The UFC’s top knockouts of 2024 are a robust listing of techniques done well and boxes ticked. But again, much like a tapout list, it’s highly subjective to measure them. However, here is an attempt to look into the top 5 that seem just all-around acceptable as the best.
UFC’s top knockouts of 2024, from the brass side, are actually some four dozen finishers on their socials. Some like Alex Pereira. Max Holloway, Ilia Topuria, and Tom Aspinall stand out more than others. ‘Poatan’ and UFC 145-pound champ Topuria are the clear choices for premier fighters. But the others, including the lower pecking order just scratch the itch just a tad bit more.
Like subjectively, how does one measure hard-blowing finishers like that? Because the regional scene outside the usual UFC/MMA knockouts had some bonkers ones. Would 2-on-1 MMA even count? Does putting the opponent in a slight coma add to the preference points or is it harrowing? It’s a debate. Here is a dive into UFC side of things, what makes the list, and why.
5. Matt Schnell vs. Steve Erceg
What’s a UFC/MMA knockout if it does not come out of anywhere and makes one look cool? Schnell vs. Erceg (UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev) UFC live from ESPN+ saw quite the walk-off KO. Comically disassociated and uninterested-looking “Michael Scott” – also called Steve Erceg starched Matt Schnell with a massive second-round KO.
One knockout led to a surprising UFC title chance (Source: live.ru.ufc.com/X)The docile Aussie bloke did not look it, but Erceg was quite the rising storm. He touted the National wrestling gold medal (AU) along with Muay Thai state titles that made use of his educated lead-hand jab. His ability to go anti-wrestling and get up and sneak in off-frame hooks, jabs, and elbows was a good one.
At UFC Fight Night 238, he left Schnell downed with a single sudden hook and walked it off like even he didn’t plan it. Also, walk-off KOs are just cool. As a result, Erceg got a shot at the flyweight title right after, in just his fourth bout. Now that’s serving some purposes if knockouts knock more than one competition out of the park.
4. Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit Saint-Denis
This ranks pretty high on the wait ‘Oh, what!’ scales for the 2024 season of finishes. Dustin Poirier tied for the UFC 155-pound knockout record after recording a violent finish at UFC 299 PPV. The fight started fast in the pay-per-view co-main event at Kaseya Center in Miami. The daring ‘Diamond’ met Benoit Saint-Denis’ berserker pressure with accuracy.
After they hulled out each other headhunting with off-balance leg kicks and a choke attempt or two, they’d return to clinical striking at the center. Not just any striking, but one that saw them blitzing across the distance of the octagon trying to break through each other’s pockets. The Frenchman even gave him quite troubles. He’d press on with rugged knees in the clinch and range shots.
Hard-pressed, another 2024 KO was a proper striking clinic (Source: X/cnews.fr)Poirier’s attempt at the silly gilly felt silly indeed unless he was able to knock his attention for a while and the two had some phone booth distance slugfest against the fences. However, ‘Diamond’ caught him with a flush left that no one saw coming! Recognizing it, he peeled off with some early pounding and ended with a second-round knockout win (punches) – Round 2, 2:32 mark.
KOs are meant to mean something, not just feed the nostalgia pool. This was a true testament to ‘IT TAKES ONLY ONE!’
3. Shara Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan
When loading up the chamber, there’s no harm in going for two shots instead of one. A miser has never been known to conquer worlds here. When “Shara Bullet” hit in his latest outing, he thus went for two shots that made for an all-time highlight to clinch victory!
The first double-spinning backfist in UFC history was quite the knockout (Source: X)Here’s talking about UFC 308’s pay-per-view main card opener where Shara Magomedov met his stiffest test yet in Armen Petrosyan. But that didn’t deter him. The middleweight bout capped off at a frenetic pace, with range-sneaking and hard-fought kicks. Magomedov would use his signature spinning shots to rock the rival more than once, when in range.
