10 MMA Maneuvers Wrestlers Should Use More Often
2. The Twister
Similar to a Spine Lock and a Guillotine, the Twister isn't welcome in all realms of MMA, but that's one of the many aspects that makes it such a devasting move.
Often set up with a Banana Split, the Twister is a multiple-point joint lock that applies extreme pressure to the spine and can quickly lead to injury or even death if applied too hard for too long. Although the hold has been around for some time, it wasn't used as a finish in UFC until 2011. For eight years, that was the only time, as well, until Bryce Mitchell defeated Matt Sayles in 2019.
Given pro wrestlers work alongside each other in pursuit of entertaining while maintaining their personal safety, some adjustments to the move may be needed. But a variation of The Twister could be incorporated safely as a finishing submission. Such a painful and complicated move, a Spine Lock would fall better in line with a technical chain-wrestler than the average brawler. It's not a move that can be applied directly, but it does offer the promise of a surprise submission during spouts of mat wrestling, as seen with the likes of Dolph Ziggler, Cesaro, and Daniel Bryan.