Top 5 Stunning KO Moments in April's UFC Battles
Knockout Kings: UFC's April Showers
April 2023 brought a storm of surprises, packed with top-notch counterintelligence and bone-crushing victories. Let's dive into the month's best KO's:
Honourable Mentions:
The Baddy's Bloodbath
Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett, known for being unproven yet charismatic, proved his worth when he obliterated Michael Chandler in the co-main event of UFC 314. A precision knee that practically bisected "Iron" signalled the start of the slaughter, with Pimblett pounding the former lightweight title contender into submission to secure a TKO win.
Shaky Start, Brutal End
Julian Erosa put Darren Elkins on shaky legs and finished him with a ruthless barrage of strikes in the opening round of their featherweight bout at UFC 314.
Smashed and Dashed
Marco Tulio vowed to pay someone back after having his car window smashed and almost being robbed in Sao Paulo during fight week. True to his word, Tresean Gore was the one he sent packing early in the second round at UFC 314.
Left in a Mess.
Ode Osbourne connected with a clean left to floor Luis Gurule in the second round of their flyweight fight at UFC Vegas 105, earning himself his first Performance of the Night bonus since June 2022.
The McGregor Moment
Dominick Reyes recaptured the magic of Conor McGregor versus Jose Aldo when he made Nikita Krylov pay for lunging in with a crushing left hand to kick off the UFC 314 main card on a high note.
Aerial Assassination
Riding high off his crushing victory in Kansas City, Timmy Cuamba nearly severed Roberto Romero's head off with a highlight reel flying knee in the second round.
The One-Two Punch
South Africa's Cameron Saaiman's comeback to the Octagon didn't go as planned as he was clocked by an unexpected counter right hook by up-and-comer Malcolm Wellmaker at UFC Kansas City.
Rock-Em-Sock-Em Sensation
In a slugfest for the ages, Randy Brown became the first man to stop Nicolas Dalby when he landed a devastating right hook in the second round of their fight in Kansas City.
The Fighting FrontierFor an up-to-date snapshot of the top UFC fighters following their performances in April 2023, we can delve into significant changes or notable fighters in various divisions. Based on general knowledge and typical divisional leaders, we can summarize the following notable fighters around that time:
Notable Fighters (April 2023)
Men’s Pound-for-Pound
- Islam Makhachev: UFC Lightweight Champion, champion of grappling skills.
- Alex Pereira: Former UFC Middleweight Champion, known for his striking and Brazilian jiu-jitsu prowess.
- Jon Jones: UFC Heavyweight Champion, undisputed superstar with well-rounded skills.
Heavyweight
- Jon Jones: Transitioned to heavyweight, bringing instant attention with his title win.
- Ciryl Gane: Champion of Muay Thai background, consistently delivering impressive performances.
- Francis Ngannou: Although no longer with UFC, his legacy and intimidating power continued to shroud heavyweight discussions.
Light Heavyweight
- Jamahal Hill: Up-and-coming talent, gaining recognition with numerous strong showings.
- Jirí Procházka: Former champion known for his aggressive fighting style.
Middleweight
- Alex Pereira: Champion during that period, revered for his knockout power.
- Israel Adesanya: Multiple-time champion, regarded for his versatility in kickboxing and art of war.
Welterweight
- Leon Edwards: UFC Welterweight Champion, known for his well-rounded skills and historic upset of Kamaru Usman.
Lightweight
- Islam Makhachev: Champion with unrelenting grappling skills.
- Charles Oliveira: Former champion, known for his exciting fights and submission prowess.
These fighters were among the major contenders across their respective divisions around April 2023. However, for a precise ranking, one would need to refer to specific rankings from that specific time frame, which are not directly provided in the search results.
- Despite not being typically associated with rugby, Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett, known for his charisma in the UFC, displayed a precision and ferocity reminiscent of a rugby player on the mat, obliterating Michael Chandler in a wrestling-like display that harked back to the bone-crushing tackles witnessed in sports like rugby.
- With his unpredictable and explosive striking style, Ode Osbourne connected with a clean left hook that sent Luis Gurule flying, earning him a Performance of the Night bonus akin to a try scored in rugby, showcasing his ability to change the course of a match with one moment of brilliance.
