August’s Top 10 UFC Knockouts

August was jam-packed with jaw-dropping mixed martial arts moments, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld as he selects the month’s top 10 UFC knockouts.

ALSO READ: July’s Top Five UFC Knockouts.

The MMA leader crammed five events into the month, and each delivered awe-inspiring action inside the Octagon. 

From debilitating body blows and a veteran warrior going out on his shield to a moonwalking showman arriving in style, a local hero shocking the world, and more, August was one of the wildest months of the year.

So much so that we’ve doubled up our usual top five knockouts of the month to the top 10.

10: Sonic Boom

Debuting heavyweight Jovan Leka became the first Serbian fighter ever to score a UFC win in his native country, and his historic win was heard around the world as he shut down Alexander Poppeck with a booming body kick.

9: Damage Done

Darren “The Damage” Elkins’ swansong didn’t go as he had planned, as Yadier del Valle stopped the veteran with a straight left hand a minute into their fight at UFC Vegas 120.

8: Out Cold

Donte Johnson split the guard of Eric McConico and separated him from his senses with a loaded left hand at UFC 330 to extend his undefeated record to 9-0.

7: Moon Landing

Bilal Hasan put on a show in his promotional debut at UFC Shanghai, starting with a Michael Jackson-inspired entrance on what would have been Jackson’s 68th birthday, followed by a thrilling performance complete with a one-punch knockout over Nilson Rojas and a moonwalk celebration.

6: Fear The Spear

Local lass Nina Milosevic was throwing laser-accurate spears at Hailey Cowan at UFC Belgrade, sending her hurt opponent’s body into a panic with a piercing straight and finishing her off with a second lethal liver shot. 

5: On Song

A huge underdog, Song Yadong shocked the world and likely earned a bantamweight title shot when he put Umar Nurmagomedov to sleep with an uppercut in the main event of UFC Shanghai. 

4: The Final Straw

Denise Gomes silenced the crowd in Shanghai and potentially earned a strawweight championship opportunity when he crushed former title challenger Yan Xiaonan with an elbow from hell. 

3: Face-planted

Former K-1 kickboxing champion Liu Ce had an Octagon debut to remember as he face-planted Levi Rodrigues Jr in a wild back-and-forth war.

2: Off With Her Head

Julia Polastri damn near decapitated Xiong Jingnan when she starched the former ONE Championship flyweight queen with a brutal head kick at UFC Shanghai. 

1: When a Plan Backfires

Kennedy Nzechukwu played a dangerous game at UFC Sacramento, keeping his hands low to try to lure a bad shot out of Shamil Gaziev that he could counter. Unfortunately for the Nigerian, it backfired badly as Gaziev sent him flying into the shadow realm.