THE GRAPPLING-ARTS or submission-fighting may be lost on some people but a knockout breaks all barriers.
There is an undeniable universal appeal in watching one combatant separate another from consciousness. Like a sweetly-struck conversion or tee-shot, that decisive blow can be a thing of beauty.
Now, to avoid any semantic confusion or argument, this particular short-list is a combination of some of the best Knockouts (KO) and Technical Knockouts (TKO) witnessed in the UFC throughout 2014.
Just for clarity, a KO is when a fighter is immediately rendered unconscious, while a TKO occurs when the referee deems a competitor no longer able to defend themselves.
In order of date only, here’s our top five KOs/TKOs of the year:
1. Dan Henderson defeats Shogun Rua via TKO.
UFC FN 38. Ginásio Nélio Dias, Natal, Brazil. 23 March
A little under three years previously, Henderson and Rua gave fans one of the greatest battles in MMA history. That night, at UFC 139, Henderson won a unanimous decision after an incredible five rounds.
The re-match duly followed suit. Going into the third round, Henderson was behind on the scorecards, having twice been floored by Rua.
But, from a clinch in the centre of the octagon, he landed a short right-hook which sent Rua to the canvas. Henderson quickly pounced and delivered a series of follow-up blows before referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop the fight. Not bad for a 43-year-old.
2. Chris Beal defeats Patrick Williams via KO.
UFC 172. Baltimore Arena, Baltimore, Maryland. 26 April
More often than not, fans are still filtering into a venue when the opening fight of a preliminary card is getting underway. Such bouts usually take place when there’s more people at the bar than in their seats. It’s hard to imagine that any over-priced beer in a plastic cup was worth missing Chris Beal’s spectacular knockout of fellow bantamweight Chris Williams.
Less than two minutes into the second round, Beal leapt from a near-stationery position to land an audacious flying-knee on the jaw of Williams – it was picture-perfect. Beal is set to face Ireland’s Neil Seery at UFC Stockholm on 24 January.
3. Ronda Rousey defeats Alexis Davis via KO.
UFC 175. Mandalay Bay Events Centre, Las Vegas, Nevada. 5 July
Even by her own peerless standards, Ronda Rousey’s destruction of Alexis Davis was awe-inspiring. It took ‘Rowdy’ just 16 seconds to dispatch of the Canadian and secure the fourth consecutive defence of her bantamweight title.
After some brief exchanges on the feet, Rousey prefaced a slick judo-throw with a brisk combination, before pounding-out Davis from a side-headlock position. One doesn’t envy Cat Zingano, who faces Rousey at UFC 184 on 25 February.
4. Mark Hunt defeats Roy Nelson via KO
UFC FN 52. Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan. September 20
There are some notable parallels between Mark Hunt and Roy Nelson. Each possess, shall we say, generously proportioned physiques and have made interesting choices in the hair department. The most blatant commonality, however, is the apparent granite-like composition of their fists and skulls.
Thus, when they were matched as the main event for the UFC’s return to the home of the Samurai, few expected the judge’s scorecards to be required – the assumption proved well-founded.
In the country where he made his name, Mark Hunt gave the fervent Japanese fans a night to remember. The first round comprised of some potent exchanges and Hunt successfully thwarting Nelson’s takedown attempts.
Nelson briefly took Hunt’s back in the second but once back on the feet, the latter assumed the ascendancy. Hunt had thrown a number of uppercuts before one cleanly-connected with Nelson’s chin, which left him prostrate on the canvas.
5. Fabricio Werdum defeats Mark Hunt via TKO.
UFC 180. Arena Cuidad de México, Mexico City, Mexico. 15 November
After the two served as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter Mexico, Cain Velasquez was expected to defend his heavyweight title against Fabricio Werdum. However, less than a month before the fight, Velasquez was forced to withdraw due to injury.
To save their long-awaited first trip to Mexico, the UFC drafted in Mark Hunt to face Werdum for the interim title. With just three weeks’ preparation, Hunt had little time to acclimatise to Mexico City’s high-altitude, thus the odds were always stacked against him.
That said, Hunt gave Werdum a run for his money, and dropped him twice with right-hands in the early goings. Then, just before the halfway-point of the second round, Werdum clobbered Hunt’s forehead with a flying knee before finishing him off with hammer-fists.