5 of the best spinning backfist knockouts in UFC history
Few things are more spectacular and entertaining in the world of the UFC than a brutal knockout. If it comes via a low-percentage strike, it’s even better.
Over the years, one of the rarer moves that has led to a knockout in the UFC octagon has been the spinning backfist. When it does work, it’s definitely memorable.
Spinning backfist by @PetrYanUFC puts down Sandhagen 🤯 #UFC267 https://t.co/uB080G9f0A
Given that the strike is hardly easy to pull off, it’s not surprising that few fighters throw it in fights, let alone land it and score a knockout. You never know, in the future, it may become more common.
For now, though, here are five of the best spinning backfist knockouts in UFC history.
#5. Chris Gutierrez vs. Batgerel Danaa – UFC Fight Night 205
The most recent entry on this list took place this past weekend at UFC Fight Night 205. Unsurprisingly, it earned Chris Gutierrez a $50k bonus cheque for his efforts.
Gutierrez’ fight with Mongolia’s Batgerel Danaa was one of those clashes that was always going to fly under the radar with the fans. Buried deep in the prelim card of an event that was already not garnering much hype, nobody was talking about the bantamweight bout going in.
However, given Danaa had won his last three bouts via KO and Gutierrez was on a six-fight unbeaten streak, it was clearly a fight worth keeping an eye on.
Indeed, the first round turned out to be an exciting one, but it was Danaa who largely got the better of the striking exchanges, landing first and hardest for the most part.
Gutierrez clearly recognized he needed to switch things up in the second and he did just that, slipping into more of a counter game and forcing Danaa’s wilder punches to miss more than they’d done in the first round.
Midway through the round, then, as ‘The Storm’ chased towards him, Gutierrez timed a perfect spinning backfist, landing directly to the side of the head and dropping Danaa like a ton of bricks. Gutierrez followed in with some elbows, but they were largely academic and the fight was done.
WHAT A KNOCKOUT BY @CGutierrezMMA 🤯 #UFCColumbus https://t.co/WicakfuITK
This was a slick move from a fighter who, given he now hasn’t lost in seven bouts in the octagon, is clearly underrated. Maybe he’ll get more hype behind him now he’s pulled off a knockout like this.