In a prelim bout that caught everyone off guard at UFC 320, Ramiz Brahimaj pulled off a stunning submission win over Austin Vanderford late Saturday night in Las Vegas. The Albanian-American fighter, entering as a heavy underdog, locked in a guillotine choke in the second round, forcing Vanderford to tap at just 2:47 into the frame. It was a gritty performance from Brahimaj, who weathered some early pressure before turning the tide with a vicious head kick that bloodied his opponent.
Vanderford, the 34-year-old husband of former UFC star Paige VanZant, had been riding high after a impressive short-notice debut back in February, where he TKO'd Nikolay Veretennikov. Many saw him as the next big thing in welterweight, especially with his Bellator title challenge pedigree—13-2 record before this loss. But Brahimaj, now 12-5 overall, exploited Vanderford's aggression on the ground, capitalizing on a scramble to snag the choke. Indeed, the upset echoed Brahimaj's history of defying odds, having notched back-to-back first-round finishes against Mickey Gall and Billy Ray Goff earlier this year.
However, the fight wasn't without its drama. Vanderford dominated the wrestling early, taking Brahimaj down and landing ground-and-pound that had the crowd at T-Mobile Arena buzzing. Yet, as the round wore on, fatigue seemed to set in for the favorite, allowing Brahimaj to reverse positions and set up the finish. Paige VanZant, watching from cageside, no doubt felt the sting—her husband's first UFC defeat comes just months after joining the promotion, potentially stalling his momentum in a stacked division.
Moreover, this result highlights the unpredictability of MMA, where even hyped newcomers like Vanderford can stumble against seasoned grapplers. Brahimaj's win earns him a Performance of the Night bonus, his second in a row, boosting his stock inside the Octagon. For Vanderford, it's back to the drawing board, perhaps rethinking that aggressive style that worked so well outside the UFC.
One can't help but wonder how this setback reshapes the paths of these fighters in the coming months.