Rafael do Nascimento: The Submission Savant with a Finisher’s Arsenal
Rafael do Nascimento, nicknamed “Mulisha”, returns to the Legacy Fighting Alliance cage on Friday, Feb. 27 at LFA 227.
This Brazilian mixed martial artist competes primarily in the bantamweight/featherweight divisions in promotions and fights out of X-Gym, building a reputation as a finisher, especially on the ground.
Across his professional career, Nascimento has shown a clear preference for ending fights with submissions, accounting for the majority of his wins. His ability to blend grappling with MMA striking and wrestling has made him a threat once the fight hits the mat.
🥋 Submission Wins: Breakdown of His Finishing Moves
Rafael’s record highlights a variety of submission types, ranging from classic chokes to more rare leg entanglements.
1. Rear Naked Choke (RNC)
This is perhaps the most common and effective submission in Nascimento’s arsenal. He has repeatedly secured rear naked chokes to finish fights — often after taking an opponent’s back following a scramble or grappling exchange. His multiple RNC victories demonstrate his proficiency in back control and choke mechanics.
📌 Key strength: Tight control from back mount, s
eamless transition into the finish.
2. Armbar
Nascimento has used the armbar to great effect, showcasing his ability to isolate an opponent’s limb once he secures advantageous position. This submission reflects his technical grappling ability and timing under pressure.
3. Calf Slicer
One of the signature highlights of his career was a calf slicer submission, a relatively rare finish in MMA. This move involves trapping an opponent’s leg and compressing the calf against the shin or knee, forcing a tap due to pain and pressure. Nascimento’s use of this technique shows creativity and versatility in his submission game.
4. Ninja Choke / Other Unique Finishes
More recently, he scored a ninja choke — another less common but highly effective submission — underlining his evolving grappling skillset and readiness to employ varied techniques during a bout.
🧠 What Makes His Submission Game Effective?
Nascimento’s submission game stands out for a few key reasons:
Positional control: Whether he’s scrambling or securing top position, he consistently transitions to dominant spots — like back control or mount — that set up his submissions.
Variety: While rear naked chokes are his bread and butter, he has also shown an appetite for unique submissions (e.g., calf slicers and ninja chokes) that catch opponents off guard.
Aggressive mentality: With a high finish rate, he looks to end fights early rather than rely on judges’ decisions.
🔥 Career Snapshot
Submission wins: Majority of his victories come via submission, including rear naked chokes, armbar, calf slicer, and ninja choke.
Balanced Fighter: Although submissions define his finishing ability, he also possesses striking power (evidenced by his one KO/TKO victory) and cardio for longer fights.
Rafael do Nascimento’s submission skills make him one of the more exciting grappling-centric finishers in regional MMA — blending traditional jiu-jitsu techniques with MMA strategy to keep opponents guessing and fans entertained.
