Given that my colleagues already have done a fantastic job of covering everything from the top fighters to the top moments of the decade, I figured I’d contribute to the retrospective content by examining some of the more memorable fight finishes from the last 10 years – parsing out technical trends and evolution while paying homage to performances that are worthy of the ole “Baba O’Riley” highlight reel.
As you’d hope with any maturing sport, the cultural fist-fighting phenomena that is MMA has improved from many perspectives.
Aside from the obvious growth of audience and accessibility, the quality of fighting, in general, has seen a sure-and-steady uptick since 2010 – particularly in the athleticism department. In fact, you could argue that one of the quiet benefits to the global expansion and corporate interest-era of this past decade is the increase in the level of athletes we’re seeing accumulate in MMA’s proverbial talent pools.
Not only have more Olympic medalists and collegiate athletes successfully made the jump to mixed martial arts, but we’ve also seen small countries like Surname or unassuming giants like China make their mark in regards to flexing their athletic powers. Coupled with the ever-growing index of techniques (from fighting to fight prep), and we’ve been privy to fighters – from all around the world – finding increasingly fun and explosive ways to finish fights.
Since it’s practically impossible to include all of the best fight finishes from the past 10 years, I decided to limit myself to 20 selections that I believe helped shape the state of fighting over the last 10 years.
Without further ado …
****
‘Shogun Rua’ knocks out Lyoto Machida
Date: May 6, 2010
Event: UFC 113
With Frankie Edgar dethroning B.J. Penn just one month prior, the decade starts off with what are the beginnings of a trend in regards to “auras of invincibility” being shattered, as well as stylistic conundrums being figured out. And sure enough, after finishing the previous decade off with a sour decision at UFC 104, Mauricio Rua exacted his revenge in 2010 by emphatically ending the undefeated streak of then-light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida at UFC 113.
Not only did Rua build off of his previous successes of low kicks and right hands to eventually find the crashing counter, but he also provided a useful blueprint for future fighters when it comes to dealing with karate stylists in mixed martial arts (see Douglas Lima vs. Michael Page or Anthony Pettis vs. Stephen Thompson).
Fabricio Werdum submits Fedor Emelianenko
Date: June 26, 2010
Event: Strikeforce/M-1 Global: “Fedor vs. Werdum”
As I mentioned, 2010 in MMA was essentially the first few seasons of “Game of Thrones” wrapped into one year in regards to watching our heroes fall.
Fedor Emelianenko, who finishes 2009 with a surprisingly competitive fight with Brett Rogers, starts off the decade with a rude reminder from Fabricio Werdum that the guard still works in mixed martial arts.
At this particular time in the sport, the jiu-jitsu guard was trending down both in popularity and proven application at the highest levels; therefore seeing someone like Fedor (of all people) falling into the grappling honeytrap was incredibly surprising. To Werdum’s credit, he masterfully played possum like an NBA player trying to draw an offensive foul, further placating Fedor’s strong sense of security from topside – something that ultimately cost the Russian his legendary winning streak.
Anderson Silva submits Chael Sonnen
Date: Aug. 7, 2010
Event: UFC 117
It’s hard to forget fights that happen on your birthday, especially when it comes to classics like this one.
Chael Sonnen, who had surprised me with his brand of promotional candor since his WEC victory over Bryan Baker, ended up surprising us all by backing up his words when taking on the great Anderson Silva at UFC 117.
After four-plus rounds of domination from Sonnen, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Silva was going by the wayside like Fedor, Penn and Machida had done months before him. However, despite being down on the scorecards (as well as sporting an injured rib), Silva shows off elite, clutch-player sensibilities that would make the likes of Michael Jordan or Reggie Miller proud, as the then-UFC champ secured a triangle-armbar submission in the fifth round that reminded us all there are no safe spaces in MMA so long as there’s time on the clock.
