Best Knockouts in UFC History: The 12 Greatest Finishes Ranked

UFC Fight Night on Fight Island, Abu Dhabi, October 10, 2020. Round 2, 2:03. KO (spinning back kick). Kasanganay caught Buckley's kick and held the leg, which is usually the end of the exchange. Buckley jumped off his planted foot, spun and landed a back kick with the other leg while Kasanganay was still holding the first one.

The UFC's own account called it "THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE KO IN UFC HISTORY," and CBS Sports called it an all-time great knockout the same night. It was a Performance of the Night on a prelim card in an empty arena during the pandemic, and it has been on every highlight reel since.

UFC Fight Night in Denver, November 10, 2018. Round 5, 4:59. KO (elbow). Rodriguez was losing the fight with one second left. He ducked a punch, threw a blind upward elbow from a crouch, and the Korean Zombie fell face-first at the buzzer.

It won both Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night, and it is the latest finish in UFC history, tied only by the next entry on this list. Nobody has ever won a fight they were losing in a more ridiculous way.

UFC 300, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, April 13, 2024. Round 5, 4:59. KO (punch). Holloway was winning the BMF title fight comfortably, and with 10 seconds left he pointed to the center of the cage and invited Gaethje to swing. Gaethje did, and Holloway put him out cold with one second on the clock.

It earned $300,000 for Performance of the Night and $300,000 for Fight of the Night, the biggest bonus checks the UFC has ever paid. The knockout itself was clean. The decision to ask for it is why it is on the list.

UFC 239, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, July 6, 2019. Round 1, 0:05. KO (flying knee). The fastest knockout in UFC history. Askren, a wrestler, ducked for a takedown at the opening bell. Masvidal had already sprinted across the cage and met his chin with a knee.

Masvidal got a Performance of the Night and a career. The BMF title, the Nate Diaz fight and his best paydays all followed from five seconds of work.

UFC 129, Rogers Centre, Toronto, April 30, 2011. Round 2, 1:05. KO (front kick). In front of 55,724 fans, Machida jumped, switched feet in the air and landed a crane kick on Couture's jaw. Couture retired in the cage afterward.

The kick came three months after Silva's front kick on Belfort, and Machida's version was the flashier one. It won Knockout of the Night, and the bonus was $129,000 in honor of the event number.

UFC 142, HSBC Arena, Rio de Janeiro, January 14, 2012. Round 3, 2:02. KO (spinning wheel kick). Barboza's heel landed flush on Etim's temple, and Etim went stiff before he hit the mat.

It took both Knockout of the Night and Fight of the Night, and the UFC's official 25th anniversary list ranked it the fifth-best knockout in company history. Fourteen years later it is still the cleanest spinning kick finish the promotion has produced.

UFC 70, Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester, April 21, 2007. Round 1, 4:51. KO (head kick). Cro Cop's right high kick was the most feared weapon in MMA. Gonzaga, a jiu-jitsu heavyweight given no chance, landed it on Cro Cop instead, and Cro Cop's leg folded under him as he fell.

It won Knockout of the Night and remains the biggest upset knockout in UFC heavyweight history. Cro Cop was never the same fighter.

UFC 100, Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, July 11, 2009. Round 2, 3:20. KO (punch). After a season of coaching against each other on The Ultimate Fighter, Henderson landed the overhand right known as the H-bomb, then added a diving forearm on the way down.

It was Knockout of the Night on the biggest card of the era, with a $100,000 bonus to match the event number.

UFC 218, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, December 2, 2017. Round 1, 1:42. KO (punch). Ngannou threw a left uppercut that started somewhere near the floor, and Overeem's head snapped so hard the referee was on top of him before he landed.

There was no Performance of the Night that night; the UFC paid two Fight of the Night bonuses instead. The company's 25th anniversary list ranked it third all-time. Ngannou fought for the title next, and the uppercut is still the scariest single punch on film.

UFC 193, Etihad Stadium, Melbourne, November 14, 2015. Round 2, 0:59. KO (head kick and punches). Rousey was undefeated and the biggest star in the sport. Holm, a former boxing champion, outstruck her for a round and then put her down with a left high kick in front of 56,214 people.

It won Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night, and the UFC gave Holm an extra $100,000 on top. No knockout in UFC history changed the sport's landscape faster. Rousey fought once more and lost.

UFC 194, MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, December 12, 2015. Round 1, 0:13. KO (punch). Aldo had defended the featherweight title seven times and had not lost in a decade. He rushed McGregor at the bell, McGregor stepped back and countered with a left hand, and Aldo was unconscious before his own right landed.

The UFC's official list ranks it the greatest knockout in company history, and it is the fastest finish in a UFC title fight. It won Performance of the Night. McGregor called it in advance, which is why the UFC put it first.

UFC 126, Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, February 5, 2011. Round 1, 3:25. KO (front kick and punches). Silva, defending the middleweight title, lifted his left foot straight up the middle and stamped it on Belfort's chin. Belfort dropped, and two follow-up punches were a formality.

It won Knockout of the Night and it earned the top spot here because nobody had done it before. Front kicks to the body were a thing. Front kicks to the face were not, until the champion did it against a former champion in a title fight and made it look like a training drill. Machida copied it three months later, and it still shows up in gyms every week. That is the definition of the greatest.