With another action-packed year of MMA in the books, MMAjunkie takes a look at the best knockouts from January to December. Here are the top four honorable mentions and winner of MMAjunkie’s “Knockout of the Year” award for 2017.

* * * *

Honorable mentions

5. Edson Barboza def. Beneil Dariush at UFC Fight Night 106

Lightweight contender Edson Barboza (19-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) added another spectacular knockout to his highlight reel in March, this time at the expense of Beneil Dariush (14-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC).

After being tagged and thrown off rhythm by Dariush’s solid gameplan, Barboza once again displayed his lightning-quick striking ability in the second round. He timed a perfect counter flying knee just as his opponent closed the distance for a takedown, putting Dariush out cold on impact and further added to his legend as a fearsome KO artist.

4. Alexander Gustafsson def. Glover Teixeira at UFC Fight Night 109

Alexander Gustafsson’s (18-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) latest main-event showcase in his hometown of Stockholm was easily his most impressive. The two-time UFC title challenger picked apart Glover Teixeira (27-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) before finishing him off with a vicious knockout in the fifth round.

Gustafsson’s uppercut landed consistently throughout the light heavyweight fight and put Teixeira in trouble on more than one occasion. “The Mauler” tripled up with the attack early in the fifth round, then landed a right hook that downed his Brazilian foe and ended the fight.

3. Tywan Claxton def. Jonny Bonilla-Bowman at Bellator 186

Tywan Claxton (1-0 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) secured the most stellar Bellator knockout the year. His reaction to it was rather simple: “The fight’s over, and I’ve got all of my teeth.”

Claxton blasted fellow featherweight Jonathan Bonilla-Bowman (1-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) with a flying knee – one that seemed to glide halfway across the cage – before the knockout video quickly went viral.

2. Matt Brown def. Diego Sanchez at UFC Fight Night 120

It didn’t go as long as some might have hoped, but it delivered everything one might expect, as Matt Brown (21-16 MMA, 14-10 UFC) was almost finished but came back to score a first-round knockout of Diego Sanchez (27-11 MMA, 16-11 UFC).

After being stunned with a kick, “The Immortal” caught Sanchez’s next shot and threw a pinpoint right elbow over the top that landed flush to the head and sent Sanchez crashing to the floor. There would be no need for a follow-up blow after the highlight-reel walk-off.

* * * *

Winner: Francis Ngannou def. Alistair Overeem via punches at UFC 218

Francis Ngannou (11-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) scored the signature win of his career at UFC 218 against former Strikeforce and DREAM champ Alistair Overeem (43-16 MMA, 8-5 UFC). “The Predator” connected with one of the cleanest shots ever seen in the octagon and laid out Overeem in the first round to earn a heavyweight title shot.

One powerful left hand from Ngannou was all it took, and suddenly Overeem was unconscious on the mat. The brutal one-punch knockout extended Ngannou’s winning streak and dashed Overeem’s title hopes, all in slightly less than two minutes of cage time.

In the bout between two big men known for their striking, it was Overeem who seemed to want to get the fight to the mat. After charging across the cage to start the fight, Overeem tried for a takedown and then initiated a clinch, though it didn’t take long for Ngannou to turn him and force him into the fence as a counter.

But back in the center of the octagon, as Overeem ducked in low with a wide left hook, Ngannou dipped with the blow and came back with a thunderous left uppercut that practically lifted Overeem into the air as it dropped him flat on the mat.

Ngannou would come diving in with an additional right hand hammerfist before referee Dan Miragliotta could stop him, but there was no need, as Overeem was already out cold and the bout halted at the 1:42 mark of the opening round.

Also see:

• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Submission of the Year’: An insane finish makes history
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Comeback Fighter of the Year’ is a pretty obvious choice
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Comeback of the Year’: Darren Elkins lives up to ‘The Damage’ nickname
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Under-the-Radar Fighter of the Year’: A champion before joining UFC
• MMAjunkie ‘2017 Upset of the Year’: Thug Rose! Thug Rose! Thug Rose!
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Breakout Fighter of the Year’: UFC newcomer wasted no time rising up
• MMAjunkie’s 2017 ‘Newcomer of the Year’: Despite late slip-up, Californian made mark in hurry
• MMAjunkie ‘2017 Round of the Year’: Absolutely menacing highlight
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Robbery of the Year’: The MMA gods giveth, and they taketh away
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Coach of the Year’: Former champion becoming standout instructor
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Gym of the Year’: New entrant makes immediate impact

Filed under: Featured, News, UFC