Guillotine choke

The guillotine choke traps an opponent's head and, in most MMA finishes, one arm, under the attacker's armpit while the forearm presses across the throat, cutting blood flow through the carotid arteries until the trapped fighter taps or fades. It's named for its resemblance to the historical execution device, head caught, pressure applied from underneath. The choke is particularly effective against takedown attempts, since a wrestler shooting for a double or single leg naturally drops their head and one arm directly into the position, which is exactly why it's one of the most commonly attempted submissions in the sport despite also being one of the hardest to actually finish against a trained opponent who knows how to defend it. It can be applied standing, from guard, or scrambling on the ground, making it one of grappling's genuinely universal techniques. Technique breakdown at Evolve MMA.