The best active knockout artists in five UFC divisions
UFC fighters come in varying shapes and sizes. But the promotion's main selling point is the same attention-drawer in nearly every combat sport: knockouts. Nothing thrills MMA fans more than seeing one fighter flatten their opponents with devastating knockout blows.
It's for this reason that the promotion's greatest stars have typically been strikers. A knockout is much easier for casual fans to grasp than an unorthodox submission they don't recognize. Sometimes, knockouts are the product of well-timed shots that catch fighters in moments they never saw coming.
In other cases, knockouts are due to extraordinarily powerful punchers. Every division has a heavy-handed fighter who can crack anyone's chin with a clean blow. This list considers them all as it compiles the best, active knockout artists from five different UFC divisions.
#5 The UFC lightweight division: Justin Gaethje
Justin Gaethje isn't especially fast or explosive. Furthermore, his cardio isn't a bottomless gas tank that he can dip into to carry him through five fast-paced rounds. What he lacks in speed and cardio, however, 'The Highlight' possesses in the form of knockout power.
#OnThisDay in 2018, @Justin_Gaethje recorded this NASTY knockout in Nebraska π₯ https://t.co/Q92pcLCwcW
He is brutally powerful and when paired with his strong grasp of boxing fundamentals, renders him the UFC lightweight division's best knockout artist. Thus far, the former UFC interim lightweight champion has 19 knockouts in 23 wins.
There's only one other 155'er, Conor McGregor, who matches his number of knockouts. Unfortunately, the Irishman's knockouts were lesser as most came during his featherweight run.
#4 The UFC welterweight division: Vicente Luque
Despite his recent knockout loss to Geoff Neal and the emergence of Khamzat Chimaev as the welterweight division's newest nuclear threat, Vicente Luque remains the 170 lbs weight class' best knockout artist. Not only does he possess a terrifying amount of natural punching power, but his striking style compliments it.
WHAT A FIGHT! WHAT A FINISH! π±
Vicente Luque gets the KO right on the buzzer after an insane fight with Bryan Barberena!
So. Much. Action! π₯
#UFCPhoenix https://t.co/eWWPGaaoyK
The Brazilian maintains a very tight guard that serves as the foundation for his boxing. Nearly every punch he throws is from his guard, which minimizes their wind-up and shortens the arc his punches must travel through. Specifically, his lead left hook is thrown almost like a jab as it pops straight out of his guard.
Luque often throws it as a counterpunch against advancing opponents. Since he throws power punches straight from his guard, he often catches his foes with blows they don't see coming. Combined with his natural punching power, it's enabled him to score several knockouts.
#3 The UFC middleweight division: Alex Pereira
The greatest left hook in all of MMA belongs to Alex Pereira. The reigning middleweight kingpin is an extremely powerful puncher with numerous setups for his preferred knockout blow. To maximize the effectiveness of his left hook, he often throws it with his shoulders squared and his chest open.
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Alex Pereira (+100 ML) gets the win over Sean Strickland
Pereira KO/TKO in Round 1 β‘οΈ +410
https://t.co/eIl4MvGbB6
This shortens the arc that 'Poatan's' left hook travels through, meaning it lands before his opponent's left hook can. Furthermore, his left hook often serves as a counterpunch for one simple reason: for his opponents to land left hooks of their own, they must first stand close enough to be hit.
Since his left hook travels through a shorter arc, it always lands first. Additionally, the former two-division Glory Kickboxing champion will use various setups for his left hook like dipping with a jab to the body to invite parries before throwing a left hook over the top, which he did to great effect against Sean Strickland.
#2 The UFC light heavyweight division: JiΕΓ ProchΓ‘zka
While JiΕΓ ProchΓ‘zka is no longer the UFC light heavyweight champion, courtesy of a crippling shoulder injury, he remains the division's best knockout artist despite Jamahal Hill's recent ascension to the 205 lbs throne. First, the Czech sensation possesses just as much natural knockout power as 'Sweet Dreams' does.
WATCH: Jiri Prochazka scores the third spinning elbow KO in UFC history vs. Dominick Reyes at #UFCVegas25 https://t.co/8aVMdaJ0wa
Second, he often steps in very deep with every single punch he throws. When paired with his general fearlessness and tendency to fight as if he believes himself to be immortal, the former light heavyweight kingpin transforms himself into the division's most effective knockout artist.
ProchΓ‘zka frequently commits every ounce of his weight to his punches, all while coaxing his foes into engaging him in extended kickboxing exchanges that expose both of their chins. The difference is ProchΓ‘zka has the punching power to flatten them first.
#1 The UFC heavyweight division: Derrick Lewis
Despite the recent slump Derrick Lewis has found himself in, there is no doubting his effectiveness as a knockout machine. With Francis Ngannou's departure from the UFC, 'The Black Beast' stands head and shoulders above everyone else as far as being the promotion's best puncher is concerned.
The Heavyweight KO King! π
Derrick Lewis gets a record-breaking 1οΈβ£1οΈβ£th KO in his division at #UFCVegas6! https://t.co/vVH9Ua0H1D
Lewis owns the record for the most knockouts in UFC history and there's a good reason why. He is naturally more powerful than nearly anyone who has ever fought under Dana White's banner. His right hand is a weapon of mass destruction, and he generates a tremendous amount of leverage when he throws punches.
The 38-year-old backs up in a straight line to create the space and time necessary to land his blows with maximum leverage as opponents eagerly chase him down only to inadvertendly run face-first into a knockout.