The Night Physics Broke in the Octagon
October 7, 2017. Las Vegas. UFC 216.
If you weren't watching live, you missed the moment MMA transitioned from a sport into a glitch in the Matrix. Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson was already a legend by the time he stepped into the cage against Ray Borg. He was looking to break Anderson Silva’s record of 10 consecutive title defenses. Most people figured he’d win—he was the pound-for-pound king for a reason—but nobody, and I mean nobody, expected him to invent a new way to finish a human being in the middle of a title fight.
The Demetrious Johnson flying armbar (or the "Mighty Wiz-Bar" as some call it) wasn't just a submission. It was a statement. It was the kind of thing you’d see in a choreographed movie or a video game and roll your eyes because "that’s not realistic." Except it happened.
Setting the Stage for Immortality
Ray Borg was no slouch. People forget that. He was a high-level scrambler, tough as nails, and younger than Johnson. Throughout the fight, DJ was doing what DJ does: absolute mastery. He was out-striking Borg, out-wrestling him, and just generally making a world-class contender look like he was underwater.
By the fifth round, the fight was essentially won on the cards. Most fighters would have cruised. They would have played it safe, protected the lead, and secured the record-breaking 11th defense with a dominant decision. But Johnson isn't "most fighters."
The Technical Wizardry: How He Actually Did It
Let’s get into the weeds of the technique because that’s where the magic is. It wasn't a standard "jump and hope" flying armbar. Those are risky and usually end with the attacker landing on their back and getting smashed. This was a suplex-to-armbar transition.
The Setup
Johnson had Borg’s back in a standing position. He had a tight waist lock. Usually, from here, you’re looking to just dump the guy on his head or return him to the mat to keep riding him. Johnson did the suplex part—he popped his hips and launched Borg into the air.
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The Catch
Here is where your brain stops working. Most guys are focused on the impact of the throw. While Borg was still airborne—literally in mid-air—Johnson released his grip on Borg's torso. He didn't wait for Borg to hit the ground.
While Borg was falling, Johnson snatched the left arm.
The Finish
As they hit the canvas, the armbar was already 90% locked in. Johnson’s right leg swung over Borg’s face before Borg even realized he wasn't standing anymore. It was 3:15 of the fifth round. Borg, who had survived four and a half rounds of punishment, had to tap almost immediately. His arm was in serious danger of snapping.
Why This Move Changed Everything
You’ve gotta understand the context of the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate. For years, Demetrious Johnson was criticized for being "boring" or fighting in a "weak division." It was nonsense, honestly. He was just so much better than everyone else that he made elite athletes look like amateurs.
The Demetrious Johnson flying armbar killed those "boring" narratives overnight.
- Creativity: It showed that at the highest level of the sport, there is still room for improvisation.
- Athleticism: The timing required to release a suplex and catch a falling limb is basically superhuman.
- Legacy: He broke Anderson Silva's record with the flashiest finish in the history of the UFC. Talk about a mic drop.
I’ve spent years training BJJ, and let me tell you, trying to drill this move even on a willing partner is a nightmare. Doing it to a guy who is actively trying to kill your win streak? That's some high-level sorcery.
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Common Misconceptions About the Move
A lot of casual fans think it was a fluke. It wasn't. If you watch DJ's training footage or follow his coach, Matt Hume, you know they drill "unconventional" transitions constantly. They call it "the flow."
Another thing people get wrong is thinking Borg just gave up. If you watch the replay in slow motion, Borg is actually trying to defend the suplex. He's trying to find his footing. He never expected his arm to be the primary target while he was three feet off the ground.
How to Appreciate the Greatness (Actionable Insights)
If you want to truly understand why this matters, don't just watch the highlight clip once. Go back and do these three things:
- Watch the Feet: Look at how DJ positions his lead foot before the lift. It’s a perfect pivot.
- The Grip Release: Notice the exact millisecond he lets go of the waist to transition to the wrist. It happens at the apex of the throw.
- Listen to the Crowd: The sound in the arena changes from a standard "ooh" for a takedown to a collective gasp of confusion and then a roar.
What’s Next for the Legacy of the Mighty Wiz-Bar?
Since that night, we haven't seen anything quite like it in a major promotion. We've seen flying triangles and some slick transitions, but the suplex-to-armbar remains the gold standard for technical brilliance. Johnson eventually moved to ONE Championship, where he continued to do insane things (like that flying knee knockout on Adriano Moraes), but the Borg finish is his "Mona Lisa."
If you’re a student of the game, the takeaway here is simple: never stop innovating. Demetrious Johnson didn't need that armbar to win the fight, but he did it because he could. He saw an opening in a dimension most fighters don't even know exists.
To really get a feel for the speed, go find the 4K slow-motion replay on YouTube. Even at 25% speed, it looks fast. It’s the perfect marriage of wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and it’s why "Mighty Mouse" will always be in the conversation for the greatest to ever lace up the gloves.
Study the transition. Look at the way he uses his hips to create the weightlessness needed for the catch. If you're a grappler, try drilling the "mat return to arm-trap" sequence—it’s a more realistic version for us mere mortals. Just don't expect to look as cool as DJ doing it. Nobody does.