Technically, we're about a month over the half-year mark, but with live MMA on TV every other minute, it's hard to fit something like this in when you have to cover the non-stop facepunching. Tim Burke used to run the Bloody Elbow half-year and year-end MMA awards, but he stepped down from the site to focus on his career as a CFL assistant coach.
The Bloody Elbow staff compiled a massive list of some of the top MMA moments thus far in 2014, which you'll be able to vote on through our polls, which are open for 6 days starting from publish of each article. Today, we're focusing on the best knockout, but in the coming days we'll also have best submission, best event, best fight, best fighter, biggest upset, and best comeback.
As to keep up with the format that Tim had used, I've selected 8 entries per category, but since this year's "half-year" awards is in August, I've moved the cutoff date to July 26th, which stands as the most recent UFC event (UFC on Fox 12). All of our choices are based on major MMA promotions only (UFC, Bellator, WSOF, etc.) , so that doesn't include kickboxing, boxing, Metamoris, or anything else of the sort. This was fairly difficult to sift through, so don't be angry if there's any of your favorites that have been left out.
Enough talking. Let's look at the list, which is in no particular order:
Note: The eligible fights are only out of MMA organizations, so Glory kickboxing is not included.
Dong Hyun Kim puts John Hathaway to sleep with a spinning elbow, TUF China Finale. "Stun Gun" was hardly a finisher prior to last year, winning most of his fights by unanimous decision with varying degrees of excitement. All of that has changed recently, and after KOing Erick Silva in 2013, he followed that up with a wicked and well-timed spinning elbow knockout of England's John Hathaway in Macau. (GIF)
Abel Trujillo blasts Jamie Varner, UFC 169. Jamie Varner was well known for his iron chin, having previously never been knocked out or even TKO'd in an MMA bout. In an absolute war, Varner turned up the aggression in the 2nd round and came wading forward with punches, but paid for his recklessness dearly. Despite backing up, Trujillo unleashed a ferocious right hook that sent Varner to La-la-land, faceplanted on the canvas with no need for additional shots. (GIF)
Donald Cerrone head kicks Adriano Martins, UFC on Fox 10. Cerrone spent years winning only by submission or decision, but he's racked up the knockouts in the UFC, and against Adriano Martins he stopped the Brazilian with a single head kick towards the end of the first round. Cerrone used his right leg and connected perfectly to the side of Martins' face, causing him to fall forward and no further strikes were needed. (GIF)
Ronda Rousey destroys Alexis Davis in 16 seconds, UFC 175. Alexis Davis wasn't really given much of a chance to beat Rousey (but then again, who has?), but her established BJJ credentials were supposed to provide a challenge for Rousey once they were on the ground. Instead, Rousey cracked her with a right hand, followed up with a knee to the body, tossed her to the ground, and then punched Davis' face 9 times before Yves Lavigne stopped the fight. Davis then tried fighting Lavigne, who had to repeatedly tell her that the fight was over. (GIF)
Johnny Eduardo stuns Eddie Wineland, UFC Fight Night Cincinnati. This fight can potentially be a double award winner as it's also in the "Best Upset" category, which will be published on Thursday. Eduardo, a Muay Thai coach at Nova Uniao, clocked the former bantamweight title challenger with one right hand, which had him on wobbly legs. One more wicked right hand floored Wineland and brought the proceedings to a shocking halt. (GIF)
Roy Nelson flattens Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi. I think anyone with solid enough analytic skills knew that "Big Country" knocking out "Big Nog" was always bound to happen. After the first two knockdowns it was apparent that Nelson had the fight won, but he loaded up on his final haymaker of a right hand and had Nogueira as stiff as a plank. (GIF)
Alexander Volkov head kicks Mighty Mo, Bellator 116. In the season 10 heavyweight tournament semfiinal, Russia's Volkov drilled a bloodied Mighty Mo (Siala Siliga) with a left high kick that instantly put the 43-year-old kickboxer to sleep. (GIF)
Dan Henderson delivers the H-Bomb on Mauricio Rua, UFC Fight Night Natal. "Hendo" was coming off of his first career KO loss at the hands and feet of Vitor Belfort, and in the first two rounds against Shogun Rua he looked like he was on his way to another crushing defeat. Shogun had dropped him twice but couldn't seal the deal. He was made to pay by way of Henderson's H-Bomb, which sent Shogun flying across the mat. A series of hammerfists (a few of which straddle the line between legal and illegal) before the referee called the fight and Shogun was completely unable to stand up properly. (GIF)
Tomorrow's category: Best Submissions