Whether it's a flat-line knockout or a crafty choke, everyone loves a finish in mixed martial arts (MMA), and from last-minute face-downs to spinning elbows, 2024 has seen some truly spectacular KOs so far.
Now that we’re halfway through the year (time flies), sit back and enjoy the top five UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) knockouts of 2024 so far.
#5 – Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill
Event: UFC 300
Alex Pereira has scored two highlight knockouts so far in 2024. While his recent brutal head kick knockout against Jiri Prochazka is the more violent of the two (watch the video), his finish against Jamahal Hill is more iconic given the stakes.
Heading into the historic UFC 300 event, “Poitan” was making his first title defense. Coming into the return fight, Hill had never been knocked out in his professional career, but that all changed within the first four minutes of the first round.
Pereira was kicked below the belt but didn't flinch, told Herb Dean to kick the rocks and then delivered a hellish left hook that took Hill down and ended the bout shortly thereafter.
#4 – Bruno Ferreira vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
Event: UFC Louisville
Sure, Pereira's knockout of Hill was a much bigger stake than this one, but if you've read my lists before you know that sometimes the style points of the finish matter more than the stakes. Sorry, but the spinning elbow is cool.
At UFC Louisville (June 8, 2024), Brazilian powerhouse Bruno Ferreria battered Dustin Stoltzfus with a vicious spinning elbow that knocked Stoltzfus down and destroyed his face.
Stoltzfus revealed in an Instagram post that he suffered facial fractures and significant nerve damage as a result of the elbow.
#3 – Ilia Topuria vs. Alexander Volkanovski
Event: UFC 298
The Ilia Topuria era began at UFC 298 (February 17, 2024) when he defeated five-time featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski with a hellish right hand.
Volkanovski won the first round by all three judges' scores, but “El Matador” recovered and violently captured the featherweight belt, bringing an end to the Australian's legendary title reign.
Ilia Topuria defeats Alexander Volkanovski by second-round knockout (right hook) at UFC 298 to become featherweight champion
Ilia spoke with aplomb and backed it up. UFC has a new superstar.
Bravo, Ilia
(@Self-Improvement) pic.twitter.com/jmdPiKt8C9
— Obsessed with Octagon (@octagonobsessed) February 18, 2024
2nd Place – Vinicius Oliveira vs. Bernardo Sopay
Event: UFC Las Vegas 87
This knockout pretty much took the top spot for me in terms of style points, with the flying knee-sock finish being a cliche of course.
Still, Vinicius Oliveira and Bernardo Sopay ended up losing at UFC Vegas 87 (March 2, 2024) at the UFC Apex. The bantamweights met in their UFC debuts, but it was “Rock Dog” Oliveira who pushed Sopay against the cage. With just under 30 seconds left in the third round, Oliveira landed a perfect flying knee that instantly put his opponent to sleep.
#1 – Max Holloway vs. Justin Gaethje
Event: UFC 300
Of course, this knockout is number one. Let's provide some background… Leading up to this bout, most people assumed that Max Holloway would be beaten by Justin Gaethje, because the Hawaiian had been beaten by Dustin Poirier the last time he fought at lightweight. Plus, Gaethje had just knocked Poirier out eight months earlier at UFC 291.
Everyone was stunned as Holloway out-punched Gaethje over five rounds and was close to a one-sided unanimous decision. But with just seconds left in the bout, Holloway pointed to the ground and both men began trading punches with all their might. “Blessed” landed a perfect punch with one second left, sending Gaethje crashing face-first into the ground.
Holloway won one of the greatest knockouts of all time and the baddest motherfucker championship.
