These Were The Top UFC Knockouts Of 2021
2021 was jampacked with stunning knockouts, specifically in the UFC. Here’s five we thought stood out the most.
5. Rose Namajunas vs. Weili Zhang 1
Rose Namajunas a Weili Zhang (#UFC261)pic.twitter.com/v4YtxTmhIg
— Fans UFC Latinoamérica (@UFC_Latam) December 27, 2021
These fighters shared the octagon twice this year, and both battles were amazing. However, in the first bout, fans witnessed a killer knockout.
Everyone expected that Namajunas would try her jiu-jitsu skills against Zhang, but Namajunas started attacking and moving around her rival as soon as the fight started and landed a clear combination of left jab and left high kick.
Zhang was down like a piece of wood, but the referee did not stop the fight, so Namajunas continued landing several punches on the ground.
Referee Keith Peterson stopped the fight. Namajunas stripped her of the title.
4. Roosevelt Roberts vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
OH MY GOODNESS!
[ #UFCVegas34 | Prelims are LIVE on ESPN2 & @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/eb31qfJ4bq
— UFC (@ufc) August 22, 2021
Ignacio Bahamondes violently knocked out Roosevelt Roberts just five seconds before the third round bell.
It was a very close fight. Bahamondes was full of tears by the end.
3. Chris Barnett vs. Gian Villante
OH MY BEAST BOYYYYYYYYY 😤
[ #UFC268 | Early Prelims are LIVE on @UFCFightPass & ESPN+ ] pic.twitter.com/cRf5Z3ocq6
— UFC (@ufc) November 6, 2021
Chris Barnett made his debut in the UFC in 2021 but suffered a loss against Ben Rothwell. But he got his second opportunity against Gian Villante, who had four losses in his previous five UFC contests and had 3-7 balances in his last 10 appearances.
Barnett served a spinning wheel kick and finished the fight via punches, which might have been unthinkable for a heavyweight.
2. Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal 2
WHAT A KNOCKOUT! 💥
Kamaru Usman makes a statement by finishing Jorge Masvidal in the second round! 🇳🇬 🏆#UFC261 pic.twitter.com/Dk69ac9WXI
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) April 25, 2021
One of the most highly anticipated title fights this year was held between Jorge Masvidal and Kamaru Usman.
Firstly, they shared the octagon in 2020 at UFC 251. Usman allowed Masvidal to share the octagon for the second time at UFC 261.
Masvidal managed and escaped from Usman’s ground game in the first round. Masvidal was fighting with his hands down to annoy Usman and landed several good punches too. But Usman landed a massive left hook, right cross combination, and knocked Masvidal out cold.
It was the first-ever KO loss for Masvidal in the UFC.
1. Jiri Prochazka vs. Dominick Reyes
— danawhite (@danawhite) May 2, 2021
Jiri Prochazka is one of the most fast-rising stars of the UFC.
He held only one fight in 2020 against former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir and served KO, and after that, he faced another former two-times title challenger, Dominick Reyes.
It was a great fight, and these athletes were exchanging their best shots. But Prochazka served a spinning back elbow. Reyes went down immediately and could not move for a while.
It was the 25th KO victory for Czech fighter and the second KO victory out of two fights in the UFC.