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The 2018 calendar year has witnessed several wonderful knockout stoppages in the UFC thus far.
Be it punches, elbows, knees or kicks, the sight of a KO/TKO sequence never quite ceases to amaze. One simply cannot deny that there is indeed something very primal about the knockout in a combat sports bout.
The KO is perhaps one of the most basic forms of pure domination--not only in the physical sense, but also in the mental and spiritual sphere. The sport of MMA is rather unique as regards entertaining the fans is concerned--what with the fact that the KO stoppages could come either on the feet or on the mat, with a minimum amount of referee separations.
Today, we take a look at some of the best UFC knockouts of 2018...Hold on to your seats, folks. We're about to set forth on a roller-coaster ride!
#10 Jose Aldo vs. Jeremy Stephens
Jose Aldo is without a doubt one of the greatest Featherweights of all time. Be it in the stand-up department of the fight or the grappling realm, "Scarface" is a danger everywhere.
Regardless, Father Time coupled with the wear and tear clocked by a fighter's body tends to catch up even to the best of all time. Aldo fell upon tough times after his loss to Conor McGregor a few years ago, and had only beaten Frankie Edgar at UFC 200 since the loss to McGregor.
The aforementioned victory over Edgar was followed by two back-to-back KO/TKO losses at the hands of Max "Blessed" Holloway. That, in turn, led to fans and experts worldwide questioning as to whether or not Aldo could still compete with the elite at 145 pounds.
Additionally, upon the UFC booking a match between Aldo and the hard-hitting Jeremy Stephens, most experts predicted that Stephens would likely obliterate a fading Aldo.
Nevertheless, Scarface turned back the clock and put on a vintage performance against Stephens. After multiple sequences of solid exchanges on the feet--boxing range in particular--Aldo backed his foe up with a beautiful uppercut.
Following which, Aldo went on to land one of the slickest liver punches you will ever see in MMA. Stephens winced in pain after Aldo's left hook to the liver sent shockwaves through the former's body--Aldo then moved in for the kill and brought a close to the show with relentless ground-and-pound.
#9 Islam Makachev vs. Gleison Tibau
Islam Makachev is a combatant who has earned praise from both fans and experts alike for his well-rounded MMA game. The talented Russian is a threat both on the feet as well as the mat.
Makachev is perhaps one of the most underrated UFC fighters today--something that he indeed solidified when he showed off his incredible one-punch KO power at UFC 220.
Makachev faced veteran slugger Gleison Tibau at UFC 220 and finished the latter in the very first round of their encounter which transpired earlier this year. Makachev timed Tibau's attack and waited for the latter to reset his footwork.
Finally finding an opening to land a clean left hand down the pipe, Makachev stung Tibau with a thunderous left hand--putting the latter down and out with the huge shot.
#8 Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Sabah Homasi 2
Abdul Razak Alhassan taking on Sabah Homasi in their much-anticipated rematch earlier this year truly was a grudge match in its purest sense.
While neither fighter is near the top of the heap in their division, their exciting first encounter which took place in late-2017, set the stage for the rematch to be one for the ages. Alhassan scored a controversial TKO of Homasi in the first fight--with several fans claiming that the fight was a premature stoppage and that Homasi deserved to get a rematch with his foe.
The rematch transpired at UFC 220, and the outcome was the same this time around as well; albeit without the first fight's controversy. Alhassan timed Homasi's bobbing-and-weaving motion, and keeping the latter at long range with his jabs--He then tagged Homasi with a picture-perfect uppercut.
Homasi was out after the one-hitter quitter, as Alhassan stood over his vanquished for; trash-talking the unconscious Homasi.
#7 Rob Font vs. Thomas Almeida
It'd be a criminal understatement to say that UFC 220 was one of the very best fight cards of 2018.
Yet another matchup from UFC 220 delivered as promised when Rob Font announced his arrival in the UFC Bantamweight Division with a huge KO win over Thomas Almeida. Bear in mind, that before his stoppage loss at the hands of former UFC 135-pound Champion Cody Garbrandt, Almeida was regarded as a future champion.
Regardless, Font showed no fear of the highly-touted Brazilian prospect as he walked down Almeida with relative ease. Font tagged the latter with several vicious punches; leading to a dazed Almeida stumbling around the Octagon.
Font then caught Almeida with a beautiful high kick and got the finish with a few follow-up punches.
#6 Calvin Kattar vs. Shane Burgos
Well, as noted, some of this year's best UFC knockouts transpired in January, and UFC 220 was indeed a goldmine of several nasty KO's.
Calvin Kattar and Shane Burgos engaged in a gritty battle of wills--as neither fighter appeared willing to give in, and let the other assume control of the matchup. Their bout earned Fight of the Night honors, as Kattar and Burgos put on a show for the fans in attendance.
