Top Ranking UFC KO's of the Year 2024

Blood, Bones, and Brute force: The octagon roared with triumph as martial arts titans unfurled their deadly masterpieces, splattering the canvas with the essence of combat. New rulers ascended their thrones in spectacles of raw power, defending champions maintained their dominion, and upstart contenders solidified their standing while up-and-comers seized the limelight.

This year, I present the 10 most jaw-dropping knockouts the UFC has to offer:

10: French Finger Food:

Fares Ziam left a lasting impression by dishing out one of the most devastating knees imaginable, rocking Matt Frevola in round three at UFC Paris. Two follow-up shots sent the veteran crashing to the mat, unconscious.

9: Head Start:

At UFC St. Louis, Esteban Ribovics and Terrance McKinney squared off in an all-out brawl, with Ribovics emerging victorious. The 40-second demolition culminated in a merciless head kick that silenced McKinney's aggression.

8: Diamond in the Rough:

Dustin Poirier took on "The God of War" himself, Benoit Saint Denis, at UFC 299, and emerged triumphant. Poirier floored the unbeaten Frenchman with a swift right hook and follow-up shot, solidifying his legacy.

7: Tiny Tornado:

Shi Ming's climactic head-kick knockout of Feng Xiaocan at UFC Macau marked the first Road to UFC strawweight tournament victory. Feng lay incapacitated for several minutes before ultimately being stretchered from the Octagon.

6: Miocic's Downfall:

At UFC 309, Jon Jones displayed his finely-tuned dominance, systematically dismantling Stipe Miocic. Jones capped off the heavweight title retention by landing a masterful spinning back kick to Miocic's body, leaving him writhing in agony.

5: Spin Doctor:

The one-of-a-kind spinning back fists of Shara Magomedov ignited unparalleled excitement as he bested Armen Petrosyan at UFC 308. This unique knockout remains one of the most spine-tingling moments in the Octagon.

4: The impossible Dream:

Unbeaten featherweight champion Ilia Topuria boldly claimed he would be the first to knock out Max Holloway. True to his word, Topuria connected with a crushing right hand and a picture-perfect left hook to stun the great Hawaiian in their title bout at UFC 308.

3: Leap of Faith:

Alex Pereira clinched his light heavyweight title defense and put an end to his rivalry with Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303. The show-stopping blow came by way of a clean left head kick, establishing Pereira as a legitimate force in MMA.

2: Air Strike:

Newcomer Vinicius Oliveira made a name for himself at UFC Vegas 87 with his stunning flying knee that took Bernardo Sopai out in one fell swoop.

1: The Ultimate Show-stopper:

Justin Gaethje knew he was in trouble when Max Holloway extended an invitation to trade blows in the final moments of their BMF title fight at UFC 300. In a:never-before-seen sequence of events, the Hawaiian flooring Gaethje and securing an unprecedented $600,000 in performance bonuses. The spectacle produced an unforgettable highlight that will be etched in the annals of the UFC.

Amir Albazi ● Brandon Moreno ● Charles Oliveira ● Editor's Choice ● Islam Makhachev ● Khamzat Chimaev ● Latest News ● MMA ● News ● Paulo Costa ● UFC ● Quintin van Jaarsveld

Quintin Van Jaarsveld, a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year, casts his gaze upon the UFC. Formerly sports editor at The Fever Media Group and SARugby.com, his 15 years' experience in the field culminates in his current role as a freelance sports writer.

In the realm of mixed-martial-arts, Amir Albazi has made a name for himself, showcasing his skills against UFC opponents.
Brandon Moreno, the current flyweight champion, added another title defense to his record, displaying his prowess in the octagon.
Charles Oliveira, a prominent figure in the UFC, has been turning heads with his impressive performances in the lightweight division.
Aside from UFC, Quintin Van Jaarsveld, a former local sports journalist of the year, focuses on bring insightful news and analysis to the world of sports, including rugby and MMA.