional sense, Silva wrapped his arm around Mitchell’s neck from a front headlock position. He threaded his arm deep, locking his hands in a “Ninja Choke” grip, a variation similar to a guillotine but without the arm included, placing direct pressure on the trachea.
Silva spun away from Mitchell’s hips to tighten the strangle, cutting off all escape routes. The grip was instantaneous and severe. Mitchell, a grappler, found himself trapped in his own world. At 3:52 of Round 2, Mitchell tapped out.
The finish marked a significant statement for Silva. Submitting a grappler of Mitchell‘s caliber is rare; doing it with a niche technique like the Ninja Choke is exceptional. While Valter Walker’s three heel hooks in 90 seconds earned an honorable mention, Silva’s victory combined high stakes, a heated rivalry, and a “beat him at his own game” narrative that defined the year. Silva celebrated the moment in his trademark chaotic style, barking at the camera as the Miami crowd erupted.
