MMA fighter earns rare submission by using wrestling's Boston Crab

Pro wrestling may not be a “real” sport, but there is nothing fake about some of the moves as they certainly do hurt. For proof, look no further than MMA fighter Jonno Mears, who applied a pro-wrestling style submission to earn a victory at Full Contact Contender 19 in Bolton, England.

Mears channelled the spirt of pro wrestlers Rick Martel and Chris Jericho by using a Boston Crab to finish Aaron Jones in the first round of their fight over the weekend.

For the uninitiated, the Boston Crab is a move where a fighter has his opponent laying on his stomach and pulls their legs backward toward their head.

If it sounds painful … it is.

After working to Jones’ back, Mears soon found himself on top while Jones was flat on his stomach. Jones used a couple of punches to keep his opponent from moving and immediately snatched up both legs. With Jones trapped, Mears sank in the submission as his opponent winced in pain. To add insult to injury, Mears stuck his tongue out and gave a thumbs up before Mears finally tapped out to the pro wrestling hold that has seldom — if ever — been used in an MMA fight.

Social media exploded once the finish went viral and even WWE Superstar Chris Jericho tweeted his approval of the finish that mirrors his “Walls of Jericho.”

Mears, who is from Rochdale, England, improved to 2-0 in his young MMA career with the finish. If the UFC doesn’t come calling, perhaps the WWE will find a place for the welterweight.