UFC commentator and BJJ brown belt Laura Sanko has once again showcased her grappling expertise by breaking down the bread cutter submission from mount. Known for her insightful fight analysis and as the first female color commentator in UFC history, Sanko’s instructional video has become a must-watch for grapplers looking to enhance their submission game.
Who is UFC Commentator Laura Sanko?
Laura is the first female color commentator in the modern UFC era, transitioning to the role after a successful career as an MMA fighter. She joined the UFC broadcast team in 2021 and has since been a beloved figure, known for her insightful analysis and engaging personality.
Born on December 7, 1982, in Chicago, Illinois, she began her journey in combat sports inspired by the movie “The Karate Kid.” Laura initially pursued a career in business administration but eventually followed her passion for martial arts.
As a fighter, Laura ‘Fancy’ Sanko competed as an amateur and professional MMA fighter, making her professional debut in 2013 at Invicta FC 4, where she secured a victory via submission. Unfortunately, she did not extend her pro career past her first victory.
What is the Bread Cutter Submission?
In her recent instructional video, Sanko demonstrated the bread cutter submission, a technique that combines elements of the Ezekiel and key lock chokes. She uses the mount position to set it up, delivering a super-effective move without requiring excessive weight shifts which blocks bridge escapes as a threat.
How the Bread Cutter Submission Works
Sanko starts by explaining how she likes to set up the move starting from side control. “I start by isolating the arm and transitioning into the mount,” she said as she began in a knee-on-belly position with a crossface.
Before going to mount Laura makes sure she gets a wrist grip on the far arm side, using the mount transition to pass off the wrist to the arm that’s crossfacing. This creates a very uncomfortable position for the person at the bottom from the start.
All it takes for the submission to work is to thread your now free arm as if you’re looking to finish an Americana lock. Instead of going for a figure four grip, Laura Sanko places her arm across the neck, executing an Ezekiel choke of sorts.
For a finish, Laura goes as deep as possible with the arm across the neck, and then she leans forward as she pulls on the bent arm. The result is a weird combo of an Ezekiel choke and a shoulder lock.
Laura Sanko’s Key Details for Success
One key detail in Sanko’s breakdown was her focus on maintaining control throughout the process. “Make sure your legs are tight,” she emphasizes, explaining how keeping a solid base is essential for maintaining position and finishing the submission.
She also highlighted the importance of making a fist with teh arm that goes across the neck, which significantly increases the pressure applied in the choke.
Despite being a highly effective technique, Sanko pointed out that the bread cutter can be applied without necessarily transitioning into full mount.
“You don’t have to go all the way to mount. If you have enough pressure, you can still execute it while keeping your opponent flat on their back,” she said, demonstrating her ability to adapt the move to various situations.
Check out the full instructional video here:
Know Your Submissions: Bread Cutter vs Paper Cutter
The term “bread cutter’ usually refers to a choke in BJJ, which, I guess, is still applicable in this case. However, given that Laura’s desaturation is of a No-Gi move, I feel we need to make a clear distinction between two similarly named moves.
I am referring, of course, to the so-called ‘bread cutter’ or ‘paper cutter’ choke that’s done with the help of the Gi from side control. The main difference is this utilization of the Gi to trap the arm, as well as the finishing position, which is more of a side control than it is mount. The paper cutter also has no arm-locking effect involved in the execution.
I can also see the similarities, with both chokes working as air chokes, with an arm across the neck that pressures the trachea. Both chokes also feature a trapped arm as a precursor to the choke, although from different positions and using different means.
In order to be able to make a clear distinction between these two, I think that the Laura Sanko move is the ‘bread cutter’, and the good, old Gi version should only be known as the ‘paper cutter’ choke.
We Want More
After seeing this demonstration from UFC commentator Laura Sanko, we definitely want more. It is clear why she won her pro-MMA debut with a submission, as Sanko delivers an innovative and practical move that is perfect for No-Gi BJJ, and probably even MMA, depending on the gloves. Considering the level of detail in her iteration of the move, I know I’d go and grab a multi-part Laura Sanko grappling instructional. Wouldn’t you?
