Before the fun begins in Newark, New Jersey this Saturday at UFC 302, we present to you a look at 10 of the signature knockouts and submissions from the fighters that will enter the Octagon this weekend, including headliners Dustin Poirier and Islam Makhachev.
10. UFC on ABC 4 – Jailton Almeida vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Jailton Almeida began his UFC run with a remarkable six fight finishing streak that showed just how dangerous the Brazilian is on the ground. His main event against former kickboxing champion Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC on ABC 4 represented a big step up in competition.
Almeida handled “Bigi Boy” with ease. After securing a takedown in the first round, he held his opponent to the floor before landing hard punches from the top. Rozenstruik quickly turned his back and presented his neck for a rear naked choke.
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9. UFC Vegas 33 – Philip Rowe vs. Orion Cosce
After dropping a decision in his UFC debut and missing weight for a second opportunity at UFC Vegas 33, it was important for Philip Rowe to do what he could to stay in the promotion’s good graces. He would accomplish just that in the event’s curtain jerker against Orion Cosce.
Things got off to a rocky start for “The Fresh Prince,” losing the first round on the scorecards. During the second, Rowe was able to find his range and keep Cosce at the end of his superior reach. Cosce’s subsequent clinch only led to Rowe landing hard knees until he could once again rely on his long punches for a devastating KO.
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8. UFC 291 – Roman Kopylov vs. Claudio Riberio
After a rocky start to his UFC career, Roman Kopylov established himself as one of the middleweight divisions cleanest strikers. The former Sambo world champion put those elite skills to use at UFC 291 against Claudio Riberio.
Early in the second round, Kopylov baited Riberio by feinting a jab. When Riberio exposed himself by attempting a lead hook counter, the Russian threw a picture-perfect head kick that sent a cracking noise through Salt Lake City’s Vivint Arena. The ground and pound that followed was a mere formality.
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7. UFC 261 – Randy Brown vs. Alex Oliveira
Much like his former opponent, Randy Brown is no stranger to skipping the judges’ decision. One of his most impressive wins took place in the featured prelim of UFC 261 against Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira.
About halfway through the opening round, Brown landed a perfect right hand that dropped Oliveira. While he couldn’t find the finish with the follow up punches on the ground, “Rude Boy” maneuvered his way onto his opponent’s back as he stood up against the fence. Despite his immediate hand fighting and controlling one of Brown’s wrists, Oliveira couldn’t stop the one-armed rear naked choke that came immediately afterwards.
6. UFC Fight Night 133 – Niko Price vs. Randy Brown
Niko Brown’s nearly seven-year run in the UFC has been filled with violent finishes. Whether he was dishing them out or on the receiving end, his name on a bout sheet means that something sensational is very likely to happen.
His 2018 fight with Randy Brown stands out among the pack. Stuck on the bottom taking punches from Brown, Price was able to use the cage and a leg to pin his opponent in place. With that slight bit of control, “The Hybrid” landed seven quick hammer fists that left Brown unconscious early in the second round
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5. UFC 226 – Paulo Costa vs. Uriah Hall
Paulo Costa’s first big test in the UFC after making a splash in 2017 was a contest against TUF finalist Uriah Hall at UFC 226. Even though Costa had gotten through Johny Hendricks by that point, the former welterweight champion was clearly outsized, well past his prime, and was not an appropriate litmus test for what “Borrachinha” had to offer the middleweight division.
After a competitive first round, Costa was able to negate Hall’s jab and find a home for the body shot until a barrage of power hooks forced the referee to stop the fight.
4. UFC 224 – Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos vs. Sean Strickland
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos lived up to his “Capoeira” nickname at UFC 224. The Afro-Brazilian martial art heavy on acrobatic spinning kicks, was on full display when he took on fellow UFC 302 competitor Sean Strickland.
As Strickland was content to rely on the boxing that eventually helped propel him to the middleweight title, dos Santos saw the opportunity to land a spinning heel kick to the head. The blow sat Strickland down leading to the ground and pound. While EZ dos Santos has quite a few memorable finishes on his resume, this one has undoubtedly aged the best.
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3. UFC 257 – Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor 2
Nearly seven years removed from his deflating first-round KO loss to Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier would have his chance at revenge against “The Notorious.” This time a more confident and properly prepared version of “The Diamond” would yield far better results.
With an emphasis on leg kicks and patiently countering punches, Poirier landed a barrage of punches to finish the UFC 257 main event in the second round.
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2. UFC 256 – Kevin Holland vs. Ronaldo Souza
The last time Kevin Holland won a fight at middleweight, he gave us one of the most spectacular finishes of 2020. Paired with former Strikeforce champ Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, Holland was concluding a busy 2012 with his fifth appearance in the Octagon.
While having the decorated grappler in his guard throwing down strikes, Holland began one of his “normal” mid-fight conversations with Jacare. As he scrambled out of the position, he managed to land a series of punches that put his opponent out cold against the fence. The victory set the record for the most wins in a single calendar year.
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1. UFC 294 – Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski 2
Early in 2023, Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski turned in one of the year’s best fights with the lightweight champion narrowly winning a decision over his featherweight counterpart. So, when Volkanovski was asked to fill in for Charles Oliveira that October, expectations were high for another banger.
While the reality fell short of that, Makhachev made up for it with one of the year’s best knockouts. Just over three seconds into the first round, the Dagestani landed a head kick which sent Volkanovski to the canvas. A few follow up punches sealed the deal.
Related: UFC 302 Predictions and Betting Odds
