There may be nothing in skilled sports activities fairly like a vicious knockout. It is invigorating for some and grotesque for others, nevertheless it at all times elicits a real emotional response. The UFC has fielded no scarcity of reactions in 2023.
4 consecutive UFC pay-per-views have delivered stoppages in the primary occasion. The newest version to that checklist is Sean O’Malley, who punched his ticket to stardom with a surprising second-round TKO towards now-former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling. Max Holloway stored the momentum rolling on the following week’s Battle Night time with a spotlight reel stoppage of “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung.
The roster might want to pull out one thing actually particular in the event that they need to stay as much as CBS Sports activities 2022 KO of the 12 months, Leon Edwards’ surprising head kick upset of Kamaru Usman. If this checklist is any indication, the fighters are definitely up for the problem.
Under is a operating checklist of the very best UFC knockouts in 2023. This web page will probably be repeatedly up to date all year long, so verify again often to see new entries.
Umar Nurmagomedov def. Raoni Barcelos (Jan. 14)
Nurmagomedov penciled an early contender for Knockout of the 12 months on the very first UFC card of 2023. Nurmagomedov, who had by no means scored an instantaneous knockout in 15 skilled fights, flatlined Barcelos with a shot that confused even the Russian. The undefeated fighter whiffed on a step-in knee however caught Barcelos with a brief left hand whereas Nurmagomedov was on one foot. The sneaky blow instantly shut the lights off and earned its many replays.
Dan Ige def. Damon Jackson (Jan. 14)
Ige packs a critical punch and lived as much as his “50K” nickname courtesy of a vicious left hook that earned him a Efficiency of the Night time bonus. Ige caught Jackson coming in and immediately dropped him. No follow-up photographs have been essential as Ige strutted away casually. Jackson didn’t keep away from the punch, however he narrowly averted catastrophe. Jackson crumpled from the autumn along with his heels dealing with out and his knees twisting in. Luckily, he was capable of depart the Octagon with the power of his personal two toes.
Ismael Bonfim def. Terrance McKinney (Jan. 21)
Expectations have been excessive for Bonfim following a profitable run on the “Contender Collection” and the regional circuit. Nonetheless, Bonfim had a harmful foe in Terrance McKinney at UFC 283. The combat was not significantly aggressive. Bonfim acquired the higher of McKinney in Spherical 1 and dusted him off in Spherical 2. Bonfim punched out McKinney’s mouthpiece earlier than launching a double-flying knee that switched off and faceplanted McKinney.
Bruno Ferreira def. Gregory Rodrigues (Jan. 21)
Rodrigues had warmed himself to the UFC fanbase with knockout energy that matched his indomitable spirit. Stoppage victories towards Chidi Njokuani and Julian Marquez made Rodrigues look a giant deal. Ferreira modified all that. Rodrigues left himself open whereas urgent the motion and ate a giant shot from Ferreira at UFC 283 that separated him from consciousness. It was a nasty punch that improved Ferreira to 10-0 and coronated him as a successful UFC fighter.
Johnny Walker def. Paul Craig (Jan. 21)
Nurmagomedov is not the one fighter who scored a giant shot on one foot. One week after Nurmagomedov’s KO of the 12 months contender, Walker provided up a stable end of his personal at UFC 283. Walker threw a kick early that Craig caught. Undeterred, Walker launched a barrage of proper palms and back-fists that dropped Craig by the fence. Walker continued to bombard Craig with punches as Craig held onto Walker’s leg for pricey life. The referee decided his protection was unintelligent and stopped the combat moments later.
Rinya Nakamura def. Toshiomi Kazama (Feb. 4)
Typically talking, somebody hits the canvas when two fighters agree to face within the pocket and commerce. Nakamura was the beneficiary of such an alternate. Nakamura uncorked a nasty left hook 30 seconds into the combat that bounced Kazama’s head towards the canvas. The short KO cemented Nakamura because the bantamweight “Highway to UFC” sequence winner.
