Top 10 Greatest UFC Knockouts
#10: Rashad Evans vs. Chuck Liddell
UFC 88 After winning 6 of his last 7 fights, light heavyweight Rashad Evans was ready to take on his greatest challenge yet in the form of legend and former champion Chuck Liddell. It was the perfect opportunity to catapult himself into title contention, and “Suga” made the most of it. During an exchange in the second round, Evans threw an overhead right and it connected perfectly on Liddell’s chin. Everyone, including Evans, was in shock. The performance proved he was the real deal and more than just a wrestler, subsequently earning a title shot and eventually claiming UFC gold against Forrest Griffin.
#9: Holly Holm vs. Ronda Rousey
UFC 193 Several iconic head kick knockouts have been dubbed “the kick heard around the world”. This one earns that name with good reason. For UFC 193, the general public expected that bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey would steamroll through her opponent, Holly Holm. Instead, Holm shocked the world, stunning Rousey with a punch, followed by a head kick that knocked her out cold in the second round. With this highlight reel knockout, Holm pulled off one of the greatest upsets in MMA history to capture UFC gold.
#8: Lyoto Machida vs. Vitor Belfort
UFC 224 “The Dragon” has a collection of incredible knockouts, but this one might take the cake. Facing Vitor Belfort at UFC 224, Machida hit him with a quick and lethal front kick in the second round. Belfort instantly hit the ground and was out before he even knew what hit him. You know a knockout is so devastating when the person who hit it bows down and prays in front of the person who received it. But let’s not forget, this wasn’t the first time he pulled off a front kick knockout.
#7: Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Mirko Cro Cop
UFC 70 Heavyweight Mirko Cro Cop was famous for his kicks, so much so that a phrase, “Right kick hospital, left kick cemetery”, was coined to describe his style. Unfortunately, he was on the receiving end of a devastating kick from his opponent, Gabriel Gonzaga, at UFC 70. In the very first round, Gonzaga hit Cro Cop with a head kick, and he hit the floor like a rag doll. While it was already determined that the winner would face then heavyweight champion Randy Couture, Gonzaga couldn’t have done a better job showing why he deserved a title shot.
#6: Joaquin Buckley vs. Impa Kasanganay
UFC Fight Night 179 At this UFC Fight Night, Joaquin Buckley pulled off something straight out of an action movie and caught a kick from Impa Kasangany, only to return the favor in the craziest way possible. The back kick broke the internet, and Buckley put himself on notice, cementing himself as one of the UFC’s most exciting new prospects. To no one’s surprise, it earned him an accolade for the UFC’s Knockout of the year. We’d be hard pressed to see a knockout as wonderfully executed as this in the next few years.
#5: Conor McGregor vs. José Aldo
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UFC 194 Arguably one of the biggest and most highly promoted bouts in UFC history, Irish superstar Conor McGregor was ready to take on José Aldo to become the undisputed UFC featherweight champion of the world. Despite months of buildup and anticipation, it didn’t take McGregor too long to dismantle the Brazilian. In just 13 seconds, McGregor knocked out Aldo by way of a vicious left hook that hit him right on the chin. It was the fastest knockout in a UFC title fight, and it further cemented McGregor’s claim as one of if not the biggest star on the UFC roster.
#4: Francis Ngannou vs. Alistair Overeem
UFC 218 No one expected this bout to go the distance, and rightfully so. At UFC 218, Francis Ngannou cemented his place as one of the UFC’s greatest knockout artists by landing this devastating uppercut on Alistair Overeem. The latter’s head practically bounced, and as he fell to the ground Ngannou landed another vicious shot for good measure. While Overeem later described the knockout as “the uppercut from hell”, it’s been widely credited as what catapulted Ngannou into superstardom and made him one of the UFC’s most popular fighters.
#3: Jorge Masvidal vs. Ben Askren
UFC 239 The fastest knockout in UFC history, Jorge Masvidal demolished Ben Askren with this flying knee. Askren wanted to go for the takedown immediately and paid for it dearly. The subsequent celebrations by Masvidal were also noteworthy but there was a reason behind it all. Askren had a fair bit to say about Masvidal prior to the fight, so the lesson here everyone can take away is this: tread lightly if you trash talk Jorge Masvidal. Things might not go your way.
#2: Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim
UFC 142 Now this one looks like it came straight out of a video game. At UFC 142, Edson Barboza had kicked the living daylights out of Terry Etim. He was unconscious before he even hit the floor, and Barboza didn’t even bother to pursue him to land additional strikes. Landing the first ever spinning wheel kick knockout, Barboza had officially arrived in the UFC and staked his claim as a contender in the lightweight division. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Chuck Liddell vs. Randy Couture UFC 52 Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort UFC 126 Kevin Lee vs. Gregor Gillespie UFC 244 Rich Franklin vs. Nate Quarry UFC 56 Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal UFC 261
#1: Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping
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UFC 100 In the 2nd round of this fight, Dan Henderson landed an incredibly well timed overhand on Michael Bisping’s chin. Bisping frequently taunted Henderson prior to their fight, most notably during their stint as coaches on ”The Ultimate Fighter”, so one can’t help think there was some motivation and pent up aggression was put into that shot. Henderson’s signature punch, often labeled as the “H bomb”, was so hard Bisping couldn’t even remember being hit. With precision, timing, speed and power, Henderson was able to land the ultimate shot on his rival.
