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Ranked

The 15 Most Savage Knockouts In MMA History

By FightBets Editorial Oct 8, 2026 6 min

We went through every highlight reel and ranked the 15 most brutal knockouts ever caught on camera. Hit play on each one. Number 2 doesn't look real.

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The Kick That Erased Cro Cop
#15
HEAD KICK

The Kick That Erased Cro Cop

UFC 70, 2007. Mirko Cro Cop was the most feared kicker on the planet and one win away from a title shot.

Gabriel Gonzaga beat him with his own weapon: a right head kick at the end of round one. Cro Cop folded with his leg twisted underneath him.

Result: Gonzaga by KO, round 1
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Lyoto Machida Goes Full Karate Kid
#14
CRANE KICK

Lyoto Machida Goes Full Karate Kid

UFC 129, Toronto, 2011. Randy Couture's retirement fight.

Machida jumped off one leg and landed a front kick flush on Couture's face. Couture went down — and left a tooth on the canvas.

Result: Machida by KO, round 2
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Anderson Silva's Front Kick To The Face
#13
FRONT KICK

Anderson Silva's Front Kick To The Face

UFC 126, 2011. Vitor Belfort was supposed to be Anderson Silva's toughest test in years.

Silva feinted, then snapped a front kick straight up the middle into Belfort's chin. Nobody had seen that finish at that level before.

Result: Silva by KO, round 1
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The First Wheel Kick KO In UFC History
#12
WHEEL KICK

The First Wheel Kick KO In UFC History

UFC 142, Rio, 2012. Edson Barboza spun 360 degrees and landed his heel on Terry Etim's jaw.

Etim went stiff before he hit the floor. It was the first spinning wheel kick knockout the UFC had ever seen.

Result: Barboza by KO, round 3
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The Night Ronda Rousey Got Knocked Out
#11
THE SHOCK

The Night Ronda Rousey Got Knocked Out

UFC 193, Melbourne, 2015. Rousey was unbeaten and finishing women in seconds. More than 56,000 people came to watch her do it again.

Holly Holm kept her at range for a round, then ended it early in the second with a left head kick.

Result: Holm by KO, round 2
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