Top 5 All-Time UFC Knockouts

The UFC has passed 30 years and going, a milestone tricentennial PPV card, about 740+ events and counting. In all this time, fighters have made their mark with stupendous, shocking highlights. Some, though, make the case more than others, and here are the top 5 such all-time knockouts.

It’s hard to settle on such a list over such a big span. However, some KOs are just literally jaw-dropping, hard-hitting situations, and this list will disseminate and scour those.

ALSO READ: Top 5 Most Iconic And Visually Jaw-Dropping UFC Submissions Of All Time

Top 5 All-Time UFC Knockouts

Rank	Fighter	Event
5	Anderson Silva	UFC 126
4	Jorge Masvidal	UFC 239
3	Shara Magomedov	UFC 308
2	Conor McGregor	UFC 194
1	Max Holloway	UFC 300

5. Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort – UFC 126

Team Nogueira’s Anderson Silva touts multiple highlight-reel knockouts as well as submissions. Once one of the most dangerous MMA striking prospects at middleweight, he has etched his name in history. He had quite the UFC 185-pound reign in the years between 2006-13.

Eleven years ago today, Anderson Silva settled his beef with Vitor Belfort with a front kick to the face 🦶😵 pic.twitter.com/L9Tr2y2JdT

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 5, 2022

One of his best moments came in a 2011 middleweight title bout with Vitor Belfort. ‘The Phenom’ had initiated a slow roll, with a quick left hand, tug, and takedown. Silva rolled and weaved away to his lower proximities and landed the perfect face-front kick! The optics of which go viral and find similarities to others even now. Silva followed it with some right-left piston jabs to the face to end the matter.

4. Jorge Masvidal vs. Ben Askren – UFC 239

When it comes to shock statements, this makes the top 5 UFC knockout listings, guaranteed, all year, every year. While there’s tact and power, speed is a thing too, and Jorge Masvidal made sure to end it early in the 2019 finish of Ben Askren.

The heated lead-up made it look like this would be a competitive fight, and the welterweights were smack ready for it. Street Jesus ‘Gamebred’ anticipated a very early takedown given Askren’s wrestling prowess. What followed was a charged-up sprint and flying kneecap to the dome!

Good grief. #UFC239 pic.twitter.com/nLyAKXCdon

— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) July 7, 2019

‘Funky’ had ducked and caught the full effect of the blow, and the follow-up shots were not even warranted. To this day, it remains a viral clip as ever.

3. Shara Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan – UFC 308

There’s the Dan Henderson–Michael Bisping affair at UFC 100. There’s also the iconic turntable ‘headshot dead’ KO by Leon Edwards. Then there is Alex Pereira’s KO-and-emote, and the power of his knockouts is a novelty. There’s Ilia Topuria’s crisp-shot KOs and triple-knockout title reign. But again, this UFC 308 pay-per-view main card opener stole the show based on execution, tact, and uniqueness.

The 185-pound bout started off at a frenetic pace, and Shara Magomedov staged some space with his signature spin shots. After a low kick to the cup and an R2 pause, ‘Bullet’ put on his hard face and paced himself within range with a left body-kick. He thumped down and shot a right-spinning backfist, followed by another left one in rapid succession!

UFC 308 is currently delivering. The incredible double backfist KO of Armen Petrosyan by Shara Bullet Magomedov deserves a bonus. Beautiful thing. pic.twitter.com/mqtSOjfIrw

— PAM (@ParamPam1990) October 26, 2024

The highlight via TKO (spinning backfist) – Round 2, 4:52 mark, is the only logged double-spinning backfist in active competition. To punctuate it on the scroll, on instinct, is some ultra-level awareness and targeting.

2. Conor McGregor vs. Jose Aldo – UFC 194

Conor McGregor’s knockout at UFC 194 ranks not just in top 5 but as #1 for many UFC outlets. Coming in, the legendary opponent had not dropped a fight in over a decade. However, ‘The Notorious’ made quick work with his 13-second KO and ground-and-pound.

From their lead-up banter, to one-liners about hunting the favelas on horseback, to them checking space; McGregor more than got in his head. He hunted and taunted that Jose Aldo played it safe with the ‘frenemy’ approach. The psychological warfare paid off and Aldo shot early to overpower him with a wide right-left combo, only to be caught by his open chin.

Conor McGregor vs Jose Aldo at UFC 194 on December 12, 2015 in Las Vegas, NV. #DWCOTD pic.twitter.com/1h4KEjafRs

— danawhite (@danawhite) March 4, 2016

The matter was so iconic that Sean O’Malley’s win over Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 has a tinge of similarity. As did the promotion’s #1 Pound-for-pound fighter, Topuria’s recent knockout win at the UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira PPV headliner. The win itself was bigger than life, and now, many subsequent happenstances have shades of this iconic finish in them.

1. Max Holloway vs. Justin Gaethje – UFC 300

Be it this year or the previous or the last decades, no KO has been as hard-hitting and deserves more space than Max Holloway’s at UFC 300. No technique, no stance, no situational response; just pure brawl and grit.

The Team Gracie Technics fighter did a point-down in a gesture now thrice-made-famous. In a series of wild swings, Holloway clocked it in with an overhand that flatlined Justin Gaethje with just one second remaining! Often calling himself the best boxer, this was a pure testament to that.

it’s always been bigger and deeper than a sport. it’s a fight. max holloway and justin gaethje understand that, that’s why they’re so beloved. this is what this fuckin shit is all about boys and girls. pic.twitter.com/bTy8DEFnWj

— freelancegoon (@freelancegoon) April 14, 2024

‘Blessed’ was already up on the judges’ cards, but still chose to win it and provide that ‘best of all‘ moment. Now, UFC socials and YT channel have been circulating the snippet for months. Dutch promotion Levels Fight League even punctuated a “Max Point Throwdown” post-fight bonus of $5000. The five-fight payday is offered if someone points or gestures similarly to instigate viral moments and knockouts as such.