Most Combined Submission Attempts in a UFC Fight

Most submission attempts by both fighters combined in a single fight. UFC bouts with round-by-round data, 1994–present.

Filters All divisions · Combined
Clear all
50 record performances
30
Matt Hughes
Matt Hughes vs Chris Lytle
3 Mar 2007
6
30
TJ Dillashaw
TJ Dillashaw vs Walel Watson
15 Feb 2012
6
30
Jon Fitch
Jon Fitch vs Paulo Thiago
11 Jul 2009
6
30
Jim Miller
Jim Miller vs David Baron
18 Oct 2008
6
30
Josh Koscheck
Josh Koscheck vs Dave Menne
28 Jun 2006
6
30
Zhang Tiequan
Zhang Tiequan vs Darren Elkins
8 Oct 2011
6
30
Thales Leites
Thales Leites vs Pete Sell
7 Apr 2007
6
30
Joe Lauzon
Joe Lauzon vs Brandon Melendez
23 Jun 2007
6
Advertisement
30
Brian Ebersole
Brian Ebersole vs Chris Lytle
26 Feb 2011
6
30
Matt Brown
Matt Brown vs James Wilks
14 Nov 2009
6
30
Jacob Volkmann
Jacob Volkmann vs Danny Castillo
14 Aug 2011
6
30
Jacob Volkmann
Jacob Volkmann vs Efrain Escudero
30 Dec 2011
6
Advertisement
30
Rob Broughton
Rob Broughton vs Vinicius Queiroz
16 Oct 2010
6
30
Josh Sampo
Josh Sampo vs Ryan Benoit
30 Nov 2013
6
30
Luigi Fioravanti
Luigi Fioravanti vs Brodie Farber
10 Dec 2008
6

The most submission attempts ever recorded in a single UFC fight — relentless hunting for the finish, whether or not the tap came.

The Most Submission Attempts in a Single UFC Fight

Some grapplers do not just control — they hunt. This record book ranks the most active submission performances in UFC history by total submission attempts in a single bout, by one fighter and by both combined.

A fight with eight or ten submission attempts is a relentless finishing chase, where a grappler threatens the tap from every position while an opponent scrambles to survive. Use the Single Fighter and Combined tabs and the division filter to explore the most dangerous grappling nights on record.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a submission attempt?
A submission attempt is logged whenever a fighter actively applies or works for a submission hold — a choke, armbar, leglock, or similar — with real intent to finish. Fleeting grips are not counted; the stat reflects genuine finishing threats.
Why do some grappling fights have so many attempts without a finish?
Elite grapplers defend submissions as well as they attack them, so a top-tier scrambler can chain five, eight, or ten attempts against an opponent skilled enough to survive each one. Those fights become breathless back-and-forth chess matches that top this list.
Does the fighter with the most submission attempts usually win?
Usually, but not always: constant submission threats tend to sway the judges and often lead to the finish, yet a determined defender can survive to a decision. Every row links to the fight page, so you can see when the finish-hunting paid off and when the opponent escaped.
What is the difference between the single and combined records?
The single view counts one fighter's submission attempts in a bout; the combined view adds both fighters together, which surfaces the scrambles where both athletes were hunting a finish rather than one grappler working on a defender.
Most Submission Attempts in a UFC Fight - top 10 (MMA.SOCIAL): 1. Cole Miller vs Leonard Garcia (10), 2. Hermes Franca vs Richard Crunkilton (9), 3. Ivan Salaverry vs Andrei Semenov (8), 3. James Wilks vs DaMarques Johnson (8), 5. Stefan Struve vs Denis Stojnic (7), 5. Louis Smolka vs Ben Nguyen (7), 5. Chas Skelly vs Sean Soriano (7), 5. Evan Dunham vs Sean Sherk (7), 5. Ryan Hall vs Darrick Minner (7), 5. Tim Credeur vs Nick Catone (7)
Most Submission Attempts in a UFC Fight - top 10, updated Oct 26, 2026.
Share image

Most Submission Attempts in a UFC Fight: top 10

The top 10 as one image. Free to share, updated after every UFC card.

Download image Open full size