Demetrious Johnson is widely considered mixed martial arts' smartest champion, and his flying armbar against Ray Borg remains one of the greatest submissions ever recorded. Nicknamed Mighty Mouse, Johnson set the UFC record with his 11th consecutive flyweight title defense at UFC 216 in 2017, suplexing Borg and transitioning into an armbar mid-air before he even hit the ground, forcing the tap at 3:15 of the fifth round. Johnson later explained he first learned the technique from coach Matt Hume during a sparring session where Hume mixed a wrestling snap-down into an armbar attempt, telling TMZ afterward that Borg was lucky he tapped when he did. Known for relentless precision and ferocious creativity, Johnson's flying armbar remains one of combat sports' most technically respected finishes.
Demetrious Johnson's flying armbar finish of Ray Borg at UFC 216 in 2017 continues to rank among the most celebrated submissions in mixed martial arts history. Johnson suplexed Borg and transitioned into the armbar before he even hit the mat, forcing the tap at 3:15 of the fifth round. The win gave him a UFC-record 11th consecutive flyweight title defense.
Johnson, nicknamed Mighty Mouse, is widely regarded as MMA's smartest champion. The 40-year-old American, who trains out of AMC Pankration, holds a record of 27-3-1. At five-foot-three with a 66-inch reach, he built his career on relentless precision and creativity. He lands 3.43 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy and averages 3.35 takedowns per 15 minutes, a blend of striking and wrestling that made the Borg finish possible.
Borg, known as The Tazmexican Devil, is a 33-year-old American fighting out of Jackson's MMA Acoma. His record stands at 13-5-0. Standing five-foot-four with a 63-inch reach, he is a grappling-oriented fighter, averaging 3.89 takedowns and one submission attempt per 15 minutes. That background made him a difficult test for the champion, who still found a way to end the fight in the fifth round.
How the finish came together
Johnson has said he first learned the technique from coach Matt Hume during a sparring session. Hume mixed a wrestling snap-down into an armbar attempt, an idea Johnson carried into competition. Speaking to TMZ afterward, Johnson said Borg was lucky he tapped when he did, a nod to how violent the mid-air transition was.
Why it matters
- The finish set the UFC record for consecutive title defenses at 11 in the flyweight division.
- It showcased Johnson's trademark mix of wrestling and submission skill.
- It remains a benchmark for technical creativity, still cited among combat sports' most respected finishes.
