There are loads of facets to mixed martial artists. Wrestling, grappling, takedown defense, and calf kicks are all significant parts of MMA. Nevertheless, it’s the knockouts which can be nearly every UFC fan’s favorite a part of the game.
While some fans have been upset with how necessary and frequent the bottom game was utilized in 2025, there have been still loads of highlight knockouts this yr. Punches, kicks, and elbows were all on display. So, a yr after Max Holloway’s knockout of Justin Gaethje, which was arguably the best KO in UFC history, which KOs stood above the remainder in 2025?
5. Cesar Almeida vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan, UFC Fight Night Jan. 11
Cesar Almeida’s knockout of Abdul Razak Alhassan set the precedent for what UFC was going to be in 2025. Throughout the first UFC card of the yr, Almeida was getting battered by Razak Alhassan. The Brazilian was getting decimated in ground and pound, after which Razak Alhassan was throwing haymakers within the standup.
Almeida showed resilience and perseverance, and when Razak Alhassan gave him a slight opening, Almeida countered with a right-left combination, the latter punch of which knocked his opponent out. Almeida’s ending blow was perfectly timed, and it resulted in not only among the best knockouts of the yr, but arguably the perfect comeback of the yr.
4. Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira, UFC 317
Ilia Topuria was just the fifth Featherweight Champion in UFC history. He vacated the 145-pound title to contend for double champion status against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. In that championship bout, Topuria proved to the world that he’s among the best fighters on the earth with a knockout victory.
After much of the primary round was spent on the bottom, Topuria and Oliveira stood up on the three-minute mark. Oliveira is among the best fighters in UFC history, and he’s even the all-time leader in finishes and submissions. Topuria showed the degrees to his game once within the standup, though.
El Matador broke Oliveira’s guard with a left-right-left combination that turned Oliveira’s lights off. Topuria predicted a first-round knockout, and he delivered, furthering the comparisons between him and Mystic Mac Conor McGregor in the method.
3. Carlos Prates vs. Geoff Neal, UFC 319
Carlos Prates became a fan favorite in 2025. He has an entertaining, strike-heavy style. He can also be known for unconventional habits for a premier athlete, reminiscent of cigarette use and drinking alcohol after victories. Prates’ lone UFC loss got here against Ian Machado Garry. To be able to keep the hype train alive, Prates needed an enormous performance at UFC 319 against Geoff Neal.
Neal is oftentimes viewed because the boogeyman/gatekeeper of the 170-pound division. He has hands of steel and was a legitimate test for Prates. The Brazilian nicknamed “The Nightmare” made easy work of Neal, though. He used his long range to snipe Neal throughout the whole duration of the primary round, including by throwing some violent elbows.
With only one second before the buzzer sounded, Prates threw essentially the most vicious elbow of all of them. He went for a spinning back elbow that connected with the side of Neal’s head. Neal went down, the buzzer sounded, and Prates got his hand raised.
2. Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico, UFC 319
Exactly one fight after Prates’ highlight reel knockout via spinning back elbow, Lerone Murphy got in on the motion with a jaw-dropping KO in the identical fashion. MMA in 2025 proved that fighters are vulnerable to the spinning back elbow. It’s a troublesome move to parry or evade; it comes with tons of speed and power, and the elbow itself is a very hard and pointy a part of the body.
Murphy was tasked with taking up Aaron Pico, a former Bellator legend who was expected to make waves in his UFC debut. Not only was Murphy tasked with proving the UFC was by far MMA’s superior promotion, but he also needed to interrupt the label of being boring. Murphy is undefeated, as he’s now 17-0-1, but he hasn’t been given a title shot because some have viewed his style as unentertaining.
Murphy actually proved the doubters unsuitable. The featherweight, who’s now a contender worthy of a title shot, noticed that Pico was fighting in close quarters. When Pico bum rushed in late in the primary round, Murphy threw the spinning back elbow that immediately sent Pico crumbling to the canvas.
1. Mauricio Ruffy vs. King Green, UFC 313
While they didn’t finish as strongly, the Fighting Nerds got off to a powerful begin to 2025. Prates and Jean Silva had standout moments this yr, and Caio Borralho got here into the yr with momentum. Mauricio Ruffy helped garner the Fighting Nerds some additional publicity along with his knockout at UFC 313.
Paired up against King Green, Ruffy caught his opponent along with his hands down, so he sent a spinning wheel kick to Green’s head. It was probably the most violent knockouts in recent memory, and definitely a highly expert maneuver worthy of the highlight tape.
Ruffy’s knockout encompassed all the things that an ideal KO kick should. It was fast, powerful, and accurate; an all-around thing of beauty.