The top 10 knockouts in UFC history – From Conor McGregor to Holly Holm

It’s almost impossible to find a consensus among fighting fans about the top 10 knockouts in UFC history, given the sheer number of spectacular finishes over the years.

From Conor McGregor’s 13 second KO from Jose Aldo to Holly Holm’s devastating head kick on Ronda Rousey, there are memorable endings in all weight ranges.

Choosing the best is of course completely subjective, but here are Sportsmail’s favorites.

10. Yair Rodriguez on Chan Sung Jung – R5, 4:59 (2018)

This was one of the most creative, bizarre and breathtaking knockouts in recent history.

Rodriguez and Jung had fought 24 minutes 59 seconds during the main event’s 25-minute show when the Mexican produced something that had to be watched in slow motion to believe it.

Down on the cards against his featherweight opponent, he spread his arms to invite Sung Jung into a final gust, then dropped his head at the last minute and threw an elbow from under himself, killing ‘Korean zombie’ on the chin caught and took an incredible hold winning.

9. Francis Ngannou on Alistair Overeem – R1, 01:42 (2017)

This was when Ngannou established himself as a heavyweight to fear, with one of the most cartoonish knockouts in UFC history.

The ridiculously powerful prospect was on an upward curve, but many thought Overeem’s experience and experience could be too much for him.

But in the first round, Ngannou delivered a thunderous left upward motion that caused his opponent’s head to fly backwards and immediately knocked him out. Few could argue afterwards that the Cameroon-born Frenchman is not the most powerful puncher in the organization.

8. Dan Henderson on Michael Bisping – R2, 3:20 (2009)

I hate putting the first and only British UFC champion among the victims on this list, but he later demanded revenge on Henderson, so this is acceptable.

Bisping was on the receiving end of the American’s famous ‘H-Bomb’ and there was no return.

Henderson set it up perfectly, bringing the Brit’s hands down with a leg kick and shooting to the body before getting an overhand wing that landed right on the chin.

7. Amanda Nunes on Cris Cyborg – R1, 51 seconds (2018)

This clash between two of the biggest female MMA was long awaited, but Nunes showed she was a class above.

Cyborg had made a career out of bullying her opponents and performing massive attacks they just couldn’t resist, but the shoe was on the other foot against the Brazilian.

It took only 51 seconds for the ‘lioness’ to intervene. Two left-right combinations put Cyborg on the ground and then Nunes ended up with a gigantic overhand right to take away all doubt.

6. Lyoto Machida on Vitor Belfort – R2, 1:00 (2018)

Almost two years ago, Machida delivered one of the coldest KOs and reactions ever.

Belfort, who must be said to be far above his best, shot a forward kick in the face that shot out of nowhere, causing him to drop to the canvas.

Where most hunters would have tried to pile up and land a few more strokes, Machida knew the job was done, put his hands on his hips and stared at his Brazilian countryman. Then he bent and dropped to his knees.

5. Edson Barboza on Terry Etin – R3, 2:02 (2012)

In terms of purely technical beauty, this Barboza knockout should make the list.

The former Muay-Thai kick boxer produced one for the highlights reel that you never tire of looking at in a loop. It was the first KO with a spinning wheel in the UFC and Etin was the unfortunate receiver.

Barboza had worn out his opponent and was on course for an easy points win, but then threw a video game move into the mix, bandaging his heel with Etin’s chin.

Anderson Silva on Forrest Griffin – R1, 3:23 (2009)

Silva deserves to be somewhere on this list, given the excessive skills with which he broke people up.

He was never known for his enormous knockout power, but his timing, choice of shot and precision were legendary and best reflected in this clinic that he set up against Griffin.

After already showboating and dropping the UFC Hall of Fame fighter, he laid his hands low, spectacularly dodging two more shots before going into perfection, leaving Griffin stretched out with his arms outstretched on the mat .

3. Conor McGregor on Jose Aldo – R1, 13 seconds (2015)

McGregor was already a superstar at the moment, but he had to prove to the world that he was just as capable as he told everyone he was.

Aldo was at the peak of his powers and considered the best featherweight of all time, but the Irishman excited him and managed to get under the skin on the promotion tour.

Given all the hype, what happened next was astonishing when Aldo jumped forward early, McGregor stepped back and put the Brazilian on his back with that famous left hand. It only lasted 13 seconds and will play on the big screen at UFC events until the end of time.

2. Holly Holm on Ronda Rousey – R2, 0:57 (2015)

It must be very strongly ensured that this is number 1, but it will have to settle for second place.

Back then, Rousey was a global superstar, considered a pioneer and the athlete who changed Dana White’s view of women participating in the UFC.

She had broken up the game and found a way to run her signature arm bar, and Holm was a 20/1 underdog with a number of bookmakers.

Then the rush came all over the world. For a massive crowd in Melbourne, ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ disconnected from a tangle with Rousey and threw the head kick before she could respond.

The shin was tied evenly to the champion’s neck and bottom of the chin, wiping Rousey away, marking the beginning of the end of her MMA career.

1. Jorge Masvidal on Ben Askren – R1, five seconds (2019)

Anyone who has seen this fight live or even seen a replay will not soon forget it.

Askren had entered the UFC as a hyped wrestler and his battle with Masvidal escalated as their clash approached.

There was enormous expectation and tension in the air during the fighting night. The referee pointed to both men and motioned for the fight to begin when Masvidal sat back with his hands relaxed on the cage behind him.

Suddenly he started moving towards Askren before accelerating to a sprint. The wrestler returned to instinct and tried to take down his man, but Masvidal had planned that and jumped forward with a flying knee. Askren was knocked unconscious immediately and remains the fastest KO in UFC history at just five seconds.