Not all knockouts are created equal. Fight fans flock to the UFC like adrenaline junkies to Six Flags. Watching a knockout happen in real time can take a fan by surprise. One minute the lights are on, and within a split second, the bulbs are blown out. Presenting: The five most brutal knockouts in UFC history.
Mixed Martial Arts have become mainstream media at this point, and most casual fans watch with only a few outcomes in mind: Submissions, and knockouts. Without question, submissions qualify as edge of your seat type excitement. The anticipation is like watching a horror film and screaming, “Don’t go in there! The bad guy’s in there!.” Check out “Five Submissions From UFC History You Gotta See.”
Below is breakdown of fight results by weight class (and how they ended) by Fight Matrix:
Enough beating around the bush. Let’s break-down the five most brutal knockouts in UFC history (in no particular order).
Holly Holm KO’s Ronda Rousey
Who doesn’t remember this one? I didn’t get to see it live, but I can tell you exactly where I was when it happened. Local watering hole, saloon, and dance-hall “Revolver” was still open inside the Santa Fe Hotel and Casino, and its patrons seemed to let out a unanimous groan when the news was announced.
At UFC 193, Rousey stepped in to defend her bantamweight title. The Preacher’s Daughter had other thoughts. Holm knocked out “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey with a left high kick less than a minute into round two. Rousey lost the title, and her subsequent fight vs Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. Rousey will be the first woman enter the UFC hall of fame next month.
Dan Henderson KO’s Michael Bisping
According to Fox Sports, back in 2014, Michael Bisping still didn’t remember being knocked out by Dan Henderson. It was a balmy July night in Vegas for UFC 100, where Henderson unleashed a right hand which qualifies as one of the five most brutal knockouts in UFC history.
The KO punch wasn’t the end for Bisping, or for Henderson. While Bisping went down, Henderson followed him to the ground, and uncorked a forearm shiver Marshawn Lynch would be proud of.
Conor McGregor KO’s Jose Aldo.
In a fight that won “Performance of the Night” honors. Conor McGregor knocked out Jose Aldo 13 second into round one. It was a match-up that certainly had its fair share of trash talk before, and after the fight.
According to Sports Joe, Aldo continued to be ungracious in defeat long after the fight had ended. Aldo appeared to be looking for a rematch, but McGregor lost his next fight to Nate Diaz by submission less than three months later.
Gabriel Gonzaga KO’s Mirko Cro Cop
Time to hop in the way back machine. Gabriel Gonzaga first entered the octagon on Mirko Cro Cop, way back at UFC 70 in 2007. Cro Cop was on a five fight win streak as he stepped into the octagon, furthermore he knocked out every single opponent in the first round. Then this happened…
Recent studies have shown the kick from Gonzaga could have powered an oscillating desktop fan for a up to six hours (okay, that’s not true at all). The two would fight again in 2015, this time with Cro Cop winning via third round knockout.
Rashad Evans KO’s Sean Salmon
Another one over a decade old, Rashad Evans knocking out Sean Salmon absolutely deserves a place on our list of the five most brutal knockouts in UFC history. January 2007, the two took to the octagon for UFC Fight Night 8 in Seminole, Fla.
