MMA fights are widely considered among the most dangerous forms of combat, blending various fighting styles such as BJJ and Kickboxing. The sport flourished with the UFC, at least the promotion commercialized the competitive version of it over three decades ago and it has since spread to corners across Europe, Russia, and Asia, spawning major companies. Fight clips often go viral on the internet as fighters compete for the spotlight.

Recently, a video from Thailand’s premier MMA promotion, ONE Championship, featuring a gruesome guillotine choke, gained significant attention. It was uploaded on Twitter/X by an MMA-oriented page, @FightHeaven, with the caption, “Fighter gets his Neck Snapped for not letting go of the guillotine in ONE…” In the video, two dominant Thai male MMA fighters are shown, with one applying a guillotine choke on the other.

However, the fighter applying the choke refused to release it, prompting the opponent to execute a throw resembling how a crocodile handles its prey. Towards the end, when the fighter finally releases the guillotine, the other attempts to kick him on the head, but the referee intervenes. This intervention is rare in MMA because referees typically do not wait to allow situations to escalate out of their control, as shown in the video.

This MMA video clip caught the attention of fans, who reacted to the footage similarly to how they responded to other recent viral fight videos, raising concerns about the legality of the move and the potential injuries that could halt a fighter’s career.

Fans reacted to the viral MMA clip

While watching this gruesome attempt to escape the guillotine, MMA fans expressed concern for the fighter’s health. One commented, “Hopefully he lived, for sure going to need a neural link.” implying that he might have broken his spine need a neuro link chip from Elon Musk, Another remarked, “Damn that’s some serious neck injury, hope he is alright.”

In a lighter tone, an MMA fan humorously criticized the referee for intervening late, noting how the referee accidentally hit the downed fighter with his leg while stepping in. One fan quipped, “The ref had to finish it off with a flying knee.”

These comments didn’t stop there. One fan took a jab at the fighter, and said, “died, but he’s fine.” Another fan, unhappy with such moves, called the fight “Horrible fight.” Another viewer, feeling the pain of the athlete, commented, “That sh*t hurt,” Finally, a sensible fan raised a question directed at the fight organization ONE Championship, asking about their rules: “What kind of rules in a pro bout would allow head kicks while grounded? WTF is that?”

This is the first time such a clip has emerged from ONE Championship. In the past, the MMA promotion has been cherished for showcasing only the positive aspects of their events to their audience. What are your thoughts on this incident where a downed opponent was kicked in the head? Do you think it will impact the promotion’s popularity among fans? Let us know In the comments.