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No MMA promotion comes close to the UFC in terms of entertainment value and high-profile fights. Recently, UFC Vegas 33 - despite losing a key fight and being branded one of the worst cards in the promotion's history - averaged 797k viewers on ESPN, despite a stacked Bellator 263 card at the same time (85k viewers).
A knockout is probably the most exciting outcome of a fight, at least for the vast majority of fans. And the UFC's popularity over the years can definitely be - at least partly - attributed to the plethora of highlight-reel knockouts that have transpired in the octagon.
In this article, we take a look at five of the most brutal uppercut knockouts in UFC history. Unsurprisingly, this list is dominated by heavyweights.
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Honorable Mentions: Jeremy Stephens vs Rafael dos Anjos, Houston Alexander vs Keith Jardine, Vitor Belfort vs Dan Henderson [This list is not exhaustive.]
#5 Junior dos Santos vs Fabricio Werdum - UFC 90
On October 25, 2008, Fabricio Werdum entered his fight against UFC debutant Junior dos Santos as a -650 favorite. JDS, meanwhile, was a +450 underdog with only seven professional fights under his belt.
However, with the odds stacked heavily against him, Dos Santos pulled off an upset for the ages. Only a minute and a half into the fight, 'Cigano' landed a brutal uppercut that knocked Werdum out of his senses, handing him only the fourth loss of his professional career and causing the UFC to decide against renewing the contract of 'Vai Cavalo'.
Dos Santos won his next eight fights in the UFC, beating Cain Velasquez in November 2011 to claim the heavyweight title. Werdum didn't do too badly, either. He won nine of his next ten fights under the StrikeForce and UFC banners, before winning the undisputed strap in June 2015 against Velasquez, whom Dos Santos had lost to in December 2012.
#4 Shane Carwin vs Frank Mir - UFC 111
Another instance of the underdog - albeit only a slight one - pulling off a violent knockout over the favorite, Shane Carwin upset betting lines with his first-round victory against former champion Frank Mir in an interim heavyweight title fight at UFC 111.
In what unfortunately became the final win of his professional career, Carwin connected cleanly with several uppercuts before raining down a barrage of punches on Mir in the very first round. The referee, Dan Miragliotta, took his time before stopping the contest, but he eventually did so after Carwin had landed 74 of his 89 strike attempts (83.1%).
Carwin moved to an undefeated 12-0 with the win, but would lose to Brock Lesnar and Junior dos Santos before injuries forced him into an early retirement. Mir won his next three fights to remain in the UFC title picture, but things went downhill for him soon after.
#3 Mark Hunt vs Roy Nelson - UFC Fight Night 52
Roy Nelson's legendary chin held up almost always in an insanely difficult division. 'Big Country' took fighters like Frank Mir, Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic, Derrick Lewis, Alistair Overeem, Daniel Cormier, Stipe Miocic, Fabricio Werdum and Junior dos Santos to decisions. However, Nelson's famed resilience was broken by the devastating power of Mark Hunt at UFC Fight Night 52.
Facing off on September 20, 2014, Nelson and Hunt traded cautious blows in a fairly even first round. In the second essay, with three minutes on the clock, 'The Super Samoan' connected with a lethal right uppercut that had Nelson out cold on the canvas in astonishing fashion.
It was only the second time Nelson had been finished, proving just how dangerous Hunt really was. Both fighters didn't achieve massive success in the UFC after their meeting, but they remain fan favorites even today.
#2 Derrick Lewis vs Curtis Blaydes - UFC Fight Night 185
This weekend's UFC 265 card sees Derrick Lewis face off against Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight title. 'The Black Beast' is firmly in line for a championship shot due to a four-fight win streak, including a brutal knockout of fellow contender Curtis Blaydes.
Ahead of his fight at UFC Fight Night 185, Blaydes was on a four-fight win streak of his own. And despite clinching the first round, 'Razor' found himself as stiff as a board 96 seconds into the second stanza. Lewis landed a cleverly disguised uppercut that saw Blaydes - who was shooting for a trademark takedown - fall to the canvas like a statue before needing several minutes to recover.
Lewis has made a habit of pulling knockout victories out of his hat. Will we see another installment of his power in a few days' time?
#1 Francis Ngannou vs Alistair Overeem - UFC 218
If Derrick Lewis is scary, Francis Ngannou is positively terrifying. 'The Predator' has immense knockout power, an imposing physique and the UFC heavyweight title strapped around his waist.
Ngannou entered his fight against Alistair Overeem at UFC 218 on a nine-fight win streak (five in the UFC). Overeem was expected to be the man to end Ngannou's dominance in the promotion, but the Dutchman found himself on the receiving end of an all-time great knockout.
Ngannou threw a massive left uppercut early in the first round, lashing Overeem's head back as he fell to the floor in alarming fashion. The knockout has often been talked about as one straight out of a video game, and it's not hard to see why.
The win immediately thrust Ngannou into the title picture. Although he lost to Stipe Miocic and then Derrick Lewis, he put together a five-fight win streak that culminated in winning the UFC heavyweight title.
