I have some new found respect for my MMA friends this morning.
Warning - Do NOT click on the SHOW link below if you have a weak stomach or are easily sicken by open wounds.
A guy I work with and am friendly with online is personal friends with Isaiah Ordiz.
Isaiah is an accomplished martial artist most recently competing in the Brazilian Jui Jitsu Pan Asian Games where he won the Silver Medal in the Men's White Belt Meio Pesado -88.5kg. He is also very active in the Philippines’ premiere MMA Organization, the URCC. He has been ranked in the URCC and because of his expertise in Jui Jitsu is a frequent training partner to the top fighters of the world. This weekend he was training with Rousimar Palhares.
Rousimar Palhares is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He is known for his technical mastery of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, physical strength, and bizarre behavior during fights. He is also known for being particularily cruel in the ring. He is the #10 ranked middleweight in the world.
Palhares is also a master of the "Heel Hook". Heel hooks are some of the most dangerous techniques when Jujitsu training. They can be extremely effective in a fight, but they're difficult to master. Heel locks apply pressure on the ankle and can end a fight very quickly. The Heel Hook is Palhares preferred finishing move, the photo to the right shows the extreme pressure by which one can exert on the joints of the legs as Rousimar Palhares puts Dave Branch into a heel hook during their match featured on the UFC on Versus 3. Yes, Branch tapped out.
Heel hooks, of course, have been a hot topic the past couple weeks, especially after Palhares fight during UFC 111 with Tomasz Drwal, where Palhares secured a heel-hook submission (his sixth such heel-hook win in eight career submission wins). but initially refused to break the hold, he got a 90-day suspension for that.
Before the UFC on FOX2 matches, there were matches on FuelTV and in one of those preliminary matches, a battle of featherweights, Charles Oliveira defeated Eric Wisely with a move called a calf slicer which is very similar to a heel hook. Look at the photo to the right (and full sized below) and look at the extreme pressure put on the knee joint.
Of course, both intentionally and unintentionally, fighters have failed to quickly release submission holds. But officials usually (and appropriately) have a short leash when it comes to heel hooks, which have the potential for serious injury. Unlike superficial wounds, heel hooks can produce serious ligament and tendon damage from the knee area to the ankle. Such injuries usually require significant recovery time and can even cut short fighting careers.
And that brings us back to Isaiah Ordiz.
Isaiah was sparing with Rousimar Palhares when Rousimar caught him in a heel hook, when Isaiah wouldn't tap out, Palhares applied extra pressure and Ordiz attempted a desperate escape he suffered a compound fracture of the femur at the knee cap.
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