Fast UFC submissions show off amazing grappling skills when fighters spot their chances and use perfect timing to end fights super fast. These moves like armbars, guillotines and heel hooks are different from knockouts because they really show how smart and technical MMA fighting can be. Oleg Taktarov holds the record for the fastest submission in UFC history, defeating Anthony Macias at UFC 6 via guillotine in nine seconds.
Photo Credit: Михаил Скобелев, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Top 5 UFC Fighters with the Fastest Submission
Here are the top 5 fighters with the fastest submission in UFC history, showing how quickly grappling can turn the tide of a fight.
| Rank | Fighter | Opponent | Weight Class | Event | Time | Method |
| 1 | Oleg Taktarov | Anthony Macias | Heavyweight | UFC 6 | 0:09 | Guillotine Choke |
| 2 | Justin Martin | Eric Martin | Light Heavyweight | UFC 12 | 0:14 | Heel Lock |
| 3 | Joe Charles | Kevin Rosier | Heavyweight | UFC 4 | 0:14 | Armbar |
| 4 | Ronda Rousey | Cat Zingano | Women’s Bantamweight | UFC 184 | 0:14 | Armbar |
| 5 | Marcus Aurelio | Ryan Roberts | Lightweight | UFC Fight Night 13 | 0:16 | Armbar |
Oleg Taktarov vs. Anthony Macias (9 seconds)
Event: UFC 6
Date: July 14, 1995
Venue: Casper Events Center, Casper, Wyoming, USA
At UFC 6, Oleg Taktarov made a mark in history by achieving the fastest submission in UFC history. Just moments after the fight started, he went for a takedown and secured a guillotine choke. He made Anthony Macias tap out in just nine seconds, a record that has remained unbroken for almost 30 years.
Justin Martin vs. Eric Martin (14 seconds)
Event: UFC 12
Date: Feb 7, 1997
Venue: Dothan Civic Center, Dothan, Alabama, USA
At UFC 12, Justin Martin made a memorable debut by tapping out Eric Martin with a heel hook in only 14 seconds. He immediately targeted the leg, applied the submission and received the quick tap. This remains one of the quickest heel lock finishes in UFC history.
Joe Charles vs. Kevin Rosier (14 seconds)
Event: UFC 4
Date: Dec 16, 1994
Venue: Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
At UFC 4, Joe Charles had his first fight against kickboxer Kevin Rosier in an alternate match. Charles didn’t hesitate, quickly going for a takedown, bringing the fight to the ground and securing an armbar for the win in only 14 seconds. This was one of the quickest submissions in history and a great example of how effective Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be in mixed martial arts.
Ronda Rousey vs. Cat Zingano (14 seconds)
Event: UFC 184
Date: Feb 28, 2015
Venue: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
At UFC 184, Ronda Rousey defended her bantamweight title in just 14 seconds, the fastest finish in UFC championship history. Cat Zingano literally came out flying with a knee but Rousey countered, flipped her, scrambled and locked in a nasty armbar. Zingano tapped almost instantly proving why Rousey was the queen of quick submissions.
Marcus Aurelio vs. Ryan Roberts (16 seconds)
Event: UFC Fight Night 13
Date: Apr 2, 2008
Venue: Broomfield Event Center, Broomfield, Colorado, USA
During UFC Fight Night 13, Marcus Aurelio quickly took action against Ryan Roberts. He struck with a precise right hand, brought the fight to the ground and secured an impeccable armbar. Roberts tapped out in only 16 seconds making it one of the quickest submissions in contemporary UFC history and showcasing the lethal nature of Aurelio’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