Edson Barboza TKOs Mike Lullo
Date: Nov. 20, 2010
Event: UFC 123
Legend bashing wasn’t the only thing going on in MMA back in 2010, as there were fighters like Edson Barboza stepping onto the scene to help start/reinforce the trend of leg bashing.
Sure, the decade prior had a solid offering of leg kickers like Pedro Rizzo, Pat Barry and Antoni Hardonk, but it’s hard to ignore that those men were all heavyweights while Barboza – the only fighter to officially earn two leg-kick TKOs under the UFC banner – is a lightweight.
Of course, Jose Aldo’s domination over Urijah Faber at WEC 48 would’ve also been a great example to list if it fit the bill for a fight finish, but it’s ultimately hard to deny Barboza’s consistent commitment to killing his opposition with kicks, as well as his contributions toward this decade’s trend of attacking the legs.
Anderson Silva knocks out Vitor Belfort
Date: Feb. 5, 2011
Event: UFC 126
In a matchup that was full of both freaky athleticism and technical savvy, it was ironically an old school technique that solved the Brazilian showdown between Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort back in 2011.
Silva, who was not opposed to mixing in traditional martial arts techniques, opted away from the more-commonly used teep kick (which typically has more of a pushing motion to it), and instead fired off a front kick that snapped back the head of Belfort like a Pez dispenser. This shocking finish quickly imprinted itself into the lexicon of MMA, sparking off two more copycat finishes that same year (Lyoto Machida over Randy Couture and Justin Buchholz over Steve Lopez).
Jose Aldo knocks out Chad Mendes
Date: Jan. 14, 2012
Event: UFC 142
Recency bias has many, including myself, assigning 2019 as “the year of the knee.”
However, when you step back and look at the decade, throwing knees (particularly against wrestlers) has been an overarching theme that was instituted beautifully by Jose Aldo in his historic and memorable finish over Chad Mendes at UFC 142. Incidental cage grab aside, Aldo’s vaunted takedown defense was on full display, as he demonstrated the importance of both breaking grips and forecasting head placements for those who are hungry for hips.
Edson Barboza knocks out Terry Etim
Date: Jan. 14, 2012
Event: UFC 142
It feels kind of strange selecting two fights from the same event, but how can you leave Edson Barboza’s wheel kick knockout over Terry Etim off of this list?
Whether we’re talking about modern-day MMA or my earliest martial arts memories from the early ’90s, people – from professionals to casuals – have always argued the efficacy of spinning kicks in regards to practical applications at the highest levels. But regardless of what side of the argument you fall on, you cannot deny the damage of the well-placed wheel kick (arguably the most powerful kick in the playbook) that Barboza burned into our memory banks.
No. 13: Vitor Belfort knocks out Luke Rockhold
Date: May 18, 2013
Event: UFC on FX 8
I know I just paid homage to a much prettier spin kick, but this selection makes the list for a much deeper reason.
Though MMA’s proverbial elephant in the room arguably has always had something to do with either drug or safety regulations, 2013 was a particularly weird window in our sport, as many athletic governing bodies were giving out exemptions for TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) – which was basically a way for competitors to supplement themselves with steroids.
Enter Vitor Belfort, a man who clearly celebrated and thrived during this time.
Belfort always possessed freakish athleticism and power, but the bolstered physique and technical abilities that rapidly rose in his late 30’s (especially when looking at this particular contest) forced us to acknowledge combat sports’ chicken or the egg conundrum – which likely helped lead companies like the UFC toward third party regulation.
Chris Weidman TKOs Anderson Silva
Date: Dec. 28, 2013
Event: UFC 168 “Weidman vs. Silva 2”
For every trend that finds its way to the surface in MMA, a solution is usually not very far behind.
Despite Anderson Silva seldom relying heavily on leg kicks, his attacks toward Chris Weidman’s lower extremities was one of the only things that the former champ was effective with in their first fight – which probably meant he was going to try and build off of it in their rematch at UFC 168.
