J. Buckley had one of the most memorable knockouts in history in the UFC Fight Island 5. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
MMA fans are still in a trance after the Joaquin Bucley's historic knockout over Impa Kasanganay at UFC Ilha da Luta 5, held last Saturday (10), in Abu Dhabi. After Ultimate's advisors and even the company's president, Dana White, suggested the event as 'the greatest of all time', the North American's show opens discussions about what was the company's most notable outcome.
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Thinking about opening up the range of options, our team selected 15 historic knockouts that occurred in Ultimate. Among the striking endings are names such as: Anderson Silva, Vitor belfort, Francis Ngannou, Lyoto Machida, Valentina Shevchenko and others. Follow the list below.
1) Jorge Masvidal x Ben Askren
In June 2019, Ultimate promoted a clash of styles that would put a changer and a wrestling specialist face to face. After months of provocations, the duel took place, in UFC 239. Although there was a lot of expectation for the clash, there wasn't much to analyze.
With just five seconds left, Masvidal connected with a well-aimed knee to the face of Askren, who had ducked in an unsuccessful attempt to get at his opponent's legs. Ben was an immediate knockout and began the success of 'Jesus das Ruas' with the organization's gloves.
2) Anderson Silva x Vitor Belfort
Considered two of the main Brazilian representatives in the history of MMA, Anderson Silva e Vitor belfort They had a clash that divided the Tupiniquim fans. In 2011, the 'Phenomenon' was cast to try to end the hegemony of 'Spider', which was at its peak.
After a controversial and historic confrontation, at the time of the confrontation, which marked the main fight of UFC 126, Anderson showed why he was already considered one of the best in the sport. Almost four minutes into the fight, Silva connected with a kick, which exploded in his compatriot's face, leading his rival to a knockout.
3) Lyoto Machida x Randy Couture
Even in 2011, Lyoto Machida made history by ousting and retiring the legendary Randy Couture. At UFC 129, the Brazilian tried to get back on track to regain his old light heavyweight belt (up to 93kg), lost the previous year to Mauritius Shogun.
Against the veteran, Machida asserted his reputation as a versatile athlete. In the best 'karate-kid' style, the Brazilian surprised his rival with a front kick and immediately took his opponent to the canvas. The feat was even voted knockout of the year. After the action, Lyoto received a new chance to compete for the title, but ended up losing to Jon Jones.
4) Francis Ngannou x Alistair Overeem
Direct competitors for the heavyweight title (up to 120,2kg.), Francis Ngannou e alistair overeem they had a clash of giants at UFC 218, in 2017. Known for their imposing physical shape, the French-Cameroonian and the Dutchman knew the dangers of the duel and the fans were favored in the dispute.
In the clash, better for Ngannou. In less than two minutes, the fighter surprised his rival with a frightening uppercut, which landed cleanly on the chin, and immediately knocked out his opponent. After the victory, Francis was selected to compete for the title, but ended up losing to Stipe Miocic.
5) Jairzinho Rozenstruik x Alistair Overeem
Considered one of the promises for the heavyweight category, Jairzinho Rozenstruik took on the challenge of replacing Walt Harris and face the consecrated alistair overeem, in December 2019. The duel marked the main fight of the UFC Washington and a victory over the renowned Dutchman could consolidate the Surinamese among the category's elite.
In the fight, Rozenstruik ended up being a victim of Overeem's experience and showed his fragility in grappling. For almost five rounds, the Surinamese was largely dominated by Alistair. However, with just four seconds left in the fight, Jairzinho made use of his physical strength and took advantage of a moment of distraction from his rival, connecting with a right hand bomb, which dismantled his opponent.
6) Edson Barboza x Terry Etim
Known for the aggressiveness with which he takes his confrontations, Edson Barboza couldn't be left out of this list. In 2012, in the fight against Terry emo, the Friborg native achieved a feat that, to this day, is remembered by MMA fans.
In the confrontation, held at UFC 142, Edson tried to maintain his unbeaten record in his career. Until now, the Brazilian had a perfect record of nine consecutive victories. Against Terry, Barboza needed almost three rounds to let his trademark prevail. Two minutes into the last round, the Friborg native connected with a spinning kick, which made Etim collapse, promoting one of the most impressive knockouts in mixed martial arts.
7) Conor McGregor x José Aldo
That knockout still lingers in the memories of many Brazilians. 2015, José Aldo, the biggest name in the history of featherweights (up to 65,7kg.) of Ultimate, put his belt on the line against the Irish phenomenon, Conor McGregor. The promotion surrounding the fight was huge and the 'Notório' provocations helped shape the perfect scenario for the fight.
At UFC 194, however, McGregor silenced many critics and made his victory over José Aldo. The Irishman needed 13 seconds to end Manauara's hegemony after counterattacking an attack from the Brazilian. With his devastating left, Conor needed just one blow to knock out the 'People's Champion'. From that day on, the 'Notório' would become the biggest name in Ultimate for the following years.
8) Anderson Silva x Forrest Griffin
In 2009, Anderson Silva it was unanimous in the sport. Able to control his opponents and win as he wanted, the Brazilian took on the challenge of doing another test in the light heavyweight division (up to 93kg.) Owner of the middleweight belt at the time, Silva would face the former champion of the top category, Forrest griffin.