Kattar caught Burgos with a huge right hand; following which, Burgos was on jelly legs. Kattar smelt blood and moved in for the kill--putting forth a wild barrage of ground-and-pound strikes until the referee called off the fight.
Kattar making Burgos dance around on chicken legs is perhaps one of the scariest scenes to have played out inside the Octagon this year.
#5 Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic
Reigning UFC Light-Heavyweight titlist Daniel Cormier moved up to his original weight-class Heavyweight, so as to challenge UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic--a UFC 220 matchup in which Miocic's title was on the line.
Miocic--widely regarded as one of the greatest Heavyweights of all time--was touted as the favorite to win this fight, likely by a brutal KO/TKO stoppage. In fact, experts noted that the only possible way Cormier would win is if he could somehow turn this match into a wrestling-heavy affair, scraping by on points.
Regardless, DC's critics were proven wrong, as he stood toe to toe with the heavy-handed Miocic. Both fighters had a considerable amount of success in the boxing exchanges over the course of the brief fight.
Cormier then gave up under-hooks to Miocic, and with the latter seemingly concerned about being taken down by DC, he simply chose to keep the under-hooks and grapple from there.
Cormier, however, had other plans--as he chose to grab the under-hook on Miocic's right side, and come over the top with an overhand right--dinging Miocic and knocking the latter down. DC followed up with a few swift ground-and-pound punches and the fight was called off.
DC made history by becoming only the second fighter in UFC history to simultaneously hold two UFC titles; the other one being Conor McGregor.
#4 Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza vs. Derek Brunson 2
Jacare had famously beaten Derek Brunson by way of KO back when the duo fought for Strikeforce.
Fast-forward to 2018, and the fighters tangled again, this time under the UFC banner. Jacare started out with crisp hands and began tagging Brunson at will.
He then caught Brunson with perhaps one of the most technically-sound headkicks ever thrown in the sport of MMA. Jacare sent his foe reeling towards the fence and calmly unloaded with follow-up punches on him until the bout was called off.
Jacare's calm demeanor and systematic destruction turned his win over Brunson into one of the best performances and scariest KO's of 2018.
#3 Anthony "Lionheart" Smith vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
It was in July of this year that Anthony Smith took on MMA legend Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in a bout which was scheduled for 5 rounds.
Well, given the firepower both men are known to possess in their arsenals, most experts noted that this one wouldn't likely be going the distance. Smith started off the fight staying at long range; smartly avoiding Shogun's trademark blitzes.
He then caught Shogun with a beautiful front kick to the face, however, the later soldiered on and turned on the heat with Smith against the fence. Nevertheless, Smith caught his foe with a couple of hard hooks--following which Shogun was on the retreat.
Smith caught up on Shogun's wobbly steps, and seeing that his foe is hurt, the former moved in for the kill. Smith proceeded to put forth one of the most violent striking barrages of 2018, as he unloaded on Shogun with punches and elbows.
A nasty right elbow and a couple of huge right and left hooks put Shogun to sleep on his feet--with the referee waving off the bout and rescuing Shogun who was slumped over the ref's arms.
#2 Yoel Romero vs. Luke Rockhold
It was at UFC 221 that Yoel Romero faced Luke Rockhold for the Interim UFC Middleweight title, With Romero missing weight for the bout, only Rockhold was eligible to be awarded the title, should he have won the fight.
The initial stages of the matchup saw Rockhold keep his wrestle-boxer foe at bay with long range striking--brutal low kicks in particular. Romero's legs were gradually being softened up by Rockhold's highly-technical dosage of leg kicks (both to the thighs as well as the calves).
Regardless, Romero decided to turn on the heat in the second and third rounds, pressing the action, and forcing Rockhold to compete at boxing range. Romero then trapped his foe against the fence and landed a thunderous left hand behind the ear.
Rockhold fell like a tree, and Romero smashed his fallen foe with a monstrous uppercut against the fence, while Rockhold was already unconscious. Romero's KO of Rockhold is being hailed by many as one of the most brutal to have ever transpired in UFC history.
#1 Alexander Volkov vs. Fabricio Werdum
Alexander Volkov took on ex-UFC Heavyweight Champion Fabricio Werdum in a 5-round bout earlier this year--with their fight turning out to be one of the 2018 calendar year's very best.
Werdum found success early, taking Volkov to the mat, but failing to secure the submission. The Russian fighter's submission defense held up--with Volkov later explaining that him having previously trained with Werdum truly helped when they finally competed in a pro bout inside the Octagon.
Volkov subsequently found tremendous success with his boxing; tagging the Brazilian legend at will. His volume punching eventually led to Werdum gassing out and becoming no more than a stagnant punching bag.
Volkov closed out the show in the 4th round; tagging Werdum with a nasty uppercut and putting the latter to sleep with a few follow-up punches.
