In a bout that had fans on the edge of their seats at UFC 320, Ramiz Brahimaj pulled off a stunning victory over Austin Vanderford late Saturday night. The welterweight clash, part of the prelims in Las Vegas, ended with Brahimaj locking in a guillotine choke in the second round, forcing Vanderford to tap at just 1:42 into the frame. It was a gritty performance from the Albanian-American fighter, who entered as a heavy underdog with odds stacked against him at around +300.
Vanderford, making his second appearance in the Octagon after a promising debut win back in February, looked sharp early on. The 35-year-old, known for his wrestling prowess from his Bellator days, controlled the action on the ground in the first round. But Brahimaj weathered the storm, and then it happened—a vicious head kick from Brahimaj bloodied Vanderford badly, opening the door for the submission finish. This marks Brahimaj's second straight Performance of the Night bonus, following quick finishes against Mickey Gall and Billy Ray Goff.
Indeed, the loss hits close to home for Vanderford's wife, former UFC strawweight Paige VanZant, who was cageside supporting her husband of seven years. VanZant, now 31 and branching into other ventures like boxing and modeling, has been vocal about her pride in Vanderford's transition from Bellator title challenger to UFC contender. However, this setback drops Vanderford to 13-3 overall, raising questions about his immediate path forward in a stacked division.
Brahimaj, now 12-5, improves to 4-3 in the UFC and solidifies his reputation as a finisher with a 100% stoppage rate in victories. The fight wasn't without controversy; some observers noted Vanderford's visible fatigue after the head kick, but replays showed clean technique from Brahimaj throughout. Moreover, UFC 320's main card delivered fireworks too, but this prelim upset stole much of the post-fight buzz.
As the dust settles on another unpredictable night in MMA, one can't help but wonder how this defeat reshapes Vanderford's career trajectory in the unforgiving welterweight landscape.