A truly rare sight unfolded at the PFL Europe 2 event in Brussels, Belgium. On the undercard, Levi Batchelor achieved a submission victory over Fahdi Khaled using the rarely seen Ezekiel choke.
While the Ezekiel choke is common in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu where the gi provides grips, it`s seldom seen in MMA due to the lack of readily available fabric. It`s not completely unknown, notably being a signature finish for heavyweight Aleksei Oleinik, who secured 14 career wins with it. However, its appearance in lower weight classes is even rarer, making Batchelor`s execution all the more remarkable.
Towards the end of their bantamweight contest, Batchelor was in side control and initially threatened an arm-triangle choke. When Khaled defended, Batchelor smoothly transitioned to the Ezekiel choke, locking it in tightly and squeezing. A brief moment of confusion arose as Khaled seemed to be tapping, though he might have been attempting strikes. Batchelor briefly released the hold. Fortunately, the situation quickly resolved without controversy; as Batchelor stood to celebrate, it became clear Khaled had been rendered unconscious.
Percy Harlow