Elekana Targets Twister At UFC Vegas 124

Billy Elekana has picked out the submission he wants to land when he faces Lucas Fernando at UFC Vegas 124 on Nov. 7.

The 31-year-old heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight told media this week he is hunting a twister — one of MMA's rarest spinal locks — to extend his current run of tap-out victories to three fights. Elekana said he is building his reputation around ground finishes in the same mold as former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, according to Sherdog.

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Elekana's Ground Game Still New

Elekana said his submission arsenal is a recent development in his career. He only began serious grappling work after turning professional, meaning the techniques remain fresh territory for him. Coaches Ronny Markes and Marcelo Nunez helped construct the foundation he is now relying on for his finish streak.

The twister finish — a side control position that torques the spine — has been landed only a handful of times in UFC history. Elekana enters the Las Vegas card with back-to-back submission wins and sees the rare technique as the next step in his ground evolution.

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Photo by Rushi Shah on Unsplash

Original reporting:

• sherdog.com — Billy Elekana wants to be UFC's next Charles Oliveira, targets twister