By: Alex Mattis
As the sport of MMA continues to grow in mainstream exposure and the overall skill of its fighters, one thing remains consistent: dudes getting knocked out. This past year gave us countless memorable KO’s but which was the most unforgettable? I’ve prepared a list of ten 2010 KO’s that won’t soon be forgotten. Without further delay, I present “The Top Ten MMA KO’s of 2010!”
10. Russow channels his inner Homer Simpson; KO’s Duffee with one punch: UFC 114 – 5/29
In his UFC debut, Todd Duffee KO’d Tim Hague in just seven seconds. While his second trip to the octagon lasted far longer, he completely dominated. Duffee won the first 12 minutes and 30 seconds of his fight with Mike Russow, but one sniping right hand was all Russow needed to lay out Duffee. Russow landed a bomb that abruptly halted the hype-train behind Todd Duffee, subsequently forcing Joe Rogan and millions of people around the world to lose their flipping minds.
9. Takaya shocks Hansen: DREAM 14 -5/29
There was nothing Joachim Hansen needed more at DREAM 14 than a win. Unfortunately, coming forward with a head-hunting attack was his ultimate demise. Late in the first round of his bout against Hiroyuki Takaya, Hansen was staggered with a straight right hand. Takaya followed up with some serious shots to the dome, leaving the former DREAM lightweight champion unconscious and gazing into the abyss. This was a considerable upset, and it came in eyebrow-raising fashion.
8. Velasquez shatters the legend of Nogueira’s chin: UFC 110 – 2/21
The true test of Cain Velasquez’s career was against Big Nog; seeing how he would respond against a legend of the sport. Cain scored an ‘A’ with an infinite amount of pluses. Velasquez showed beautiful technique and was completely picking Nog apart. Shortly after the two-minute-mark of the first round, Velasquez landed a combination that crumbled the former PRIDE champion. Several shots of sadistic ground n’ pound shortly followed and Nogueira was out cold. Herb Dean waved off the fight and Cain Velasquez’s run at the gold was validated.
7. Condit makes quick, devastating work of Hardy: UFC 120 – 10/16
Prior to this fight, Dan Hardy’s chin was one of the most steadfast things in MMA. No one bothered to tell Carlos Condit this. With just a little over 30 seconds left in the first round the two both drew the weapons and unloaded on one-another. Condit connected with a left-hook that dropped ‘The Outlaw.’ Hardy’s left also connected, but it was ‘The Natural Born Killer’ who won this duel. Several academic shots of ground n’ pound followed securing the win for Condit. The crowd in London was hushed as their hometown boy struggled to get back to his feet.
6. ‘The Fireball Kid’ returns to form: UFC On Versus 2 – 8/1
Takanori Gomi’s past few years have been quite up-and-down. His UFC debut didn’t help matters. Many thought Gomi’s best days were behind him, but he proved all detractors wrong when he fought Tyson Griffin this past August. The fight began with a slow feeling out process but was over in an instant. Gomi loaded up a gigantic right-hand that caught Griffin flush; sending Tyson face-planting to the mat.
5. Joe Warren shows Joe Soto what’s up: Bellator 27 – 9/2
Joe Soto has been in-and-out of the ‘Pound 4 Pound’ debate over the past few years, leaving many to believe he would run through the durable challenge of Joe Warren and successfully defend his featherweight title. The first round went as everyone expected, with Soto controlling the fight and completely dominating the standup. One slip is all it took, however, for the fight to do a 180. At the start of the second round, Soto got a tad over-confident and dropped his hands. This was all Warren needed as he landed a right-hand that dropped Soto. Warren swarmed his dazed opponent and repeatedly landed unanswered shots. Soto hung tough, but a vicious knee and left-hand turned the champ into a crumpled heap on the canvas. Not only one of the top KO’s of the year, but one of the best comebacks in recent memory.
4. Maximo Blanco unleashes the murder-combo: WVR Sengoku Raiden Championships 15 – 10/30
Maximo Blanco is a lightweight prospect on the rise and this KO really garnered him some attention. Blanco faced Kiuma Kuniohku at WVR Sengoku 15 in what was expected to be an exciting fight. Late in the first, Blanco landed a left uppercut straight from Tupelo, Mississippi that slumped Kuniohku. With the tenacity of a young Wanderlei Silva, Blanco swarmed his opponent; looking for the finish. As Kuniohku regained his footing, Blanco landed the uppercut again. And that was all he had to say about that.
3. Melvin Manhoef had Robbie Lawler right where he wanted him…: Strikeforce: Miami – 1/30
When Robbie Lawler elected to stand and exchange with K1 veteran, Melvin Manhoef, it seemed like a ridiculous idea. For 99% of the fight, it was. Manhoef was throwing murderous leg-kicks that were making Lawler’s legs fly higher than any Rockette in history. Lawler ducked his head and swung an overhand-right like a brick on the end of a chain. It connected flush, sending Manhoef down in a hustle-like fashion. A short left-hook on the ground knocked Manhoef into an alternate dimension. Lawler looked as surprised as everyone else.
2. ‘Semtex’ sends Scott Smith crashing down: Strikeforce: St. Louis – 12/4
In the world of pro wrestling, it’s known as the ‘Flair Flop.’ In MMA, it will now be known as the ‘Smith Flop.’ Everyone knew Scott Smith would stand in front of Paul Daley and trade shots. Everyone also knew how bad of an idea that was. It was apparent right away that Daley was vastly superior to Smith in the realm of striking, as he dropped Smith very shortly into the fight. Soon after, Smith was rocked once again yet attempted to press forward. Daley found an opening and swung the left-hook of DEATH! Smith was immediately KO’d and flop forward like he had just been struck by lightning.
1. Fear not, villagers. The Dragon hath been slain: UFC 113 – 5/8
There was much left to debate following the controversial decision of the initial encounter of Lyoto Machida and Shogun Rua. The rematch left nothing to question. In the rematch, it was exceedingly obvious that the two wanted to take out the other as they both came out aggressive and looking to finish. The lunging attack Machida was known for would be his downfall. As he lunged in for his patented straight-left, Machida was countered and dropped by a Shogun right-hand. Rua pounced on the champ and pounded him unconscious, finishing the fight in the 1st round. A new king had taken his throne. The viciousness of this knockout, coupled with its shock factor, gives it top billing as ‘The KO of 2010.’
Honorable Mentions:
A one-armed Franklin flat-lines Liddell (UFC 115 – 6/12), KJ Noons rearranges Jorge Gurgel’s face (Strikeforce: Houston – 8/21), Henderson pounds Babalu into purgatory (Strikeforce: St. Louis – 12/4), Penn settles the score with Hughes (UFC 123 – 11/20), Matt Serra wings an insane overhand right, connects and KO’s Trigg (UFC 109 – 2/6), Harris slams Branch (UFC 116 – 7/3), Jose Vega lands the left-hook of death on Jarrod Card (Bellator 22 – 6/17), Okuno chops down Thompson (WVR: Sengoku Raiden Championship 14 – 8/22), Cole Escovedo KO’s Maeda via head-kick (DREAM 13 – 3/22) Pablo Garza lands a flying knee of fatality on Fredson Paixao (The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale – 12/4).
