Issue 169

August 2018

The fighters who score the most sensational knockout victories

MATT BROWN VS. DIEGO SANCHEZ

UFC Fight Night 120

Matt “The Immortal” Brown has long espoused the effectiveness of elbows in his game, but never have we seen them as devastating as this. Diego “The Nightmare” Sanchez is renowned for his durability and a chin that can withstand just about anything you throw at it, but not Brown’s savage right elbow that sent him crashing face first to the mat. Sanchez’s kick was caught and he was too content to leave it there, letting “The Immortal” tee up a picture perfect shot to end the fight in the first round.

EDSON BARBOZA VS. BENEIL DARIUSH

UFC Fight Night 106

Brazilian Edson Barboza in full fl ow is one of the most magnificent sights in MMA. His speed, fluidity, and array of strikes is something to behold, particularly when the right opponent comes along. Beneil Dariush offered up the perfect fight, engaging in the striking exchanges and rarely looking for the takedown, which allowed “Junior” to relax and open up the toolbox. As Dariush stormed in with a jab, he left his chin hanging and Barboza’s jumping knee collided with it perfectly, knocking the Kings MMA man out cold.

PAUL DALEY VS. BRENNAN WARD

Bellator 170

Where there is Semtex, there are explosions, and it was Brennan Ward on the receiving end of Paul Daley’s ferocity at Bellator 170. In his career, Daley has 30 KO wins to his credit, and you can expect one at any time. It was 2:27 in the fi rst when the jumping switch-knee landed flush on the jaw of Ward, after “Semtex” had created the space with a deft spinning elbow that sent his opponent reeling. The follow-up couldn’t have been any more perfect, to add to arguably’s MMA’s most vicious highlight reel.

FRANCIS NGANNOU VS ALISTAIR OVEREEM

UFC 218

Not only was this a visually intense knockout for Francis “The Predator” Ngannou, but it came against his toughest adversary to date. The Cameroonian slugger was facing off against a former K-1 Heavyweight World GP champion, but he was unfazed as he looked to stay in the pocket and connect. As Overeem lunged in, Ngannou narrowly missed with a right hook, setting himself up perfectly for the following left uppercut - a shot derived from the depths of hell that nearly sent the Dutch fighter’s head into the lighting rig.

AARON PICO VS JUSTIN LINN

Bellator 183

A one-shot, walk-off knockout has to be the zenith of all finishes in combat sports. As Aaron Pico coolly strolled back to his corner after landing a whipping shovel hook to Justin Linn’s jaw, he knew he’d be going viral. Linn threw a straight right to commit his body to the shot, and Pico’s timing was impeccable, coming underneath the punch to land on the button, immediately separating Linn from his senses without any follow-up shots necessary.