Sure enough, Silva went hard and heavy with inside leg licks early –– something Weidman was ready for. And after two sturdy leg checks from the then-champion, Silva’s leg snapped in a horrific way that will make anyone respect the two-way street of slinging shins down low.
Holly Holm knocks out Ronda Rousey
Date: Nov. 15, 2015
Event: UFC 193
Ronda Rousey deserves a ton of credit for not only her historical significance to MMA, but also for the fact that, for a certain period of time, she successfully built a “Mike Tyson aura” around a submission move like the armbar.
But for as many finishes as Rousey produced, it’s hard to argue that the most emphatic finish she took part in sadly saw her on the receiving end of the equation. And in one of the largest shows (with the biggest promotional build-ups) in UFC history, Holly Holm found herself playing the role of Frank Nitti via the form of a brutal head kick off the break, reminding us all that – no matter your record or status – everyone in MMA is ‘touchable.’
Conor McGregor knocks out Jose Aldo
Date: Dec. 12, 2015
Event: UFC 194
Historical context alone makes it hard to leave Conor McGregor’s 13-second finish of Jose Aldo off of this list.
It’s not only a picture-perfect snippet of some of my favorite stylings of southpaw counter-fighting, but it also serves a reminder for how fast skills and expectations can diminish if you lose the proverbial fight before the fight. Whether you’re a fan of McGregor’s antics or not, it’s hard to deny that he didn’t make use of his promotional time prior to fighting Aldo at UFC 194 – something that seemed the play out in spades for the Irishman and was key in propelling him toward sparking off (for better or worse) the champ-champ era.
Nate Diaz submits Conor McGregor
Date: March 5, 2016
Event: UFC 196
“The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”
Despite the record-setting performance mentioned on the previous page, Conor McGregor’s planned meet with then-lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos fell through, creating a short-notice opportunity for one Nate Diaz.
This fight/the flint lighter that sparks off its finish is a perfect example of something I always preach in my breakdowns, which is the fact that many southpaws can get uncomfortable when forced to stand with other lefties – particularly due to the inherent left-handed availabilities that seem extra potent in this mirrored stance (see Jorge Masvidal vs. Darren Till).
McGregor-Diaz 1 also serves as an example of why you can’t count out short-notice opposition in MMA, especially when we’re talking about durable veterans with a gas tanks.
Michael Bisping knocks out Luke Rockhold
Date: June 4, 2016
Event: UFC 199
Speaking of short-notice opposition and the traditional left-handed blindspots of a southpaw, but how could I leave this legendary finish off of the list?
Getting the call while on a movie set with just two weeks notice, Michael Bisping stepped in to face longtime foe and then-champion Luke Rockhold, a man who had dominantly defeated him in competition once before. But despite having the odds heavily stacked against him, Bisping stepped in and showed that you don’t have to swing from a southpaw stance if you mean to find said left-handed blindspot on a lefty – just so long as you have an educated left hook (see Sam Stout vs. Yves Edwards).
Max Holloway TKOs Jose Aldo
Date: June 3, 2017
Event: UFC 212
At this point in time, Jose Aldo – the “King of Rio” – has made multiple title defenses in front of his home crowd in Rio de Janeiro, arguably putting on his best UFC performances whenever there.
But in the wake of the McGregor-era shakeup, a Hawaiian champion seemingly snuck up to the top of the mountain with a style that would help mark MMA’s technical evolution – making for a difficult challenge that many didn’t see coming.
Wielding a fighter archetype that I like to refer to as “a builder,” Max Holloway’s vaunted output will build in conjunction with his understanding of a fight’s traffic – steadily using his opponent’s strengths against them. Against Aldo, a fighter who typically needs pockets of time recoup energy, Holloway proved to be stylistic kryptonite, showing the fighting world how to both provide and get paid off by pressure.
*Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier 2
Date: July 29, 2017
Event: UFC 214
No, the asterisk above is not your imagination, as I do believe this fight finish-turned-no contest deserves to be on here specifically for the controversy it inspires.
