2023 has witnessed many epic moments in the MMA world. Brutal knockouts are one of them. The impact they create ranges from exhilarant for some people to terrifying for others, yet they always trigger genuine emotional reactions. Knockouts are something that can turn the tide of the fight at any time. Let’s have a look at some of the most thrilling MMA knockouts of this year.
10) Patchy Mix vs Raufeon Stots
Patchy Mix is an incredible fighter and has only suffered one professional loss in his career till now. He continued to dominate the sport at Bellator 295 by defeating interim Bellator Bantamweight Champion Raufeon Stots to secure both the win in the Bantamweight Grand Prix and the title. At a crucial moment during the opening round, Mix delivered a devastating standing knee attack that knocked his opponent down and solidified his claim to the title.
9) Brandon Royval vs Matheus Nicolau
Brandon Royval faced Matheus Nicolau on April 15, 2023. Both fighters initially threw some punches at each other, then Royval landed a devastating knee attack up the middle that caused significant damage to Nicolau. “Raw Dawg” sensed his opponent’s weakness and took advantage of the opportunity, unleashing a sustained barrage of brutal elbows and punches, forcing the referee to intervene.
8) Lorenz Larkin vs Mukhamed Berkhamov
Larkin faced Mukhamed Berkhamov at Bellator 290, this was their second meeting after 2022. Larkin delivered a powerful standing elbow to Berkhamov that resulted in “Cherkes” being completely unconscious. “The Monsoon” dominated the whole fight with his incredible striking skills, waiting for the perfect opportunity. When Larkin got the opening, he unleashed a devastating elbow to the side of his opponent’s head, causing him to go limp in the very first round.
7) Robbie Lawler vs Niko Price
Robbie Lawler faced Niko Price in his retirement bout at UFC 290. He gave a stunning performance in his last professional fight and took just 38 seconds to defeat “The Hybrid” with a ruthless barrage of punches, reminiscing his many iconic wins in the sport. A series of powerful left hooks punctuated by a left uppercut dropped Price to the mat, sending him into unconsciousness.
6) Ismael Bonfim vs Terrance McKinney
After fighting in various promotions, the Brazilian fighter Ismael Bonfim made his UFC debut on January 21, 2023, at UFC 283, where he faced Terrence McKenney. Bonfim made sure to make his debut remarkable and landed an extraordinary flying knee in the second round that proved to be a knockout blow and stunned his opponent, Terrence McKenney.
5) Johnny Walker vs Paul Craig
Johnny Walker displayed great skills at UFC 283 in his match against Paul Craig. In the very first round, the Brazilian raised his leg when Paul Craig aimed to bring him to the ground. Walker landed a powerful right hook that stunned his opponent, leaving him unstable. Despite Craig’s continued attempts to secure a takedown, Walker responded with a merciless barrage of hammer punches, making “Bearjew” defenseless and securing the victory.
4) Josh Emmett vs Bryce Mitchell
Josh Emmett faced Bryce Mitchell earlier this month at UFC 296. Mitchell accepted this matchup on very short notice but was still the favorite. However, events took an unexpected turn at UFC 296, when Emmett landed a brutal right hand that instantly knocked down “Thug Nasty.” The fight ended in less than two minutes, leaving the audience shocked as well. However, Emmett applauded his opponent after the fight for taking the fight on such short notice.
3) Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski
After having a very close bout at UFC 294, Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski faced off against each other in a highly anticipated rematch at UFC 294. In the first round, Makhachev strategically used leg kicks to create an opening, setting the stage for a powerful shot that sent his opponent to the canvas. Despite keeping his hands in a defensive position, Makhachev found a way to connect with a powerful strike on the top of Alexander’s head, successfully knocking him out.
2) Dustin Poirier vs Justin Gaethje
Dustin Poirier faced Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 in one of the most anticipated bouts of the year. The first round of the match was very competitive, but the situation changed in the second round. Gaethje started the round with a leg kick and attempted a right hand, which was blocked by his opponent. Adapting his tactics early in the fight, “The Highlight” successfully executed a head kick that connected with accuracy, knocking Poirier unconscious in a decisive knockout.
1) Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya
After losing his Middleweight title to Alex Pereira at UFC 281, Israel Adesanya got a rematch earlier this year, in April. “The Last Stylebender” scored the most devastating knockout of the year against “Poatan.” Despite suffering three previous defeats at the hands of Pereira, twice in kickboxing and once in MMA, Adesanya turned the tide with a spectacular highlight finish in the second round. Adesanya countered his opponent with two right hands, causing Pereira to fall flat on the canvas.
Also Read: 10 Craziest MMA Moments of 2023
