We’re solely midway by way of 2026, however there have already been some really exceptional knockouts to start out the 12 months.
There have been never-before-seen finishes, fighters who’ve made miraculous comebacks, and nearly each sort of knockout conceivable, and that is all in simply six months of motion.
So with out additional ado, let’s check out what ranks within the high three Knockouts of 2026 up to now.
when. 1: Alexa Grasso vs. Macy Barber (UFC Seattle)
After reigning as flyweight champion, Alexa Grasso confronted some actual adversity in her profession as she misplaced to Natalya Silva and will have returned to title rivalry. As such, Grasso will face Macy Barber in a rematch after already defeating her by way of unanimous choice in 2021 as she seems to get again within the win column.
However Grasso had no intention of leaving the struggle as much as the judges. She was aiming for the end, and Barber was keenly conscious of that.
Halfway by way of the opening spherical, throughout an alternate of legs, Grasso clipped Barber with a deft left hand, adopted by a proper cross and a tough knockout blow. The punch twisted Barber’s whole physique and despatched him to the canvas, the place Grasso shortly caught a rear-naked choke and the struggle was stopped a break up second later.
The end may have been dominated a submission contemplating Grasso really locked on to the choke, however replays made it clear that Barber had already been knocked out by the punch that ended the struggle. This is without doubt one of the craziest rapid-fire sequences in current historical past, and Grasso deserves all of the credit score for such a tremendous knockout.
good. 2: Carlos Ulberg vs. Jiri Prochaska (UFC 327)
Regardless of the way you take a look at it, Carlos Wolberg should not be the UFC gentle heavyweight champion at this level.
After Alex Pereira surrendered his belt to maneuver to heavyweight, the UFC pitted Wolberg towards former champion Jiri Prochaska to crown a brand new champion, however the New Zealander appeared destined to lose after struggling a knee damage early within the opening spherical.
Catastrophe struck, and Ullberg’s first likelihood at UFC gold appeared doomed. Nevertheless, even with a limp and barely in a position to stand, Ullberg continued to struggle, however it felt inevitable that Prochaska would both take a leg kick to finish the struggle or soar within the nook and have the physician cease the struggle between rounds.
Neither of these issues occurred.
As an alternative, Prochaska charged in for a highlight-reel knockout of her personal, and as a substitute Ullberg landed a checking left hook that flattened the previous champion and despatched him crashing to the canvas in a heap. It was not solely an unbelievable knockout, however a much-needed second for Ullberg, as he was unlikely to be allowed to proceed after the primary spherical.
To make this knockout much more particular, Wolberg later admitted that regardless of struggling a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, he was nonetheless in a position to pull off the spectacular end of turning into UFC champion.
third place: Gabriel Peinado vs. Santiago Gonzalez (Empire Championship Sequence)
It is not every single day that an novice MMA struggle information the perfect knockout win of the 12 months, however that is precisely what Gabriel Peinado had in March.
In maybe one of the ridiculous finishes ever, Peinado, mendacity on his again to guard himself from his guard, delivered a basic Donkey Kong double punch that by some means related cleanly to Gonzalez. Paynado, visibly dazed and confused by the punch, shortly reversed place and landed in mount, flipping Gonzalez on his again.
Peinado crushed Gonzalez with extra punches, ending the struggle simply 49 seconds into the opening spherical. It is laborious to say whether or not one thing like this may ever occur on the sport’s highest stage (it most likely will not), however that does not take away from the jaw-dropping end Peinado had in such surprising style.
