Christmas Comes Early: 6 Best UFC Finishers on Display This December

Mixed martial arts is a full-throttle experience capable of delivering split-second violence.

Excitement is often witnessed at every turn of a fight, offering athletic performances fine-tuned to perfection. These instances of pure combat culminate with head-splitting punches, squeezed necks, flying knees, and anything capable of momentarily detaching a human being from existence.

Some hair-tingling outcomes can certainly be categorized as barbaric savagery, but it is a reality owned by those who compete. Fighters enter the Octagon knowing they can be knocked out, choked unconscious, or left looking up at the rafters.

The entities that roam the cage in search of these finishes are some of the most popular cats in the jungle. Their natural intuition creates an ultimate takeover. Their bodies set to auto-pilot and all the training they’ve suffered through allows them to sniff out spilled blood.

Luckily for fights fans of all shapes and sizes, some of the best finishers in the UFC will be on full display this month. From knockout artists to filthy submission gurus, the promotion’s historically jam-packed December schedule should satisfy our ongoing lust for MMA madness.

Here are the very best finishers set to take to the cage over the next four weeks.

Yoel Romero

Few middleweights possess the natural strength that Yoel Romero does.

Fueled by an impenetrable wrestling pedigree, the Cuban powerhouse has made quick work of his peers by keeping fights on the feet and finding a home for his heavy leather.

In just six Octagon appearances, “Soldier of God” already has five finishes, including TKO victories over hard-nosed veterans Lyoto Machida and Tim Kennedy. The fact that four of those stoppages occurred in the third round sheds light on how well he performs in crunch time.

Romero will meet fellow title contender Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza at UFC 194 on Dec. 12, as he attempts to solidify his spot as the best finisher at 185 pounds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqYyM4G0dUM

Joe Lauzon

Casual fight fans may not be too familiar with Joe Lauzon’s body of work in the UFC’s lightweight division, but hardcore onlookers understand his wizardry.

Outside of his UFC record 13 post-fight bonuses, “J-Lau” has finished an incredible 11-out-of-12 Octagon victories. From one-punch knockouts to blood-induced submissions, the Massachusetts native is a human wrecking machine.

While Lauzon has lost at a decent clip in one of the UFC’s most diabolical divisions, the 31-year-old has stayed afloat by utilizing a crafty skill set.

He will take on fellow UFC mainstay Evan Dunham at The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale on Dec. 10.

Urijah Faber

Say what you will about Urijah Faber’s worth as a 36-year-old veteran light years away from a title shot, he remains one of the best finishers between the bantamweight and featherweight divisions.

With one of the slickest guillotine chokes in MMA history, “The California Kid” always possesses the potential to choke someone unconscious when his hands lock around their neck.

Throughout his eight UFC victories, Faber has finished six by submission, including his most recent stoppage over Francisco Rivera at UFC 181 via the ultra-rare bulldog choke.

Currently slated to take on surging veteran Frankie Saenz at UFC 194, Faber can become the first person to make the 35-year-old wrestler tap.

Donald Cerrone

Blessed with some of the very best kickboxing and Muay Thai in MMA today, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone has become a bona fide finisher inside of the cage.

Beyond his staggering eight-fight win streak in the UFC’s stacked lightweight division, Cerrone has recorded seven finishes since making his Octagon debut back in 2011.

What makes the bull-riding beer lover even more dangerous is the fact that he operates with one of the most underrated grappling games in the sport, which has culminated into finishing 15 out of his 28 career victories by way of submission.

Cerrone’s efforts over the past few years, having fought as frequently as anyone ever has, will come to a head when he challenges UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on Fox 17 on Dec. 19.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANglrU8u91Y

Junior Dos Santos

There may not be any other heavyweight on the UFC roster right now who possesses a more deadly combination of punching power and a granite chin than Junior Dos Santos.

As history will have it, “Cigano” has demonstrated both attributes in fashion, finishing eight of his 11 UFC victories by overpowering the biggest men around with his world-class boxing.

While the former champion has lost by TKO in the past, his wars opposite Cain Velasquez, Stipe Miocic, and Mark Hunt, prove that he has the wherewithal to stay in the pocket and exchange bombs.

Dos Santos will make his anticipated return to the Octagon at UFC on Fox 17 opposite budding rival Alistair Overeem, who has lost all three of his promotional defeats by either knockout or TKO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sqyxk6ykms

Conor McGregor

Whether you believe Conor McGregor will cash in on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to defeat Jose Aldo at UFC 194 or not, there’s no disputing the Irishman’s uncanny ability to finish featherweights.

Through just six UFC appearances, “The Notorious” has recorded three first-round finishes, two second-round finishes, and has earned five post-fight bonuses along the way.

His ability to pressure opponents from the opening bell has served his success well, but it has been McGregor’s precise boxing, unorthodox movements, quick footwork, and devilish confidence that has allowed him to run through an entire division.

Of course, he has one man left to beat, as he attempts to become the first person in over 10 years to defeat Aldo.