Every UFC Neck Crank Finish: "If they tap, it counts"

Back when I was a blue belt, I was at a Royce Gracie seminar and he said "tucking your chin is not a defense to the choke," and that always stuck with me. Sure, in training we tend to abide by the "not being a d*ck" credo, but for those competing or fighting, that has to go out the window. Having done countless back attack rounds EBI style at Renzo's in the city and in Brooklyn, this is the truth. If you think getting crossfaced is miserable, there's a whole lot more to be wary of once your back is taken. That being said, guys will substitute fruitless face crushing for diligent handfighting and also actually hampen their RNC finishing/handfighting/trapping skills from the back as well if they think the mandible crush is the only way to get the finish. The timeline I suggest for anyone I coach is spend the first few years looking to get under the chin and fingers covering the far shoulder et cetera (elbow of the choking hand in line with the opponent's sternum) but if you're going to compete, begin crushing the face as part of your sustained back attack along with handfighting, the body triangle, and back retention skills for when they utilize your digging for the choke or the rolling/flail to escape.