5 best elbow knockouts in MMA history

The sport of MMA is characterized by fighters often ending the bout before the final bell sounds, by way of either submission or knockout.

Either way, the skill and passion of the connoisseurs of the savage science never cease to amaze—with the vast majority of fans, the casual audience, in particular, loving the exhilarating knockouts.

The knockout (KO) has always been a highly intriguing phenomenon in the world of combat sports. Speaking of which, the sport of MMA is rather unique, in the sense that it comprises several paths through which a fighter can achieve the KO victory over his foe.

Right from punches, to elbows; kicks to knees; any well-placed and well-timed strike could possibly result in a fight ending by way of KO. Today, we take a look at some of the best elbow knockouts in MMA history—

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#5 Jorge Masvidal vs. Cezar Ferreira

Jorge Masvidal (right) scored a beautiful elbow KO of Cezar Ferreira back in 2015

Jorge Masvidal faced Cezar Ferreira at The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzillians Finale back in 2015, in what was a masterful performance by “Gamebred”.

Masvidal was caught up against the fence by Ferreira and turned the tables on the latter by dinging him with a beautiful left elbow to the head. Gamebred then followed up with a huge right elbow to Ferreira’s chin which dropped the latter.

Masvidal then followed up with a few precise ground strikes, before the referee stepped in to call off the fight. The fight was highlighted by the fact that Ferreira was well out of it on his feet owing to the couple of hellacious elbow strikes landed by Masvidal.

Something that serves to add further intrigue to the fight, as regards fight practitioners’ tape study of said fight, is that Masvidal set up the aforementioned KO sequence in a rather eloquent manner. The fight notably featured Masvidal tagging his foe at range, only to let the latter get the upper hand when they clinched.

Now, Ferreira being the excellent grappler that he is, identified that as an opening which he likely planned to utilize as part of his grappling-based strategy. Regardless, while he stalled against the fence, Masvidal took advantage of the opportunity and dinged him with the aforementioned elbow strikes in quick succession.

Truly one of the calmest and collected fighters inside the Octagon, Masvidal added yet another KO victory to his already impressive highlight reel.

#4 Matt Brown vs. Diego Sanchez

Matt Brown and Diego Sanchez have endeared themselves to the MMA community with their slug-it-out fighting style and undisputed warrior spirit.

Brown and Sanchez faced off at UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis in November of last year—in a thrilling showdown that saw Sanchez come out in his trademark blitz.

Brown calmly weathered the storm which included a beautiful liver kick by Sanchez and went on to pressure his opponent toward the fence.

He then methodically stalked Sanchez as the latter tried to circle away and get his back off the fence. Brown masterfully flummoxed his opponent with a combination of excellent footwork and feints—measuring Sanchez before catching a kick and landing a picture-perfect elbow which instantly crumpled the latter for the finish.

#3 Mirko Cro Cop vs. Gabriel Gonzaga

Mirko Cro Cop first faced Gabriel Gonzaga back at UFC 70 in 2007 and sustained a beating at the latter’s hands—eating several elbow strikes before Gonzaga used the former’s own signature move, the head kick, to finish Cro Cop.

Following his shocking defeat at the hands of Gonzaga, Cro Cop noted that he’d come over from Pride FC (an organization which prohibited the use of elbow strikes) to the UFC, which in turn proved to be his undoing as elbow strikes were widely utilized in the UFC.

Cro Cop faced Gonzaga in the rematch at UFC Fight Night: Gonzaga vs. Cro Cop 2 in 2015, and notably tagged the latter with a few beautiful standing elbows. The fight then went to the ground, where Cro Cop continued landing elbows as part of his ground-and-pound.

It was in the post-fight Octagon interview that Cro Cop noted how he learnt from his 2007 loss to Gonzaga, and subsequently incorporated elbows into his arsenal—once again proving that one is never too old to learn in the world of martial arts.

#2 Gary Goodridge vs. Paul Herrera

It was at UFC 8 back in 1996 that the world of Mixed Martial Arts witnessed, what is till date, considered one of the most brutal knockouts in UFC history.

Hours before his UFC 8 fight against Paul Herrera took place, Goodridge’s team noted that the former had been training the fireman’s carry takedown extensively.

Owing to the aforementioned observation, Goodridge’s team formulated a strategy whereby they’d counter the fireman’s carry, and incapacitate Herrera in a crucifix. The strategy came to fruition when the latter shot for a takedown on Goodridge only to be stuffed and locked in the crucifix position.

Goodridge then proceeded to land several nasty elbows to Herrera’s head—with the second elbow knocking the latter out cold, and the referee stepping in only after several more elbow strikes landed on his dome.

#1 Anderson Silva vs. Tony Fryklund

Anderson Silva pulled off what’s considered one of the most innovative KO’s at Cage Rage 16 back in 2006—against a visibly overmatched Tony Fryklund.

Fryklund came out with a decent game-plan which involved using considerable lateral movement so as to avoid Silva’s power. Regardless, Silva’s timing was on point, and he kept tagging his foe from long range.

Silva then caught his opponent in the clinch and hammered away with several knees. The fighters then circled back towards the center of the cage, where Silva finished the fight in style with a standing reverse elbow.

Silva’s stoppage of Fryklund is till date regarded as one of the most brutal elbow KOs in MMA history.