Brito Submits Leavitt With Rare Ninja Choke at UFC Vegas 118

A seldom-seen first-round choke that raises Brito’s profile sparked wide attention after his provocative in-cage celebration.

Overview

Joanderson Brito defeated Jordan Leavitt by submission with a ninja choke at 4:19 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night 278 in Las Vegas on Saturday, June 6.
The finish came when Leavitt reached for a takedown and left his neck exposed, allowing Brito to lock a front-style choke that forced a tap 41 seconds before the round ended.
Brito entered the bout with a 19-5-1 record and a 7-3 UFC mark while Leavitt was listed 13-4 overall and 6-4 in the promotion, and some outlets noted Leavitt was the betting underdog.
After the tap Brito removed his shorts and lay in the cage wearing compression shorts and a protective jock, a celebration that generated viral video and comparisons to other striking fighters’ post-fight theatrics.
Coverage calls the rare submission a likely career-defining win for Brito and a moment to watch as he seeks higher-profile matchups inside the UFC’s featherweight ranks.