MMA / Editorial

Fight Network's Top 10 Knockouts of 2012

Ariel Shnerer / January 2, 2013 - 5:40pm

TOP 10 KNOCKOUTS

1. Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim -- UFC 142 1/14/12 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

It's not often we get to witness a spinning wheel kick end fights in the UFC. In a finish that resembled a Hollywood action film, Barboza unleashed one of the most spectacular kicks in UFC history, immediately knocking Etim unconscious.

2. Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes -- UFC 142 1/14/12 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

On the same card, the UFC featherweight champion landed a vicious knee and a subsequent flurry to put Mendes away with just one second remaining in the opening round. Aldo jumped into the Brazilian crowd to celebrate a memorable knockout.

3. Cung Le vs. Rich Franklin -- UFC on Fuel TV 6 11/10/12 Macau, China

Headlining the UFC's first event in China, the Vietnamese-born Le scored a stunning upset as he knocked out Franklin with a perfectly timed overhand punch in the first round. Franklin immediately fell face-first to the ground as Le scored his second victory of the year.

4. Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon -- UFC 144 2/26/12 Saitama, Japan

One of the flashiest fighters in the UFC, the last reigning WEC lightweight champion didn't disappoint as he unloaded a head kick and flurry to knock out Lauzon in Japan. He needed just over a minute to do it.

5. Tim Boetsch vs. Yushin Okami -- UFC 144 2/26/12 Saitama, Japan

In addition to being a memorable upset, Boetsch's finishing flurry on Okami was quite a sight. After landing a head kick, Boetsch came forward and started teeing off with his fists, leaving Okami nowhere to go but down.

6. Donald Cerrone vs. Melvin Guillard -- UFC 150 8/11/12 Denver, CO.

In a classic back-and-forth fight between former teammates, Guillard staggered Cerrone early. The Greg Jackson-trained "Cowboy" recovered. Once he shook off all the cobwebs, Cerrone rocked Guillard with a head kick before dropping him with a perfect straight right.

7. Pat Curran vs. Joe Warren -- Bellator 60 3/9/12 Hammond, ID.

With the Bellator featherweight championship on the line, Curran was successfully stuffing most of Warren's takedown attempts. In the third round, Curran unleashed a cavalcade of flashy tricks, brutalizing Warren with knees and punches to knock him out cold at the 1:25 mark.

8. Michael McDonald vs. Miguel Torres -- UFC 145 4/21/12 Atlanta, GA.

The 21-year-old McDonald could be the future of the bantamweight division. At UFC 145, his speed and precision were too much for the longtime veteran and former WEC champion Torres. After a first-round flurry triggered by a right uppercut, McDonald scored the sizzling knockout.

9. Mark Hunt vs. Cheick Kongo -- UFC 144 2/26/12 Saitama, Japan

Yet another knockout from UFC 144 in Japan makes the list as the resurgent Pride veteran Hunt outslugged Kongo, knocking him out just 2:11 into their heavyweight showdown. After backing Kongo up against the cage and unleashing a series of heavy rights, the chiseled Frenchman fell to the canvas.

10. Johny Hendricks vs. Martin Kampmann -- UFC 154 11/17/12 Montreal, QC.

In a finish reminiscent of Hendricks' knockout of Jon Fitch last December, a perfectly timed punch knocked Kampmann out clean. If anyone was doubting Hendricks' knockout power before this fight, the result should change some opinions.

Honorable Mention:

Stephen Thompson vs. Dan Stittgen -- UFC 143 2/4/12 Las Vegas, NV.

The karate specialist Thompson made his UFC debut a memorable one as he collapsed Stittgen with a picture-perfect right head kick, picking up the victory at 4:13 of the first round.

Ryan Jimmo vs. Anthony Perosh -- UFC 149 7/21/12 Calgary, AB.

The Canadian veteran Jimmo was making his UFC debut with a reputation for boring decisions. Jimmo shattered that reputation in a hurry, storming Perosh with a big right hand to tie the record for the fastest knockout in UFC history at just seven seconds.

Nick Denis vs. Joseph Sandoval -- UFC on FX 1 1/20/12

The list of impressive knockouts from Canadians making their UFC debuts this year continues with Denis, who finished Joseph Sandoval with a series of sharp standing elbows at the 22-second mark of the opening stanza.

Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Paulo Thiago -- UFC on Fuel TV 2 4/14/12 Stockholm, Sweden

Speaking of memorable knockouts and UFC debuts, Bahadurzada burst onto the scene in April, brutally knocking out Paulo Thiago with a right hand. The Brazilian fell face-first to the mat, while Bahadurzada put the welterweight division on notice.

Anthony Johnson vs. D.J. Linderman -- World Series of Fighting 1 11/3/12 Las Vegas, NV.

In a featured light heavyweight bout on the inaugural card presented by the upstart World Series of Fighting organization, the UFC veteran Johnson beautifully countered a charging Linderman with a short right hand. Linderman fell face-first to the ground, which always makes for a memorable knockout.