The UFC has already delivered some unforgettable moments. UFC 301, might not have much star power, but it follows three of the year’s most exciting events, featuring stunning knockouts. With Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler’s anticipated bout still to come, they’ll need to deliver a top knockout to beat the year’s already impressive contenders.
5. Jack Della Maddalena vs Gilbert Burns, UFC 299
UFC 299 was a significant step up in competition for Jack Della Maddalena, who had been on an impressive 16-fight winning streak following a rough start in his MMA career. He faced former welterweight title contender Gilbert Burns, and the Australian was ready for the challenge.
The fight was evenly matched, with Burns attempting to bring the action to the ground while Della Maddalena either defended against the takedowns or quickly got back on his feet. During one of these recoveries, the Australian striker found his chance. After getting back on his feet from a position beneath Burns, Maddalena saw Burns charging for another takedown and countered with a knee, sending Burns to the ground.
Maddalena then attacked aggressively with ground-and-pound, leading to a TKO victory once Burns, unable to defend himself, covered up.
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4. Dustin Poirier vs Benoît Saint Denis, UFC 299
Before UFC 299, Benoît Saint Denis was given a major opportunity. Although he was ranked just outside the lightweight top 10, he was matched up against the seasoned top-five contender Dustin Poirier. The former interim lightweight champion welcomed Saint Denis to the big stage but came close to being defeated himself.
From the start, Saint Denis’s physical strength and wrestling skills dominated Poirier. He managed to take Poirier down and nearly secured a submission. However, Saint Denis struggled to maintain his high energy and eventually grew tired. He later attributed his exhaustion to a staph infection, which annoyed Poirier.
In the second round, with a fatigued Saint Denis in front of him, Poirier landed a decisive left hook that knocked Saint Denis to the ground. After Saint Denis staggered to his feet, Poirier attempted a final guillotine choke, but it failed. During the break, Poirier knocked Saint Denis out cold with a check right hook, causing a wild reaction from the crowd.
3. Ilia Topuria vs Alexander Volkanovski, UFC 298
Looking back, Alexander Volkanovski’s knockout loss at UFC 298 seemed almost unavoidable. ‘The Great’ had returned quickly after his knockout defeat to Islam Makhachev, only to face Ilia Topuria, known for his devastating punches. Many thought this match-up was a recipe for disaster.
Despite the belief that Volkanovski was nearly unbeatable due to his technical skill and expertise, Topuria was just as formidable. When they fought, Volkanovski managed to land some effective jabs and straight punches from a distance but struggled to dominate the center of the octagon. Topuria’s speed and power were significant advantages.
Topuria exploited Volkanovski’s habit of moving backward in a straight line and engaging in close-range exchanges, where he often let his guard down. He lured Volkanovski into a fight, then delivered a brutal combination that ended with a knockout right hand, securing the championship in the second round.
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2. Alex Pereira vs Jamahal Hill, UFC 300
Jamahal Hill was extremely confident about being superior to Alex Pereira and made no secret of it before their UFC 300 fight. He dismissed Pereira’s kickboxing background and boldly promised to knock out the Brazilian and regain his light heavyweight title.
However, the fight unfolded very differently from what Hill had expected. After an initial round where both fighters exchanged low kicks and body jabs, Hill accidentally kicked Pereira in the groin, leading to a pause called by the experienced referee Herb Dean.
Before Dean could officially stop the fight, Pereira signaled for him to wait and kept his focus on Hill. When the fight resumed, Hill attempted a straight left punch, but Pereira evaded it and retaliated with his signature left hook, knocking Hill to the ground.
Without hesitation, Pereira unleashed a series of hammer-fists on the fallen Hill, rendering him unconscious and later celebrated in a memorable post-fight display.
1. Max Holloway vs Justin Gaethje, UFC 300
At UFC 300, the clash for the ‘BMF’ title stole the show. Max Holloway, a former featherweight champion, stepped up to lightweight to challenge Justin Gaethje, a former interim champion known for his powerful punches. The bout quickly became a showcase for Holloway’s skills.
Holloway took advantage of Gaethje’s tendency to duck under punches by landing a spinning back kick that broke Gaethje’s nose. From that point on, the Hawaiian fighter dominated most of the fight, though he did experience his first-ever knockdown.
In the final 10 seconds of round five, Holloway gestured to the center of the octagon, inviting Gaethje to a last exchange. Gaethje accepted, and they began to trade punches. As they exchanged a flurry of blows, Holloway landed a decisive right hook that sent Gaethje crashing to the ground.
With Gaethje down, Holloway celebrated his victory, claiming the ‘BMF’ title and setting a new record for the latest knockout in UFC history.
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