5 of the best spinning backfist knockouts in UFC history

#4. Johnny Walker vs. Justin Ledet – UFC Fight Night 144

Johnny Walker used a devastating spinning backfist to take out Justin Ledet in 2019

Johnny Walker is one of the few fighters in the UFC more than comfortable in throwing low-percentage strikes. While they don’t always land for him, when they do, the Brazilian is capable of the spectacular.

Walker’s rise to fame came in 2019, when he reeled off three wild knockouts in a row, turning himself into an overnight sensation with the fans. The best of the three, though, undoubtedly came against Justin Ledet in February of that year.

Within just seconds of the fight beginning, Walker stunned Ledet with a hook kick to the side of the head. He then followed that up with an insane spinning backfist that dropped him to the ground.

The fight was basically over there, but incredibly, Walker was saved from a disqualification only because a follow-up strike – a soccer kick to the head of all things – narrowly missed.

It was the spinning backfist that did all the damage for the Brazilian, though, showing once again the danger that the strike could bring to the table if a fighter could land it cleanly. Walker hasn’t pulled one off since, but only a fool would bet against him doing it again in the future.

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#3. Paul Felder vs. Danny Castillo – UFC 182

Paul Felder crumpled Danny Castillo with a spinning backfist in 2019

Now largely better known as one of the UFC’s higher-level color commentators and analysts, Paul Felder began his life in the promotion as a highly rated lightweight contender.

While his debut in the octagon was a thoroughly forgettable bout, a split decision win over Jason Saggo in October 2014,

it’s safe to say that the bang he made in his second bout with the promotion certainly put him on the map in the eyes of the fans, and shifted him way up the card in the process.

‘The Irish Dragon’ was faced with a tough opponent in tricky veteran Danny Castillo, a fighter who’d won seven of his eleven bouts in the octagon and who had only ever been finished once before. If Felder was to win this one, it was clear he’d have to do it the hard way.

However, Felder made the whole thing look surprisingly easy and ended the night of ‘Last Call’ in truly devastating fashion.

The first round saw ‘The Irish Dragon’ pick Castillo off with leg kicks, reducing him to largely ineffective swings from the outside. In the second round, when ‘Last Call’ attempted to land a haymaker, Felder caught him with a beautiful spinning backfist to the side of the ear.

Castillo was crumpled and Felder didn’t need to follow up, as the fight was clearly over. While ‘The Irish Dragon’ would go onto plenty of success in the octagon after this, this knockout remains his signature one, and for good reason, too!