Charles Johnson Taps Opponent With Rare Scottish Twister at UFC 330

Charles Johnson delivered one of the most memorable finishes of the night at UFC 330 on August 15, tapping out his opponent with a Scottish Twister — a submission so rare it rarely appears at the highest level of mixed martial arts competition.

Johnson, nicknamed "InnerG," is a 35-year-old flyweight from the United States who trains out of Murcielago MMA. He carries a professional record of 19 wins and 9 losses and competes out of a switch stance, standing five-foot-nine with a 70-inch reach. Johnson is primarily known as a striker, averaging 4.77 significant strikes landed per minute at a 49 percent accuracy rate. His grappling credentials are genuine, though, and this finish demonstrated a side of his game that opponents can easily underestimate — he averages 0.3 submission attempts per 15 minutes, a modest number that clearly undersells his finishing ability when he does get to work on the mat.

The Scottish Twister is a spine-lock variation of the Twister submission, itself an exceptionally uncommon sight in professional MMA. The technique demands precise body triangle positioning, upper-body control, and significant flexibility from the fighter applying it — making Johnson's execution all the more striking.

Why it matters

• The finish adds a rare highlight to Johnson's résumé at 35 years old, demonstrating continued development late in his career.
• The submission variety — so seldom seen at UFC level — immediately draws attention to Johnson as a well-rounded threat in the flyweight division.
• A performance bonus would not be surprising given the technical rarity of the finish, though none has been officially noted in the available reporting.