In the clash, held at UFC 101, Anderson shocked the world with one of the most complete performances ever seen in mixed martial arts. In addition to completely dominating Griffin, the 'Spider' further established himself in the organization with a devastating knockout in the first round. After dodging a combination from his opponent, the São Paulo native countered with a straight right, taking his opponent to the ground and resulting in an immediate knockout.
9) Dan Henderson x Michael Bisping
Today, commentator, Michael Bisping He was famous for his provocations towards his opponents before duels. Against the experienced Dan Henderson, it was no different. The two met for the first time in 2009. The Englishman was trying to get closer to his first title fight, while the North American was looking to regain his status as challenger.
At UFC 100, Bisping ended up knowing the strength of Henderson's right hand in a tragic way. In the second round, Dan took advantage of his rival's moment of distraction and connected a bomb, which 'erased' Michael immediately. Another notable fact of the episode is that, even seeing his rival passed out, 'Hendo' didn't miss the opportunity to strike his opponent on the ground.
10) Chris Weidman x Anderson Silva
Known as one of the most important moments in the history of Ultimate, the first meeting between Chris Weidman e Anderson Silva, in 2013, ended tragically for all Brazilian fans.
In the fateful UFC 162, the world saw a hegemony that had lasted almost seven years fall to a rival who was somewhat underestimated by critics. Anderson took the confrontation as usual. He's moving around, provoking and trying to mislead the North American. Chris, however, took advantage of the Brazilian's miscalculation and landed a cross on 'Spider's' chin, who fell and saw his title as champion slip through his fingers. Five months later, Silva had a rematch, but ended up starring in one of the scariest scenes in the history of Ultimate, when, while attempting a low kick, he suffered a fracture and lost by technical knockout.
11) Vitor Belfort x Luke Rockhold
In 2013, Vitor belfort He left victims wherever he went. With extraordinary physical strength, the athlete was coming off an exciting triumph over Michael Bisping and was chosen to face Luke Rockhold, who would become middleweight champion in 2015.
In the confrontation, held in Santa Catarina, the 'Phenomenon' took no notice of the North American and needed less than three minutes to settle the score over his rival. With a round kick, the Brazilian was able to take down his opponent and secured the victory that brought him closer to fighting for the title in 2015. In the title fight against Weidman, however, at UFC 187, the Rio native was unsuccessful and ended up losing by knockout.
12) Yair Rodriguez x Korean Zombie
Winner of TUF (The Ultimate Fighter) Latin America, Yair Rodriguez He wrote his name in Ultimate with one of the most remarkable comebacks in the company's history. In 2018, in the duel against Chan sung jung, or 'Korean zombie, the Mexican emerged victorious in the duel that put him back on the featherweight division's radar.
In the duel, which marked the main fight of the UFC Mexico City, Rodriguez was dominated for nearly five rounds. However, in true 'Rozenstruik x Overeem' style, he found a perfect elbow, which, hitting his opponent's chin, led to the 'Zumbi' being knocked out, with 11 seconds left in the contest.
13) Holly Holm x Ronda Rousey
Among women, knockouts also made history on some occasions. In one of the most emblematic clashes in the women's division, held in 2015, Holly holm made history by defeating the, until then, best athlete of all time in MMA.
At UFC 193, Holm, who was considered an underdog in the bookmakers, surprised the undefeated Ronda with an irreparable performance. With her excellent boxing skills, the 'Pastor's Daughter' gave Rousey no chance and shocked the world by knocking out her opponent with a kick to the head in the second round. Holly's hegemony as champion, however, did not last long. In her first title defense, four months later, the North American was defeated by Miesha Tate and lost his position.
14) Valentina Shevchenko x Jessica Eye
Flyweight champion (up to 56,7kg.) since 2018, Valentina Shevchenko She has shown, with each performance, that it will be difficult for a rival to remove her from her current position. In his first belt defense, in 2019, against Jessica Eye, the Kyrgyzstani gave her business card as leader of the group.
In one of the main fights of the UFC 238, Valentina had a safe fight against Eye. The champion then tried to intensify the pace and connected a high kick of rare happiness to Jessica's head, which was an immediate knockout. Since then, Shevchenko has defended his title on two more occasions and has a fight scheduled against Jennifer maia November 21.
15) Jessica 'Bate-Estaca' x Rose Namajunas
In 2019, the Brazilian public was able to see a representative up close become champion before their eyes. Azarona against Rose namajunas, Jessica Andrade, the 'Bate-Estaca', silenced the critics and became champion in front of the Tupiniquim fans present at the Jeunesse Arena, in Rio de Janeiro.
No UFC 237, the Paraná native needed to surprise the then champion, Namajunas, who was coming off two big victories over the former group leader, Joanna Jedrzejczyk and was on the rise in the organization. After being disadvantaged in the first round, Andrade lived up to her nickname and knocked out the American with a frightening 'pile-driver'. In the action, the champion was lifted by Jessica and pinned to the ground with such violence that Rose was immediately knocked out. The Brazilian's reign, however, was not long. In her first title defense, the Paraná native ended up beaten by the current champion, Weili Zhang, in a confrontation held in China.
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