Hell yeah, even learning a good sprawl would improve my confidence going up against well-rounded guys. Strikers/brawlers are no problem but wrestlers (like HS regional champ level) have always been my poison. Besides, IB's overdue for a trip to Bmore...hopefully my Beaver Bucks at Hustler's Club haven't expired.
I think there is absolutely room to wonder what happened to make him tap quickly without being disrespectful; I don't think that is disrespectful at all in the way you asked it.
Some guys are just harder to choke than others. It might be flexibility or just the way their anatomy fits together - but some sumbitches are just hard to choke out - mostly in regards to the guillotine and triangle choke. The other chokes (rear naked, etc) are usually resist-proof - meaning once they're locked in - it doesn't matter how high your pain threshold is - you're going to sleep.