Marlon Vera and 4 other great head-kick KOs in the UFC
In the UFC, head kicks result in some of the most spectacular knockouts across the entire sport of MMA. Few sounds in combat sports are as thunderous as the seismic collision between a chin and a shin. However, head kicks are high-risk maneuvers, least of all because fighters have gotten better at parrying kicks and countering them.
They require more time, energy, and leverage than any other strike. This is why prolific kickers who have neglected to expand their footwork and learn to pivot at angles struggle against opponents who deprive them of the space and time they need to throw kicks effectively.
This is what led to the downfall of even very fast, powerful kickers like Anthony Pettis and Edson Barboza. Thus, the most effective kickers who have emerged are the ones who create openings with their boxing.
Last weekend saw Marlon 'Chito' Vera defeat Dominick Cruz with a vicious head kick that smashed the former UFC bantamweight champion's nose into itself. In the spirit of Vera's impressive win, this list examines his head kick KO along with 4 other impressive knockouts of a similar variety.
#5. Kevin Lee vs. Gregor Gillespie, UFC 244
Although UFC 244 was headlined by Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz, the true show-stealer was Kevin Lee's vicious knockout of the then undefeated wrestler Gregor Gillespie. At the time, Lee was making his return to the lightweight division after an unsuccessful welterweight debut against Rafael dos Anjos.
Kevin Lee KO of Gregor Gillespie is even more SAVAGE 😂😂😂
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Gillespie, on the other hand, was an unbeaten phenom intent on capturing the first signature win of his career by besting a former UFC interim lightweight title challenger. The fight lasted little more than two minutes. Lee didn't deviate from his typical jab-right cross combination, immediately noticing Gillespie's intention of slipping on the inside of his right cross.
After ensuring Gillespie's reaction, Lee again threw the combination, hoping to trick Gillespie into slipping into the path of a left high kick as he sought to avoid the right cross. 'The Motown Phenom' was even more successful than he intended.
Gillespie was stunned by the right cross as he tried slipping inside, briefly freezing in place for a left high kick he never saw coming. The kick landed and Gillespie was unconscious before collapsing against the fence, no longer undefeated.