With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMAjunkie looks at the best knockouts from August 2018: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMAjunkie’s “Knockout of the Month” award for August.

At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting for your choice.

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The Nominees

Miku Asakura def. Hatsu Hioki at Rizin FF 12

Miku Asakura (6-2) scored one of the biggest victories of his career when he took out veteran opponent Hatsu Hioki (29-12-2) with a brutal knockout less than four minutes into their featherweight bout.

Asakura waited for an opening to time a head kick on Hioki, and when it landed, it landed hard. Asakura went high with his left foot and cracked his Japanese countrymen across the chin. Hioki went down, and the 25-year-old Asakura followed up with a few strikes that definitely ended the contest.

Ricky Bandejas def. James Gallagher at Bellator 204

James Gallagher (7-1 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) played the part of super villain all week long, but Ricky Bandejas (12-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) never bought into the hype and was able to hand the much-hyped Irishman his first defeat in the featherweight bout.

Gallagher came out looking sharp, but Bandejas remained composed. Bandejas landed a straight right that sent Gallagher to the floor. The Irishman scrambled up, but Bandejas didn’t let off the gas. A high kick landed clean to the neck, as well, and Gallagher collapsed to the canvas again. Bandejas jumped on top and finished him off with a devastating barrage of punches on the floor, brining an end to the contest.

Eryk Anders def. Tim Williams at UFC Fight Night 135

Former collegiate football standout Eryk Anders (11-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) moved to MMA years ago, but he could have been mistaken for a field goal kicker with his ridiculous head-kick knockout of Tim Williams (15-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) in their middleweight matchup.

During a scramble in the third round of the bout, Williams attempted to stand up from a scooted position, and Anders absolutely made him pay for it. “Ya Boi” brilliantly timed a left kick to the head just as Williams returned from a grounded position, and the moment the blow landed, the fight was over and done with.

Justin Gaethje def. James Vick at UFC Fight Night 135

It took Justin Gaethje (19-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) just one punch – one massive punch – to get back into contention in the UFC’s lightweight division at the expense of James Vick (13-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC).

Just over a minute in, Gaethje landed an atomic right hand and Vick crumpled to the canvas. Gaethje needed just one follow-up punch. Vick’s lights were turned out in a big way. Gaethje quickly went to the top of the octagon and did a backflip. Even after Vick was back up and on a stool, he tried to take Gaethje down when Gaethje went over to check on him, a full 90 seconds after the fight was over.

Muhammed DeReese def. LeRoy Johnson at PFL 7

Muhammed DeReese (6-0) put LeRoy Johnson (8-3) down and out in absolutely vicious fashion courtesy of a perfectly placed knee strike in the opening round of their light heavyweight bout.

Johnson went down face-first into the canvas after absorbing the blow, not only hitting his head on the mat, but the cage post, as well. He was down for roughly seven minutes and was transported to the hospital where he required emergency neck surgery.

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The Winner: Eryk Anders

Massive favorite Anders got a massive challenge from Williams, but late in the fight landed a highlight-reel kick to close the deal.

Anders knocked out Williams with a kick to the face that landed just as Williams was getting up off the canvas. A half-second earlier, and the kick would’ve been illegal. Instead, it was a knockout win for Anders with 18 seconds left in the fight.

“It felt great. I came out a little sluggish, and kind of found my rhythm later in the rounds,” Anders said. “I come to finish. I don’t like going to decisions. I think the difference between (my loss to Lyoto Machida) and this fight is I was looking for the knockout (last time).”

Williams kicked to the body 30 seconds in, but had to circle on the outside while Anders stalked him down and looked for an opening. Williams followed it up with a big head kick 50 seconds later. It was partially blocked, but it got Anders’ attention. Two minutes in, Anders landed a knee to the body and the two clinched up. They broke apart midway through the round, and Anders went back to looking for an opportunity.

Williams landed a kick again, and then countered Anders’ response with a left hand. Williams stung Anders with a 1-2 with 45 seconds left. And with 20 seconds left, Williams scooped Anders up for a takedown and took his back before the end of the frame.

Williams got his second takedown of the fight about 100 seconds into the middle frame. Anders got back to his feet, but had to contend with Williams moving around to his back. With three minutes left, Anders broke away and tried to land a big left hand. He started to let his hands go, then juts missed a high kick. A couple more punches were on the mark, and a knee followed.

Williams was cut open and Anders started to turn up the volume. Williams got defensive and went for a takedown, but Anders stuffed it. When he let Williams back to his feet, he hit him with big punches, but neither fighter could get enough momentum to get close to a finish.

Thirty seconds into the final round, Williams looked for an inside leg kick, but Anders landed a big left hand and put Williams on the canvas. He eventually let him up rather than risk fighting with him on the canvas. Ninety seconds into the round, Williams landed a solid right hand, then a body kick. Midway through, Williams again through a low kick – and again Anders drilled him with a left.

With two minutes left, Williams changed levels for a takedown, but Anders stayed upright. Williams landed a spinning backfist with 30 seconds left, but Anders stayed up. Seconds later, Anders took Williams off his feet with a low kick. And when Williams was getting back to his feet, Anders landed a massive left kick to the face – and Williams was out. Replays showed Anders’ kick landed just micro-seconds after Williams’ right hand came off the canvas.

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