Destruction! Top Ten UFC Heavyweight Knockouts
The heavyweight division has long been the most appealing to combat sports fans simply due to the sheer power possessed by its inhabitants.
Boxing legends Rocky Marciano and “Iron” Mike Tyson helped to establish the notion that heavyweights were known for their knockout power, and mixed martial arts (MMA) is no different.
If you’re looking for some of the very best bone-crushing finishes out there, look no further than the illustrious UFC heavyweight division.
With the title set to be defended this upcoming May at UFC 198, we thought it’d be a perfect time to look at the 10 best heavyweight knockouts in UFC history.
10. Junior Dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez – UFC on FOX
While some may argue against this finish being on the list, the circumstances and magnitude of the fight earned it a spot in my opinion.
Back in 2011, the UFC debuted on FOX for the very first time in what has obviously become a very lucrative partnership between the two.
The promotion brought a heavyweight title fight between slugger Junior Dos Santos and Cain Velasquez to free TV, and “Cigano” shined in the limelight.
Needing only 64 seconds to get the job done, Dos Santos unleashed a brutal right hand that would land on the temple of Velasquez, sending the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) staple crashing to the canvas.
An impressive, and highly impactful heavyweight knockout to say the least.
9. Antonio Silva vs. Alistair Overeem – UFC 156
UFC 156 took place in February 2013, possessing an intriguing heavyweight showcase on its main card.
A bout between the ultra-powerful Antonio “Big Foot” Silva and kickboxing champion Alistair “The Reem” Overeem enticed fans due to the fact that many didn’t see it going to the distance.
While the masses expected a finish, they didn’t expect the fight to play out as it did.
Overeem, possibly not taking the fight as seriously as he should’ve been, was battered by a brutal barrage of strikes up against the fence in the final frame. Silva unleashed bomb after bomb until Overeem dropped in front of him.
If you’ve never seen this display of brute power, I suggest you check it out.
8. Andrei Arlovski vs. Travis Browne – UFC 187
Andrei Arlovski vs. Travis Browne at UFC 187 produced one of the best one round fights ever seen in mixed martial arts.
In just under five minutes of action, each man was rocked and dropped, as the two went toe-to-toe in an all-out war of attrition.
In the end, it was the former champion Arlovski who landed a brutal uppercut-cross combo that finished Browne in one of the best fights of 2015.
7. Junior Dos Santos vs. Fabricio Werdum – UFC 90
Despite currently serving as the UFC heavyweight kingpin, Fabricio “Vai Cavalo” Werdum has had his fair share of setbacks like any other fighter.
Perhaps one of his most notable defeats came back in 2008 at UFC 90.
Werdum was handed the task of welcoming Junior dos Santos to the Octagon, and it ended up being a rather quick affair.
Dos Santos would yet again show off his breath taking power in the opening round, landing an uppercut from hell that shut the lights off for Werdum.
This is “Cigano’s” second appearance on this list, and the scary part is that it isn’t his last either….
6. Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve – UFC on Fuel TV 8
A short and stocky kickboxing legend, Mark Hunt has long served as one of the heavyweight division’s most iconic knockout artists.
Despite his obvious power, “The Super Samoan” was facing an almost comical height disadvantage when he met the seven foot Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve.
Ultimately, the height discrepancy proved to be a non-factor for Hunt who would land one of the most devastating left hooks we’ve ever seen in the third round, breaking the jaw of Struve.
Hunt would walk off in typical fashion, etching his name onto this list of best heavyweight knockouts.
5. Junior Dos Santos vs. Mark Hunt – UFC 160
Once again appearing on this list, former heavyweight champion Junior “Cigano” Dos Santos scored one of his most unforgettable finishes over Mark “The Super Samoan” Hunt at UFC 160 in 2013.
This time, however, Dos Santos opted not to use his terrifying boxing prowess. Instead, he took a leap of faith and dove into Hunt’s world of kickboxing, showing off another trick in his hat.
Late in the third round, JDS threw a lethal spinning hook kick that grazed the head of Hunt, sending “The Super Samoan” to the mat in fantastic fashion.
Not only one of Dos Santos’ best knockouts, but undoubtedly one of the best heavyweight knockouts of all-time.
4. Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry – UFC on Versus 4
A battle between two kickboxers, Cheick Kongo and Pat “HD” Barry squared off at UFC on Versus 4 back in 2011.
Barry got to work right away, landing multiple punches early on in the first round that had seemed to put Kongo out.
The referee gave Kongo every chance to recover, however, and boy did he recover.
Backed up against the fence, and on the verge of being finished, Kongo would blast Barry with a brutal uppercut that flattened “HD”.
An unforgettable come from behind knockout, Kongo clearly deserves a spot on this list.
3. Travis Browne vs. Stefan Struve – UFC 130
At May 2011’s UFC 130, two of the most towering heavyweights would clash, as Travis “Hapa” Browne met Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve.
Late in the first round, Browne drilled Struve with a breath taking superman punch that left fans speechless, and Struve plummeting to the canvas.
It’s almost difficult to put such an amazingly brutal knockout into words, but it without question ranks amongst the best heavyweight knockouts of all-time.
For more from Travis Browne, read on….
2. Travis Browne vs. Alistair Overeem – UFC Fight Night 26
While Alistair Overeem is more well-known for his extensive kickboxing record, it was Travis Browne who used his length and kicking power to get the job done at UFC Fight Night 26 in 2013.
However, this wasn’t just your average kick.
After eating a plethora of damaging knees early on, “Hapa” landed a brilliant front kick straight to the face of Overeem late in the first round.
A few follow up punches later, and Browne would score another of the best heavyweight knockouts of all-time.
1. Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Mirko Cro Cop – UFC 70
Mirko Cro Cop possesses one of the most deadky left high kicks in all of mixed martial arts.
Time and time again throughout his legendary fighting career Cro Cop would simply flatten opponents with this patented kick.
At UFC 70 in 2007, however, the Croatian would get a taste of his own medicine in a bout opposite Gabriel Gonzaga.
Late in the first round, Gonzaga landed a highlight reel high kick that simply took the life out of Cro Cop.
The image of Cro Cop lying motionless on the mat with his leg tangled under him will remain in the heads of fans forever.
As they say, Gonzaga essentially ‘Cro Cropped’ Cro Crop, and ultimately picked up the greatest heavyweight knockout of all-time.
