Top 5: Fastest UFC Bantamweight Submissions

Pardon Patrick Williams if he shows special affinity for an 18th-century French execution device.

“The Animal” left his imprint on the Ultimate Fighting Championship record book when he choked “The Ultimate Fighter Latin America” Season 1 winner Alejandro Perez unconscious with a first-round guillotine as part of the UFC 188 undercard on June 13, 2015 at Arena Ciudad de Mexico in Mexico City. The lights went out on Perez just 23 seconds into Round 1.

Williams decked the American Kickboxing Academy rep with a right uppercut and an overhand right, then immediately latched onto the guillotine. He adjusted his grip from a standing position and waited for Perez to go limp, leaving his lifeless body slumped against the cage.

More than a decade later, Williams’ finish of Perez still ranks as the fastest submission in the history of the UFC bantamweight division. The best of the rest:

Brett Johns vs. Joe Soto

“The Ultimate Fighter 26” Finale
Dec. 1, 2017 | Las Vegas
Johns put away the former Bellator MMA champion with a calf slicer in the first round of their bantamweight showcase at Park Theater. Soto, who entered the cage on a three-fight winning streak, conceded defeat 30 seconds into Round 1. Johns surrendered a takedown and rolled immediately into a calf slicer. Sensing what was about to transpire, Soto attempted to free himself but soon realized resistance was futile and elected to tap. It remains the only sub-minute finish of Johns’ career.

Said Nurmagomedov vs. Cody Stamann

UFC 270
Jan. 22, 2022 | Anaheim, California
Nurmagomedov dismissed “The Spartan” with a modified guillotine choke in the first round of their bantamweight attraction at the Honda Center. Stamann waved the white flag of surrender 47 seconds into Round 1. Nurmagomedov got the ball rolling with a spinning backfist and a spinning back kick to the body. Stamann closed the distance and shot for a takedown, leaving his neck exposed in the process. Nurmagomedov caught the guillotine choke, then cut off avenues of escape and forced the tapout.

Manny Bermudez vs. Davey Grant

UFC Fight Night 134
July 22, 2018 | Hamburg, Germany
Bermudez put “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 18 finalist to sleep with a triangle choke in the first round of their bantamweight prelim at Barclaycard Arena. Grant lost his grip on reality 59 seconds into Round 1. Bermudez floored the Englishman with a thudding right hand in one of their first exchanges, swooped into position for a mounted armbar and rolled into full guard. The South Shore Sportfighting export chose instead to transition to the triangle. He then tightened his squeeze, as Grant opted to lose consciousness instead of capitulating.

Ian Entwistle vs. Anthony Birchak

UFC on Fox 13
Dec. 13, 2014 | Phoenix
Entwistle spoiled the ex-Maximum Fighting Championship titleholder’s organizational debut with a heel hook in the first round of their bantamweight prelim at U.S. Airways Center. Birchak, who waltzed into the Octagon on the heels of five straight wins, clocked out 1:04 into Round 1. He struck for a quick takedown behind a Superman punch and postured inside Entwistle’s guard, leaving his leg exposed while he dropped heavy blows. Birchak soon crossed the point of no return. Entwistle bit down on the heel hook, maintained his hold on the maneuver through a series of defensive rolls from his adversary and prompted the tapout. Guido Cannetti equaled Entwistle’s feat some eight years later when he turned away Randy Costa with a rear-naked choke 64 seconds into their UFC Fight Night 211 pairing on Oct. 1, 2022.