The reason that you’re probably seeing Jon Jones’ name atop many “fighters of the decade” or “top pound-for-pound fighters” lists is that it’s hard to deny both the ass kickings and the level of fighting that the man has produced through the years.
However, despite the UFC’s best efforts to avoid another Vitor Belfort-like scenario, their operating authority (USADA) ended up both housing and harming careers like Jones’, sadly casting a thicker fog over one of the highest-level performances we’ve been privy to between two of the sports greatest pound-for-pound fighters.
The record book reads “no contest,” but not even [autoag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] will deny what happened that night.
Francis Ngannou knocks out Alistair Overeem
Date: Dec. 2, 2017
Event: UFC 218
Outside of the spooky Sonny Liston-Floyd Patterson parallels that I correctly predicted in my initial breakdown of this match, there’s not a ton of technical or historical significance to selecting Francis Ngannou’s knockout of Alistair Overeem.
Honestly, it’s just a great example of how skills and experience can pretty much account for nothing when you’re dealing with heavyweight MMA. And though I hate to even joke about serious injury, this devastating finish was essentially this decade’s “Rampage-Arona” moment.
Daniel Cormier knocks out Stipe Miocic
Date: July 7, 2018
Event: UFC 226
Just one year prior, Daniel Cormier seemed all but a defeated man after losing to Jon Jones back at UFC 214. But after a superfight opportunity with Stipe Miocic presents itself at heavyweight, Cormier just couldn’t help but jump back on the horse of high aspirations.
Not only did Cormier successfully dethrone the arguable-greatest UFC heavyweight champion (if we’re strictly talking stats here), but he did so by reminding the masses the importance of clinch fighting at heavyweight, as well as how potent a punch can be when you don’t see it coming off of a break.
Khabib Nurmagomedov submits Conor McGregor
Date: Oct. 6, 2018
Event: UFC 229
There’s admittedly not a lot of flash to this finish, but it’s hard to deny the historical significance of Khabib Nurmagomedov submitting Conor McGregor.
Both men are much more complete as mixed martial artists than their detractors will give them credit for, but this was about as classic of a “striker vs. grappler” matchup that this decade could have afforded us. The fact that statues were erected of this fight finish aside, Nurmagomedov’s eventual neck crank provides a great example of how persistent grappling pressure will, like water, eventually break everything down it resides in – even if you don’t give your chin.
Amanda Nunes knocks out Cris Cyborg
Date: Dec. 29, 2018
Event: UFC 232
Amanda Nunes knocking out Cris Cyborg is another finish on this list that’s hard to deny for its historical significance.
Sure, Nunes may have beat Cyborg at her own game off the initial impression, but if you look closer you will see that Nunes – a fighter whose wildness traditionally plagued her in spots like these – kept her cool and leaned on her deceptive counter-punching abilities to hurt the legendary Cyborg and line up subsequent right hands.
Nunes beat many other notable fighters in her recent title run, but this particular fight pitted the most prolific fight finishers in any female ranks against each other – and Nunes was the one who came out on top.
No. 1: Jorge Masvidal knocks out Ben Askren
Date: July 6, 2019
Event: UFC 239
It only seems fitting that the guy who ends the previous decade getting posterized (via submission loss to Toby Imada in 2009) finishes this decade off as the one who is doing the posterizing.
Coming in as “the fighter of the year” for many, Jorge Masvidal is closing out the decade with a late-career renaissance that’s hard not to get behind. The 16-year pro scored three impressive finishes in 2019, but it’s safe to say that his flying-knee knockout over Ben Askren will forever have a home in both highlight reels and wrestlers minds alike.
In a decade full of amazing knee knockouts, this one takes the cake. It perfectly marries the elevated athleticism and information from experience that, to me, represents the overarching theme to the fight finishes we’ve seen in the last 10 years.
