Watch: 5 best spinning back fist KOs in UFC history
Nothing captures a UFC fan's imagination quite like a knockout. When a knockout is especially exciting, as is the case with many spinning techniques, it often leads to conversations about whether fans have just witnessed the knockout of the year.
No one can forget the fanfare surrounding Edson Barboza's spinning heel kick knockout over Terry Etim at UFC 142. While it was a knockout that has since been classified as one of the greatest in UFC history, other spinning techniques have achieved similar levels of excitement.
The spinning back fist is one such technique that has quickly led to an exciting string of knockouts in recent memory. The most recent spinning back fist knockout was seen in Zhang Weili's bout with Joanna Jędrzejczyk in what became her foe's final UFC fight.
While Zhang's knockout was impressive, especially considering its setup, other spinning back fist knockouts are just as impressive. This list takes a look at the 5 best spinning back fist knockouts in UFC history.
#5. Steven Peterson vs. Martin Bravo
Casual fans are unlikely to know the names of either fighter. That is more so because both Steven Peterson and Martin Bravo fought on an uneventful UFC Fight Night card headlined by Yair Rodriguez and Jeremy Stephens.
The main card was nothing of note as every fight except one ended in a decision, draw or no contest. The only finish on the main card came in the bout between Steven Peterson and Martin Bravo. It remains one of the greatest knockouts in recent MMA history.
Steven Peterson KO Martin Bravo cold by spinning back fist. I’ll never get tired of watching this.
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As both fighters entered the 2nd round of their bout, Peterson stepped in with a jab. Bravo seemed to have timed his foe, slipping on the outside of Peterson's jab while turning at the heel to initiate a spinning back fist.
Yet, as Bravo was halfway through his spinning back fist, Peterson turned at the heel. Bravo's fist collided with Peterson's back, while Peterson spun, smashing his own spinning back fist against Bravo's chin on the Brazilian's open side.
Bravo never saw it coming as Peterson countered his foe's counter to his initial jab. It knocked Bravo out cold, rendering him unconscious before he even hit the mat.