Magomedov got an R2 reset with a missed-range kick to the cup by Petrosyan. He spun and landed with a left-spinning backfist. But on the scroll, milliseconds later, he spun and landed the right one too! The first-ever double-spinning backfist in UFC history! Magomedov defeated Petrosyan via TKO (spinning backfist) – Round 2, 4:52.
2. Ilia Topuria vs. Alexander Volkanovski
Max Holloway’s buzzer-beater R5 knockout deserves all the love. But here, the list veers to the man who beat him and another former Top UFC pound-for-pound in the same year. Gritty Hawaiian Holloway’s exchange over his opponent was something. But Justin Gaethje wasn’t a champ or a P4P best with high-risk management. So, it’s Ilia Topuria vs. Alexander Volkanovski.
The champ saga to the “T” started early in 2024 (Source: UFC (@ufc) on Threads/heavy.com)Topuria’s second-round knockout win over Aussie legend Volk at Honda Center, Anaheim, was one of a kind. The 5-minute opening frame was closely contested. However, in round two, a crisp but huge right from “El Matador” briefly stunned Volk. He lost his vein of balance and circled around the cage until Topuria downed him right into a left hand and some extra pounding.
This was the biggest ‘what just happened’ moment early in 2024 and started the Ilia Topuria saga. Topuria, then 27, became the first Spanish and Georgian champ and a new bid for UFC to go into newer markets.
1. Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill
It’s “Poatan” with extra bass and an eye for distance management and revenge. To be fair, Pereira did the same at UFC 303. He wobbled the opponent hard, mitigated the risk, closed distance, and rocked the temple with a head kick and some ground-and-pounds. But he vs. Jamahal Hill is a pure technical sequence.
Strike. Pause. Overwhelm. Knockout. Rinse. Repeat. Poatan. 2024 (Source: agfight/X)Don’t tell Hill that because he bills Pereira disregarded a referee pause, closed distance illegally while said pause, confused him with highly acute but illegal feints, and phased him out. The fanbase differs as to what happened at the UFC 300 PPV main event in April. Referee Heb Dean did call for a pause when Hill offered up a groin shot. Pereira waved off and the fight went on.
Seconds later, he closed the distance on the lead side so that Hill couldn’t club in anymore in range and subjected him to his signature left hook. Hill’s eyes rolled back with the lead shovel hook and Alex Pereira ended things with some neat ground-and-pounds. Pereira’s first-round knockout win still lives on as one of the greatest moments in 2024.
Honorable mentions
Yes, “Blessed” gets his credit. Other than that, Vinicius Oliveira made a stunning UFC debut at UFC Vegas 87, and soared. His flying knee knockout over Bernard Sopaj at Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev is a clear contender for the year-end #UFCHonors list. Diego Lopes defeating Sodiq Yusuff at UFC 300 and his signature picturesque uppercut deserves a mention. Fares Ziam vs. Matt Frevola was another one.
This year had other notable UFC knockout victories as well (Source: talksport/X/forbes.com)Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov at UFC on ABC 6 was a display by the middleweight longstay as to why he goes by the ‘Reaper’. Joaquin Buckley defeated Karate man Stephen Thompson at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City with style and statement. Caio Borralho got one over Paul Craig in prime fashion as was Jean Silva’s dominance over Charles Jourdain. Bantamweight prospect Payton Talbott defeating Yanis Ghemmouri was another one.
One particular knockout that deserves the bigger mention is “Doctor Sleep” aka Ming Shi at UFC Macau. Shi (17-5 MMA, 1-0 UFC) became the first “Road to UFC” strawweight tournament winner, starching Xiaocan Feng with a Poatan-DEFCON-level head kick. It wasn’t a typical KO; Feng was stretchered off to a nearby hospital, pending concussion protocol at UFC PI in Shanghai. Shi earned a contract and a $50,000 POTN bonus.
Stay Updated!
Join our newsletter to receive exclusive updates and curated insights directly to your inbox.
