UFC’s Most Memorable Knockouts: Top 10 Highlight-Reel Finishes

When it comes to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), knockouts that live forever with fans and in athletes’ minds are also a part of its name. A knockout is the most powerful, precise, and skillful execution known to man; it is as pure a form of boxing as there can be. Here, we explore the top 10 jaw-dropping UFC knockouts that are responsible for taking the sport to another stratosphere in a brief moment and solidifying their place in history.

1. Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor (UFC 194)

Conor McGregor vs. Jose Aldo was one of the most anticipated fights in UFC history. The reigning featherweight champion, Aldo, was unbeaten for over a decade. Regarded as the cocky trash-talker with one-punch knockout power, McGregor was the young star out to topple a king.

The whole thing went down in 13 seconds. The timing of the punch was flawless, with McGregor connecting a left hook just a split second after Aldo lunged forward and sending the Brazilian’s body rigid before he collapsed to leave him out cold. The win, with a 13-second finish record in a UFC title fight at the time, guaranteed Conor McGregor later on his superstar status.

It was a finish that not only dethroned one of the greatest fighters to ever step into an MMA cage but also announced McGregor as an international superstar. It displayed his uncanny accuracy and mental strength—qualities that have come to define him.

2. Fight: Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort (UFC 126)

The UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva was widely regarded as an extremely evasive striker and a dominant force within the weight class. Vitor Belfort was an exciting striker in his own right, someone many believed to pose a real threat to Silva’s reign.

Belfort gets a front kick to the face, which was not something that really happened too often in MMA at that point. Belfort fell to the canvas, where Silva blasted away at him with punches for the knockout victory.

One of the all-time best knockouts in UFC history. It showcased Silva’s creative striking and solidified his position as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history.

3. Jorge Masvidal vs. Ben Askren (UFC 239)

There was a whole heap of bad blood going into the UFC 239 fight between Jorge Masvidal and Ben Askren. Ben Askren, the unbeaten wrestler who was sending shockwaves through his early UFC career, vs. Foldover-fast hands with something to prove Jorge Masvidal

Five seconds into the fight, Masvidal ran across the cage and delivered a flying knee that immediately starched Askren. It was later the fastest knockout in UFC history.

Masvidal not only shattered records with that 5-second knockout but also provided a household name for the UFC. The image of Masvidal showing Askren during his unconscious slumber becomes the essence and brutality of mixed martial arts.

4. Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm (UFC 193)

Then-champ Ronda Rousey was the undefeated bantamweight champion and a global superstar. The former boxing champion Holly Holm entered this fight as the underdog.

This kick from Holm to Rousey in the second round of their fight knocked out Rousey cold. The sight of Rousey, who had appeared untouchable up to that point, flat on the mat rocked the world.

Rousey had been rolling through her fights, but this knockout served as a reminder in MMA of how significant striking is. It made Holm’s career and reminded everyone that no matter how great a champion is, they are only as good as their last fight.

5. Fight: Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping (UFC 100)

The feud between Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping had festered for years during their time as rival coaches on The Ultimate Fighter. Bisping needed his trash talk silenced by the heavy right hand of Henderson, and that’s exactly what he got.

In round two, Henderson threw his signature “H-bomb” right hand, which landed flush on Bisping’s chin, knocking him completely unconscious from where he fell to the floor. Next, he delivered an airborne forearm to the slumbering Bisping, which ignited its fair share of controversy and discussion.

This KO would go on to be one of the most replayed moments in UFC history. It reinforced the athleticism of Henderson and featured a lasting reminder of the speed with which MMA knockouts can be well-enched.

6. Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Mirko Cro Cop (UFC 70)

One of the most famous head-kick knockouts came from former K-1 kickboxer Mirko Cro Cop. Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Gabriel Gonzaga was not supposed to stand and trade with Cro Cop.

Putting the world in shock, Gonzaga lands a head kick that puts Cro Cop to sleep. The knockout was even more memorable because of the violent visual of Cro Cop’s left leg flinging beneath him as he crumpled.

It was an upset that magnified the unpredictability of MMA and how every fighter, no matter what their specialties are on paper, enters a match with deathly finishing potential.

7. Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim (UFC 142)

The Brazilian striker Edson Barboza was famous for his dynamite kicks. Terry Etim was a solid challenger who wanted to prove his worth.

In the third, Barboza landed a spinning wheel kick that caught Etim flush on the jaw and left him unconscious. His strike was lightning quick and perfectly threaded, making for one of the instant highlights of the event.

 It is often referred to as one of the best knockouts in UFC history based on how rare it was and for simply being a phenomenal athlete. It was a demonstration both of how the striking game in MMA continues to develop over time and of Barboza’s exceptional abilities.

8. Francis Ngannou vs. Alistair Overeem (UFC 218)

A hot prospect with terrifying knockout power, Francis Ngannou, is meeting veteran Alistair Overeem. Ngannou was looking to prove himself against a contender.

In the first round, Ngannou shot an uppercut, literally taking Overeem off his feet and leaving him motionless when he hit the canvas. The knockout was vicious and memorable.

The finish helped solidify Ngannou as one of the scariest strikers in all of MMA. It showcased the potential to rule an entire division and finish every opponent with a single sweep of his gloves.

9. Yair Rodriguez vs. Chan Sung Jung (UFC)

The Korean Zombie himself and Yair Rodriguez were both furious fighters known for their exciting fighting styles. Their fight was a competitive back-and-forth that went into the final ticks of Round 5.

Rodriguez delivered an upward elbow that dropped Jung flat on his face as one second remained in the bout. A highly unlikely knockout that shocked fans and commentators alike.

It instantly made its place in one of the top comebacks and last-second finishes ever seen inside the UFC. That was Rodriguez, the thinker outside of the box, with an with an implusive  point that did justice to his gift and flummoxed defenses.

10. Lyoto Machida def. Randy Couture (UFC 129)

UFC legend Randy Couture faced karate-based stylist Lyoto Machida. This was Couture’s last fight, as he postponed retirement for one more shot against a top contender.

In the second round of their fight, Machida snapped a front kick to Couture’s countenance that laid The Natural out cold on contact. And it was a Machida from the good old days; his knockout strongly resembled Anderson Silva’s KO of Vitor Belfort: a straight precision punch going down center, waiting economically more than heat.

It was spectacular, and it also signified the end of Couture’s esteemed career. It demonstrated the effectiveness of classic martial arts techniques in modern MMA and Machida’s skill to employ them beautifully.

The UFC never seems to disappoint, giving fans more than their money’s worth at virtually every turn; however, when looking back through the years, some singular moments stick out in everyone’s memories, and that is what we are here to talk about. Every knockout is a narrative of timing, technique, and sometimes just flat-out awesomeness that helps make MMA one of the most unpredictable sports you can lay your eyes on. Their ability to deliver highlight-reel finishes has not only shaped their respective careers but also elevated the UFC into the worldwide behemoth it arguably is today. For fans, they are a reminder of the chaos and thrill that make sport so compelling, guaranteeing people will continue to tune in time after time for knockout action.