Skip to content
MMA glossary

dragon sleeper

A reverse guillotine where one positions themselves above the opponent in a north-south position, passes one leg underneath, closes the body triangle, and the head tilts completely backward, which can be extremely dangerous.

Explained in Jab Life

Tsarukyan and Garry, the Right Challengers for Topuria and Makhachev?
November 24, 2025 · Aldric & Herbi · 32 k views

Tsarukyan and Garry, the Right Challengers for Topuria and Makhachev?

« it is actually an inverted guillotine. You are on top of the guy, he is like in north-south and you pass your leg underneath with the other one, you close the body triangle and actually the head just snaps completely backward. »

Aldric Anarby · at 6:51
Tsarukyan and Garry, the Right Challengers for Topuria and Makhachev?
November 24, 2025 · Aldric & Herbi · 32 k views

Tsarukyan and Garry, the Right Challengers for Topuria and Makhachev?

A choke applied from a north-south position where the practitioner passes one leg under the opponent, closes a body triangle, causing the opponent's head to roll completely backward, which can be extremely dangerous.

« you start from a north-south choke and you pass your leg underneath. It is actually when in his rotations, he ends up in completely wild positions. »

Aldric Anarby · at 4:49

Frequently asked questions

What is a dragon sleeper in MMA?
A dragon sleeper is a choke applied from a north-south position where the practitioner passes one leg under the opponent and closes a body triangle, causing the opponent's head to snap completely backward, which can be extremely dangerous.
How is a dragon sleeper different from a guillotine?
A dragon sleeper is described as an inverted guillotine: instead of being in front of the opponent, the practitioner is on top in a north-south position, passes one leg underneath, closes the body triangle, and the head tilts completely backward.
Each definition is written from what is said in the show indicated, with the exact sentence spoken and its timestamp. No outside source.