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Submission Underground 2 (SUG 2): Miesha Tate vs. Jessica Eye Breakdown
Submission Underground 2 (SUG 2): Miesha Tate vs. Jessica Eye Breakdown
Miesha Tate and Jessica Eye face off in the co-main event at Submission Underground 2 (SUG 2). Learn more about the matchup here.
On Dec. 11, Chael Sonnen and FloSoprts are set to host their second event, Submission Underground 2, streaming live on FloGrappling.
In the co-main event, former UFC women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate takes on current UFC bantamweight fighter Jessica Eye. Submission Underground hosts grappling matches in an MMA cage using a modified set of the Eddie Bravo Invitational Rules. The rule set, in which a grappler can only win by submission during the regulation time period, has resulted in excited grappling matches and is the most used rule set in the submission-only grappling movement.
Eye is currently coming off a four-fight losing streak in MMA and announced in September she was taking a year off from MMA competition. This match seems to signal a dedication to expanding her grappling skill. Eye has always been a powerful athlete and a physical grappler. In the UFC, Eye has largely been a counter grappler, using her wrestling and grappling to get back to her feet and set up her punching, which has been her primary source of offense in MMA. When Eye does grapple, it is normally against the cage, where she is a savvy grip fighter. She bullies opponents with underhooks, and when she can't find those, she digs hard overhooks, using effective hand fighting to maneuver opponents around on the cage. Often Eye is looking to set up a front head lock when she wrestles in space, and it seems guillotine chains are her primary goal in submission offense.
Tate's grappling is also based in wrestling, which she has practiced since high school. In addition to her wrestling background, Tate also has had a great deal more submission grappling experience. She has participated in several no-gi grappling events, including a second-place finish at FILA's short-lived attempt to host a Grappling World Championships.
Tate's grappling is very much a submission wrestling game, based around shooting takedowns to get top position, be it a ride or passing the guard. Tate prefers to shoot in opponents to set up trip takedowns rather than full, lifting double-leg finishes. Once on the mat, Tate has a fairly diverse game. She passes guard well and will set up attacks on the arms from side control and mount. She also has excellent back takes and will often look to take the back in scrambles to set up a rear-naked choke finish.
Eye and Tate fought in the UFC in July 2015, and it does provide interesting reference point on their current matchup. Eye did well in wrestling exchanges against the cage and was able to fight off Tate's takedowns from there. However, when wrestling in space, Tate was able to get Eye down on a few occasions. At other times, they hit the mat due to strikes Tate had landed. Once there, Tate was able to control and pass Eye's guard. Eye's bottom game was reduced to ineffectual attempts to submit Tate from the bottom of side control, not a game with a high probability of success against high-level opponents.
Short of a huge jump in Eye's grappling game or her catching a perfect submission, Eye's best path to victory is likely to force overtime and attempt to either get a submission or win on escape time. Tate is the more experienced and skilled competitor, but she must wear down the strength and iron will of Eye in order to find a submission.
By TP Grant
ON TV: Now available on Roku and Apple TV 4
STREAMING: Available only on FloGrappling.com. Sign up today for $20 monthly or $150 yearly. Yearly FloPRO access gets you premium content and events from ALL FloSports sites, including FloCombat, FloWrestling, and FloBoxing.
In the co-main event, former UFC women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate takes on current UFC bantamweight fighter Jessica Eye. Submission Underground hosts grappling matches in an MMA cage using a modified set of the Eddie Bravo Invitational Rules. The rule set, in which a grappler can only win by submission during the regulation time period, has resulted in excited grappling matches and is the most used rule set in the submission-only grappling movement.
Eye is currently coming off a four-fight losing streak in MMA and announced in September she was taking a year off from MMA competition. This match seems to signal a dedication to expanding her grappling skill. Eye has always been a powerful athlete and a physical grappler. In the UFC, Eye has largely been a counter grappler, using her wrestling and grappling to get back to her feet and set up her punching, which has been her primary source of offense in MMA. When Eye does grapple, it is normally against the cage, where she is a savvy grip fighter. She bullies opponents with underhooks, and when she can't find those, she digs hard overhooks, using effective hand fighting to maneuver opponents around on the cage. Often Eye is looking to set up a front head lock when she wrestles in space, and it seems guillotine chains are her primary goal in submission offense.
Tate's grappling is also based in wrestling, which she has practiced since high school. In addition to her wrestling background, Tate also has had a great deal more submission grappling experience. She has participated in several no-gi grappling events, including a second-place finish at FILA's short-lived attempt to host a Grappling World Championships.
Tate's grappling is very much a submission wrestling game, based around shooting takedowns to get top position, be it a ride or passing the guard. Tate prefers to shoot in opponents to set up trip takedowns rather than full, lifting double-leg finishes. Once on the mat, Tate has a fairly diverse game. She passes guard well and will set up attacks on the arms from side control and mount. She also has excellent back takes and will often look to take the back in scrambles to set up a rear-naked choke finish.
Eye and Tate fought in the UFC in July 2015, and it does provide interesting reference point on their current matchup. Eye did well in wrestling exchanges against the cage and was able to fight off Tate's takedowns from there. However, when wrestling in space, Tate was able to get Eye down on a few occasions. At other times, they hit the mat due to strikes Tate had landed. Once there, Tate was able to control and pass Eye's guard. Eye's bottom game was reduced to ineffectual attempts to submit Tate from the bottom of side control, not a game with a high probability of success against high-level opponents.
Short of a huge jump in Eye's grappling game or her catching a perfect submission, Eye's best path to victory is likely to force overtime and attempt to either get a submission or win on escape time. Tate is the more experienced and skilled competitor, but she must wear down the strength and iron will of Eye in order to find a submission.
Prediction: Miesha Tate wins by Submission
By TP Grant
How to Watch Submission Underground 2
ON TV: Now available on Roku and Apple TV 4
STREAMING: Available only on FloGrappling.com. Sign up today for $20 monthly or $150 yearly. Yearly FloPRO access gets you premium content and events from ALL FloSports sites, including FloCombat, FloWrestling, and FloBoxing.