In the domain of professional sports, few moments are as captivating as a knockout in the UFC. Whether exhilarating or unsettling, knockouts evoke genuine emotions unlike any other event. The year 2023 has seen its fair share of thrilling reactions within the UFC, showcasing the best knockouts thus far.
UFC 2023: Unforgettable Knockouts
Kicking off the year with a bang, Umar Nurmagomedov left a lasting impression on the Jan. 14 UFC card. Despite never having achieved an instant knockout in his 15-fight career, Nurmagomedov stunned the audience by flattening Raoni Barcelos. With a cunning left hand after a missed knee, Nurmagomedov left Barcelos dazed and the fans rewatching in awe.
April 8 saw Israel Adesanya triumph in his battle against his haunting adversary, Alex Pereira. Overcoming a nightmare that spanned two different sports, Adesanya reclaimed his UFC middleweight title with a riveting second-round knockout. A series of well-placed punches dropped Pereira, finally putting an end to Adesanya’s struggle.
The month of July witnessed Justin Gaethje rise to prominence with a resounding knockout. At UFC 291, Gaethje delivered a thunderous head-kick knockout to Dustin Poirier, a victory that not only earned him the “BMF of UFC” title but also avenged his previous loss to Poirier.
Aug. 19 marked a turning point for Sean O’Malley, who silenced critics and established himself as a rising star. At UFC 292, O’Malley defied doubters by expertly countering Aljamain Sterling’s grappling. A lightning-fast right hook floored Sterling, and precise ground-and-pound sealed O’Malley’s ascendancy.
The pinnacle of knockouts in 2023, however, arrived through Max Holloway on an eventful night in UFC Singapore. Displaying sheer dominance, Holloway secured a stunning walk-off knockout against Jun Chang-Sung, famously known as “The Korean Zombie.” This marked Holloway’s first KO/TKO finish since his victory over Brian Ortega in 2018.
Throughout the year, these knockout moments have outline the essence of the UFC’s raw excitement.