Justin Tafa def. Parker Porter (Feb. 11)
Tafa taught Porker a painful lesson about why you do not step into vary together with your palms down. Tafa despatched his fellow Australian residents right into a frenzy when he dropped Porter with a counter proper hook and left uppercut. The shot despatched Porter flying. Tafa evoked his fellow New Zealand-born heavyweight Mark Hunt by strolling off with no follow-up photographs. The complete combat lasted simply 66 seconds.
Philipe Lins def. Ovince Saint Preux (Feb. 18)
It took Lins lower than one minute to ship Saint Preux packing. Lins cracked “OSP” with a giant left straight roughly 20 seconds into the opening body and by no means took his foot off the gasoline. Saint Preux was visibly impacted by that shot and that gave Lins all the arrogance he wanted to pursue the end. Lins chased Saint Preux across the Octagon touchdown looping hooks and uppercuts. It was an particularly lengthy left hand that dropped Saint Preux and a follow-up shot that sealed the deal.Â
Jordan Leavitt def. Victor Martinez (Feb. 25)
Leavitt wanted to make an impression after being submitted by Paddy Pimblett and he did simply that towards Martinez. Leavitt scored simply his second profession knockout, and first through strikes, in spectacular style. Leavitt damage Martinez with a push kick to the physique, secured the clinch and punished him with knees and elbows to the top and physique. Martinez couldn’t stand up to the onslaught and fell towards the fence. Fairly a rebound for Leavitt.
Marc-Andre Barriault def. Julian Marquez (March 4)
Barriault bounced again from a tricky first spherical and made Marquez pay for his early success. Marquez seemed sharper than traditional in Spherical 1, touchdown extra often and with higher accuracy than his Canadian foe. His efforts didn’t persist by way of two rounds, nevertheless. Marquez was visibly fatigued in Spherical 2 and Barriault — dwelling as much as his “Powerbar’ nickname — maintained regular output. Barriault backed Marquez to the fence and unleashed a staggering variety of strikes. Referee Mark Smith was content material to let Marquez take up blow after blow regardless of Marquez dropping his mouthpiece, repeatedly shelling up and turning away. The entire strike rely in Spherical 2 was 95 to 35 in Barriault’s favor earlier than the combat was mercifully waved off.
Ian Garry def. Music Kenan (March 4)
Garry is the products. The Irish fighter bounced again after being knocked down within the opening spherical and took the combat to his opponent. Garry seemed so slick within the closing alternate, backing up Music to the fence and cracking him with a step-in knee. Garry adopted up with two exhausting photographs to the physique, leaned again to dodge the counter strike and blitzed his foe for the late third-round end. Garry improved to 11-0 and Music left with all types of abrasions, bruises and swelling.
Dricuss du Plessis def. Derek Brunson (March 4)
Brunson rolled again his deliberate retirement and it ended very poorly for the perennial contender. Brunson fought fairly effectively in Spherical 1 towards a bodily imposing opponent 10 years his junior. Sadly for Brunson, he couldn’t maintain the output and began to climate in Spherical 2. Du Plessis poured on the offense for a lot of the spherical earlier than dropping Brunson within the last 30 seconds. Du Plessis went to work with the bottom and pound. Brunson’s nook ought to be applauded for dropping out, however the harm was already performed. It marked the second time in 2023 {that a} combat on this checklist ended on the 4:59 mark of a spherical.
Kevin Holland def. Santiago Ponzinibbio (April 8)
Standing and buying and selling with Holland is unhealthy to your well being. Holland scored the second newest stoppage of his UFC tenure with a third-round KO of Ponzinibbio at UFC 287. Holland was usually the higher of the 2 fighters, as evidenced by Holland’s capacity to knock down Ponzinibbio on one foot within the opening spherical. Holland landed a protracted left hook within the combat’s last body that faceplanted Ponzinibbio. One follow-up shot was all of the referee wanted to wave it off.
