Ramiz Brahimaj Puts Billy Ray Goff to Sleep with Brutal Standing Guillotine at UFC Vegas 107

In the world of MMA, there are submissions, and then there are statements. What Ramiz Brahimaj delivered at UFC Vegas 107 this weekend definitely falls into the latter category.

If you missed it (and judging by the viral clips flooding social media, it’s hard to believe you did), Brahimaj locked in one of the most vicious standing guillotine chokes we’ve seen in recent UFC history, literally putting Billy Ray Goff to sleep before he could even contemplate tapping out.

The Nasty Guillotine That Has Everyone Talking

I’ve watched a lot of submissions over the years, but this one made me wince. Brahimaj snatched Goff’s neck with the precision of a seasoned predator, applying that special kind of pressure that doesn’t just make you tap—it shuts your lights off.

The sequence happened so quickly that many fans at first didn’t realize Goff was unconscious. As Brahimaj applied the standing guillotine, Goff’s body went limp within seconds, his arms dangling helplessly at his sides before the referee jumped in to stop the action.

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A Career-Defining Moment for Brahimaj

This wasn’t just a win for Brahimaj—it was the kind of highlight that fighters dream about their entire careers. The kind that makes matchmakers take notice and fans remember your name.

For the Albanian-American fighter, this victory couldn’t have come at a better time. He entered the octagon with something to prove, and prove it he did, in spectacular fashion.

“I felt him going out,” Brahimaj told reporters afterward. “When you get that guillotine just right, there’s a certain feeling… his resistance just disappeared.”

Technical Breakdown: What Made This Guillotine So Effective?

What separated this guillotine from your average submission was Brahimaj’s flawless technique. He secured what grappling enthusiasts call the “high-elbow guillotine”—a variation that creates a much tighter blood choke than the standard guillotine.

The fact that he executed it standing made it even more impressive. Standing guillotines typically allow the opponent more mobility to escape, but Brahimaj’s grip was so secure and his positioning so perfect that Goff literally had nowhere to go except dreamland.

What’s Next for Ramiz Brahimaj?

With this highlight-reel finish, Brahimaj has positioned himself for bigger opportunities. You don’t put opponents to sleep in such dramatic fashion without climbing a few rungs on the UFC ladder.

While he hasn’t cracked the welterweight rankings yet, performances like this one have a way of fast-tracking a fighter’s progression. Don’t be surprised if his next bout comes against someone with a number beside their name.

Billy Ray Goff: A Tough Night at the Office

For Goff, this is obviously a setback, but one that many fighters have bounced back from. Going to sleep in the UFC isn’t the end of the world—it’s just a particularly public way to learn a lesson about defending guillotines.

The good news is that he appeared to recover quickly after the stoppage and was able to leave the octagon under his own power.

The Submission That’s Breaking Social Media

Within minutes of the finish, clips of the submission were trending across Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit. The UFC’s own social accounts labeled it an early “Submission of the Year” contender, and it’s hard to argue with that assessment.

You know you’ve done something special when even hardened MMA journalists are using words like “nasty,” “brutal,” and “vicious” to describe your handiwork.

Final Thoughts: A Submission for the Highlight Reels

I’ve seen thousands of fights over the years, but submissions like this one don’t come along every day. What Brahimaj pulled off was equal parts technical brilliance and raw, primal savagery—a combination that perfectly encapsulates why we love this sport.

For fans of grappling, this was a masterclass. For casual viewers, it was a jaw-dropping moment that reminds us why MMA is unlike any other sport in the world.

Did you catch the submission live? What did you think of Brahimaj’s performance? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and let’s see if this standing guillotine holds up as the Submission of the Year when December rolls around.