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- Shane Carwin's brief heyday was one of the most entertaining in UFC history, with knockout wins over top opponents like Frank Mir.
- Dan Henderson is a one-of-one fighter with stoppage wins in three different weight classes throughout his career.
- Francis Ngannou's journey from inexperienced fighter to full-fledged strongman culminated in him winning UFC gold with Death Touch.
When it comes to the world of MMA and UFC, there are countless big punchers. Fans love to see a great technical fight or a clever submission from time to time, but everyone loves seeing a highlight reel knockout. There's a reason Max Holloway's knockout at UFC 300 has been the talk of the sports world for weeks.
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Throughout the long history of martial arts, there have been some huge punchers. It's quite a challenge, but let's narrow it down to the top 10 greatest hitters to ever compete inside the cage. Although not all of these fighters are heavyweights, their power is still huge.
Ten Former UFC heavyweight title challenger Sergei Pavlovich
The Russians have shown their extraordinary power many times.
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Sergei Pavlovich |
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6'3″ |
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260 pounds |
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Record: 18 wins, 2 losses (15 KOs) |
Sergei Pavlovich is still building his legacy, but he's already carved out a great place for himself. The Russian debuted with the company as a 12-0 prospect, but was crushed by the older Alistair Overeem. After that loss, Pavlovic burst into tears.
He then won six straight matches, all by knockout. Although he lost to Tom Aspinall in his bid for interim gold, it is clear that Pavlovic is still a very powerful puncher.
9 Former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell
'The Iceman''s power made him one of the UFC's earliest stars.
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Chuck Liddell |
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6'2″ |
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205 pounds |
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21 wins, 9 losses (13 KOs) |
Chuck Liddell is one of the biggest stars in MMA history, and that wasn't a coincidence. 'The Iceman' quickly rose to fame in his early 2000s, becoming the face of the UFC with a string of knockouts.
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By the end of his career, Liddell paid the price of continued warfare, as his jaw was severely weakened. Still, the former light heavyweight champion is a symbol of that power and should have earned an entry here.
8 Former UFC heavyweight title challenger Mark Hunt
'Super Samoan' scores first knockout in 40 years
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mark hunt |
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5'10″ |
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265 pounds |
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13-14-1-1 record (10KO) |
Mark Hunt is a rare breed of fighter. Even at age 50, the “Super Samoan” continues to defeat undefeated fighters like Sonny Bill Williams in the boxing ring. A former kickboxer since the '90s, Hunt is best known for his time in the UFC.
Although he had never won a gold medal, he tried for gold in 2014 and came close to it on other occasions. Hunt left the UFC on bad terms in 2019, but had a number of knockouts over the likes of Roy Nelson and Frank Mir before his departure.
7 Former UFC, PRIDE and Strikeforce Champion Dan Henderson
'Hendo' earns stoppage wins in three different weight classes
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Dan Henderson |
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5'11″ |
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185 pounds |
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32 wins, 15 losses (17 KOs) |
Dan Henderson is a one-of-one fighter. “Hendo” came to the sport in 1997 as a really raw fighter, but he won the UFC 17 tournament as still just a wrestler. At PRIDE, he had a bit of a tough start, but ended his record as a double champion.
Henderson went on to win gold with Strikeforce, ending his career as a UFC title challenger. He was aided by his immense power and held on to it until the end.
6 Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos
The Brazilian continues to record knockout wins to this day.
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Junior Dos Santos |
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6'4″ |
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247 pounds |
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23 wins, 10 losses (16 KOs) |
Junior dos Santos is a legend, but he's not really appreciated today. The Brazilian started his career with a 15-1 record, with knockouts over Cain Velasquez, Frank Mir and Mirko Cro Cop.
It's true that dos Santos was never the same after losing to Velasquez in the trilogy, but he still had some big wins. He knocked out Alan Belcher earlier this year and remains the inaugural Gamebred FC Champion.
Five Former UFC heavyweight title challenger Derrick Lewis
'The Black Beast' holds record for most knockouts in UFC
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derrick lewis |
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6'3″ |
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264 pounds |
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27 wins, 12 losses (22 KOs) |
Derrick Lewis is the all-time leader in knockouts in the UFC, and that wasn't a coincidence. “The Black Beast” has been a member of the company's roster for his 10 years and has exceeded all expectations.
Although Lewis has never been a champion, he has challenged for a share of the gold medal on two different occasions. Although he has yet to win a gold medal, he will go down in the record books as the all-time leader in finishes.
Four Current UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira
'Poitin' has already made history with his mixed martial arts career
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alex pereira |
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6'4″ |
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205 pounds |
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Record: 10 wins, 2 losses (8 KOs) |
Alex Pereira is only 12 fights into his MMA career, but he's already one of the best fighters of all time. “Poitin” came to the UFC in 2021 after finding success in kickboxing. Some had high expectations for Pereira, but he blew away all expectations.
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Within three years, he was a two-division champion and headlined major events such as UFC 300. Pereira's success has been fueled by his insane power, especially his signature left hook.
3 Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Johnson
'Rumble' was unstoppable in its heyday
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anthony johnson |
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6'2″ |
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205 pounds |
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Record: 23 wins, 6 losses (17 KOs) |
The late Anthony “Rumble” Johnson took some time to get his MMA career off the ground. He was released by the UFC in 2012 after failing at welterweight and middleweight. He returned just two years later as one of the greatest light heavyweights on the planet.
Johnson became a two-time title challenger, thanks in large part to his insane power. The light heavyweight scorer has earned knockout wins over the likes of Alexander Gustafsson, Ryan Bader and Glover Teixeira throughout his career.
2 Former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Shane Carwin
This heavyweight doesn't get enough respect today.
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Shane Kerwin |
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6'2″ |
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254 pounds |
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Record: 12 wins, 2 losses (8 KOs) |
Shane Carwin's heyday was short-lived, but it was also one of the most fun in UFC history. The heavyweight signed in 2008 at 8-0, with all of his wins coming by stoppage. In his next two years, Carwin recorded four more knockout wins.
One of those victories crushed Frank Mir and earned him the interim heavyweight title. Although he then lost to Brock Lesnar for the undisputed title, Carwin's power remains undeniable.
1 Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou
“The Predator'' has an atmosphere of death.
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Francis Ngannou |
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6'4″ |
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257 pounds |
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Record: 17 wins, 3 losses (12 KOs) |
It would be hard not to include Francis Ngannou on this list. 'The Predator' made his UFC debut in 2015 as an incredibly raw fighter, but with immense power. Over the next seven years, Ngannou became a complete fighter.
In 2021, he defeated Stipe Miocic by knockout to win the UFC gold medal. Although Ngannou left the organization on bad terms in 2023, he remains arguably the greatest puncher in the promotion's history.