Rob Font def. Adrian Yanez (April 8)
Font vs. Yanez was enjoyable for so long as it lasted. Two of the UFC’s sharpest boxers went tit-for-tat at UFC 287. Font was in want of a bounce-back win whereas Yanez was spotlighted as the following massive factor at bantamweight. Each fighters acquired their licks in, nevertheless it was Font’s superior combos and head motion that sealed the deal. Font wobbled Yanez with a number of combos and despatched him flying with a monstrous proper hand. The complete combat lasted lower than three minutes.
Israel Adesanya def. Alex Pereira (April 8)
It took Adesanya 4 makes an attempt over two totally different sports activities, however he lastly conquered the nightmare that haunted his in any other case chic fight sports activities profession. Adsanya reclaimed his UFC middleweight championship with an exhilarating second-round knockout of Alex Pereira in the primary occasion of UFC 287. Adesanya led Pereira towards the fence and landed a pair of proper palms and a left that dropped the defending champion. A follow-up shot on the bottom cleansed Adesanya of his Pereira plague.
Brandon Royval def. Matheus Nicolau (April 15)
Royval poured all his fight-week frustrations into an epic stoppage of Nicolau. This flyweight combat featured two of the highest contenders within the division, but was buried within the prelims. Royval, who entered the competition with Battle of the Night time honors in 50% of his UFC fights, was miffed by his card placement. Royval advised CBS Sports activities that he had “mastered chaos” heading into UFC Battle Night time headlined by Max Holloway vs. Arnold Allen in Kansas Metropolis. Royval surprised Nicolau with a artistic, surprising knee and punch mixture. He jumped on his wounded prey, pummeling Nicolau with ground-and-pound for the first-round stoppage.
Edson Barboza def. Billy Quarantillo (April 15)
Barboza nonetheless has it. Eleven years after scoring one of the crucial iconic KOs in UFC historical past, a spinning wheel kick KO of Terry Etim, Barboza continues to separate foes from consciousness. Quarantillo made a concentrated effort to crowd Barboza to neutralize his notoriously harmful strikes. Quarantillo returned to the effectively one too many instances and Barboza capitalized with an emphatic counter knee that immediately dropped Quarantillo. Barboza turned again the clock, maintained his spot within the featherweight pecking order and silenced those that stated he was too lengthy within the tooth.
Yan Xiaonan def. Jessica Andrade (Might 6)
Xiaonan punched her ticket to title rivalry at UFC 288 by dusting off a former strawweight champion briefly order. Andrade executed the worst sport plan attainable, recklessly coming into vary together with her opponent. Xioanan uncorked a giant punch that dropped Andrade for a KO win lower than midway into the primary spherical.
Matt Brown def. Court docket McGee (Might 13)
There will not be a fighter that embodies their nickname extra authentically than “The Immortal” Matt Brown. The 42-year-old entered his forty third skilled combat towards McGee in Charlotte. Brown was falling behind within the opening spherical however modified his fortunes with one good punch. Brown slipped off the middle line, dodging McGee’s punch and delivering a one-hitter quitter.
Ian Machado Garry def. Daniel Rodriguez (Might 13)
Welcome again to the checklist, Garry. The burgeoning Irish fighter handed his hardest take a look at with flying colours, ending an ultra-tough Daniel Rodriguez in lower than three minutes. A head kick arrange the fight-ending sequence. Garry improved to 12-0 with the win and made his first look within the UFC’s official welterweight rankings at No. 13.
Carlos Diego Ferreira def. Michael Johnson (Might 20)
Ferreira turned Johnson stiff as a board early into the second spherical of their fundamental card collision. Ferreira landed a looping overhand proper that caught Johnson sq. on the chin. The shot was scary. Johnson was visibly unconscious earlier than he hit the mat and took a while to get up.
