5 of the best finishing moves in UFC history
The worlds of the UFC and pro-wrestling often go hand-in-hand. In the octagon, though, finishing moves are not quite so common.
Despite this, some UFC fighters over the years have become so adept at ending a fight in a certain way that they could be viewed as finishing moves, just like in WWE.
Of course, even these fighters can't end all of their fights in the same way, but if they do manage to pull off their signature strike or hold, it's usually over.
Here are five of the best finishing moves in UFC history.
#5. UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira's left hook
A number of past fighters were renowned for their lethal left hook, including Irish superstar Conor McGregor.
However, it's fair to say that right now, Alex Pereira's coffin nail left hook has become one of the most dangerous weapons in the UFC. He's used it to violent effect and has already claimed both the middleweight and light heavyweight titles despite only debuting three years ago.
The Brazilian's punching power, his left hook in particular, was renowned before he even arrived in the promotion. After all, he'd used the shot to knock Israel Adesanya out cold during their kickboxing rivalry.
Eyes were opened, though, when 'Poatan' sparked Sean Strickland out with his left hook to earn a middleweight title shot at Adesanya. And in that title fight, it was the left hook that landed again to set up a fight-ending flurry for the Brazilian.
A move up to 205 pounds has certainly not made Pereira's left hand any less effective. After he used a series of elbows to claim the light heavyweight title from Jiri Prochazka, he then left Jamahal Hill unconscious with his left hook in a highlight reel moment.
In his rematch with Prochazka, meanwhile, while a head kick did for 'BJP' in the end, it was a knockdown with the left hook that left the Czech fighter wide open to be finished.
Essentially, whatever Pereira touches with his left hand, he tends to destroy. If 'Poatan' connects with it this weekend against Khalil Rountree, it'll probably be goodnight again.
#4. Ovince Saint Preux's Von Flue choke
The Von Flue choke - a shoulder choke variant that can be used to defend against a guillotine attempt - is named after welterweight journeyman Jason Von Flue. 'Live Wire' fought for the UFC from 2005 to 2006 and didn't really do much of note.
However, it's safe to say that a different fighter has mastered his trademark choke, and has now turned it into one of the UFC's most lethal - and unique - finishing moves.
Ovince Saint Preux may not go down as one of the promotion's all-time great 205-pounders. Despite challenging Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title in 2016, he'll more likely be remembered as a gatekeeper at best.
What he has done, though, is master the Von Flue choke like no other. Remarkably, 'OSP' has used the hold to submit four different fighters during his tenure with the promotion.
Nikita Krylov was his first victim back in 2014. Since then, he's tapped out Marcos Rogerio de Lima, Yushin Okami, and Michal Oleksiejczuk with the rare choke.
Realistically, the big question is quite why anyone would attempt to guillotine Saint Preux at this point, but regardless, it's definitely fair to call his Von Flue choke one of the UFC's best finishers.
#3. Dan Henderson's 'H-Bomb' right hand
While he never won a title in the UFC as he did in PRIDE and Strikeforce, Dan Henderson's big right hand was still renowned as one of the best finishing moves in octagon history.
In fact, the haymaker shot even had its own moniker - the 'H-Bomb' - during the peak of Henderson's popularity 15 years ago.
When he first arrived in the octagon in 2008, Henderson was actually better-known for his Greco-Roman wrestling, although he had knocked out plenty of foes in PRIDE, including Wanderlei Silva and Renzo Gracie.
It was when he absolutely crushed his bitter rival Michael Bisping with the shot, though, that the 'H-Bomb' took on a life of its own.
Suddenly, everyone was well aware of Henderson's lethal right hand, and while he moved to Strikeforce following the Bisping win, he continued to use the shot to great effect.
Renato Sobral, Rafael Feijao, and even the great Fedor Emelianenko became victims of the 'H-Bomb' during his time in the promotion.
2011 saw 'Hendo' return to the octagon, and it's arguable that by that point, age and wear-and-tear had degenerated his overall game somewhat.
In fact, it's arguable that by the latter stages of his career, the 'H-Bomb' was the only real weapon he had. That's why it was even more remarkable to see him still be able to use it to knock out both Shogun Rua and Tim Boetsch.
Henderson retired after losing a rematch with Bisping for the middleweight title in 2016, but even then, he badly hurt 'The Count' with two big right hands and was inches away from claiming the gold.
When he is inevitably inducted into the Hall of Fame, then, it's likely he'll credit the 'H-Bomb' for taking him there.
#2. Rousimar Palhares' leglocks
Despite looking remarkably cool when they do work, leglock submissions are unfortunately rare in the octagon. This is because of their high risk, often low reward nature.
Essentially, it's too easy for a fighter to defend a leglock by smashing an opponent in the face with punches as they attempt to use both of their arms to secure a hold. However, one fighter in UFC history turned his leglocks into a seriously violent art form and made them one of the most feared finishing moves in the octagon.
That fighter, of course, was former middleweight and welterweight contender Rousimar Palhares.
Curiously enough, 'Toquinho' actually won his first octagon bout with an armbar, but it didn't take him long to unleash his deadly leglocks.
The Brazilian submitted Lucio Linhares with a heel hook in his fourth octagon appearance, and then used one to tear Tomasz Drwal's knee to pieces in his next fight.
Unfortunately, that submission also landed Palhares in hot water, as he blatantly held onto the move for too long, doing more damage in the process. It was a pattern that would come back to haunt 'Toquinho' time after time, and it eventually led to his release from the promotion in 2013.
Despite this, he ended his octagon tenure with a ridiculous five heel hook submissions to his name, and continued to use them to great effect on the regional circuit too.
Essentially, Palhares not only established a trademark finishing move, he also turned a low-percentage hold into a truly deadly one, too.
#1. Former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey's armbar
In the world of pro-wrestling, the best finishing moves tend to be the ones that can seemingly come from nowhere or be delivered from multiple angles or positions. In the UFC, then, it's probably fair to label former bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey's trademark armbar as the best finisher in octagon history.
'Rowdy' was able to finish three of her six successful title defenses with the hold, submitting Liz Carmouche, Miesha Tate, and Cat Zingano. However, if you include her pre-UFC career too, a remarkable nine of her 12 MMA victories were achieved with the same move.
The key to Rousey's success with the armbar was undoubtedly her ability to seemingly lock it up from nowhere and from any position. Whether she was in top position or fighting from her back didn't seem to matter.
In fact, in her famous fight with Zingano - which lasted just 14 seconds and is still the fastest finish in bantamweight history - she went one better. Catching 'Alpha' with a throw off the back of dodging a flying knee attempt, Rousey managed to float directly into her patented armbar basically in mid-air.
Once her octagon career ended, Rousey made the move into pro-wrestling with WWE, and it was no surprise to see her use the armbar as her finisher there too. After all, if it was good enough to end fights in the UFC, it was always going to be good enough there too.