Joaquin Buckley def. Andre Fialho (Might 20)
Buckley retains piling on the stoppages. It does not maintain a candle to his 2020 Knockout of the 12 months towards Impa Kasanganay, however Buckley’s head kick KO of Fialho was fairly. Buckley kicked up his left leg and caught Fialho clear. Buckley casually strolled up and cracked Fialho with an pointless hammer fist to punctuate the combat.
Jim Miller def. Jesse Butler (June 3)
Miller’s record-setting twenty fifth UFC win was additionally the quickest of his exceptional 54-fight profession. Butler, a short-notice alternative, was severely outgunned at UFC Battle Night time in Vegas. Miller uncorked a hellacious punch that knocked out Butler in 23 seconds flat. Miller prolonged numerous UFC data he already held, together with: most UFC wins (25), most UFC fights (42) and most UFC light-weight finishes (15).
Manuel Torres def. Nikolas Motta (June 17)
There are few issues in fight sports activities that may match the brutality of a perfectly-landed elbow. “Contender Collection” alum Torres prolonged his first-round successful streak to 5 straight with a crushing step in elbow towards Motta. The end got here in beneath two minutes and cemented Torres as a rising prospect within the light-weight division.
Robbie Lawler def. Niko Value (July 8)
What a solution to exit. Lawler was in pursuit of his thirtieth profession win when he was paired with Niko Value in Lawler’s retirement match throughout UFC Worldwide Battle Week. It was definitely a winnable matchup however some have been involved with how effectively a war-weathered Lawler might endure. Properly, the previous UFC welterweight champion turned again the clock and tied a bow on his legendary profession with one final highlight-reel KO.
Roman Kopylov def. Claudio Ribeiro (July 29)
Kopylov had a rocky begin to his UFC run however has steadied the ship in scary methods. Kopylov completed Ribeiro with a vicious head kick that was as audibly horrifying because it was visually horrifying. It was Kopylov’s third straight stoppage win and he known as out the UFC’s No. 5 ranked middleweight Sean Strickland afterwards.
Derrick Lewis def. Marcos Rogerio de Lima (July 29)
Lewis will need to have sensed that Jorge Masvidal was within the constructing as a result of “The Black Beast” delivered a operating flying swap knee to kick off his combat at UFC 291. It was arguably extra spectacular contemplating the sheer mass of Lewis, however much less memorable as a result of it did not end result within the one-shot KO that Masvidal famously delivered to Ben Askren. Nonetheless, it solely took Lewis 30 seconds or so to place the ending touches on a monstrous victory.
Justin Gaethje def. Dustin Poirier (July 29)
Gaethje earned his standing because the BMF of UFC with a thunderous head-kick KO of Poirier at UFC 291. Gaethje gained the ceremonial belt, made a robust case to problem for the UFC light-weight title and avenged his 2018 loss to Poirier in a single fell swoop. It was an eerie second contemplating that Leon Edwards delivered a one-shot head-kick to Gaethje’s teammate Kamaru Usman within the earlier fundamental occasion in Salt Lake Metropolis.
Sean O’Malley def. Aljamain Sterling (Aug. 19)
Welcome to superstardom, “Suga” Sean. O’Malley silenced those that felt his reputation had contributed to an unearned bantamweight title shot at UFC 292. O’Malley expertly used his motion to negate Sterling’s suffocating grappling. O’Malley remained poised, noticed his opening and floored Sterling with a lightning-fast proper hook. Some pinpoint correct ground-and-pound busted up Sterling and compelled the referee to intervene.
Max Holloway def. “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (Aug. 26)
Singapore hosted the ultimate resting place of “Korean Zombie.” Former UFC featherweight champion Holloway despatched fellow veteran Jung into retirement with an exhilarating faceplant KO of their fundamental occasion tilt. It was a enjoyable match punctuated with a trademark “Zombie” slugfest. Listening to the Singapore crowd sing Jung out of the cage was a touching second and one among MMA’s finest retirements end result be damned.