5 of the best spinning backfist knockouts in UFC history

#2. Steven Peterson vs. Martin Bravo – UFC Fight Night 159

Steven Peterson's knockout of Martin Bravo was mind-blowing in its brutality

When wild featherweight brawler Steven Peterson debuted in the UFC in one of 2018’s most entertaining bouts, a crazy scrap with Brandon Davis, it didn’t matter that ‘Ocho’ ended up losing a decision. It was clear from his willingness to eat big punches and swing back that he was destined to become a fan favorite.

However, after beating Matt Bessette in his second octagon visit, two straight losses put Peterson on the verge of being cut from his contract in late 2019. In an attempt to turn things around, he decided to risk it all by taking a relatively late-notice bout with Martin Bravo at Fight Night 159.

To make matters worse, ‘Ocho’ was stepping into hostile territory, as the event was being held in Bravo’s home country of Mexico.

In fitting with his character, though, Peterson clearly didn’t care about what the crowd thought. He came in to fight, brawling with Bravo throughout the first round. Both men ate some big shots and, at one point, it looked like one of Peterson’s teeth may have been knocked out.

That left Peterson desperately needing to win the second round, but few could’ve predicted how spectacularly he’d pull it off. The wild exchange continued, but when Bravo attempted a spinning backfist that narrowly missed, Peterson somehow managed to spin in the other direction and land one of his own.

Bravo was clearly out cold as he hit the mat and the Mexican crowd were stunned into silence. Not only did the win save Peterson’s octagon career, but it deservedly earned him a $50k bonus, too, for one of the best spinning backfists in MMA history.

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#1. Shonie Carter vs. Matt Serra – UFC 31

Shonie Carter's spinning backfist knockout of Matt Serra remains the most well-remembered in octagon history

While it arguably didn’t land with the devastating effect of Peterson or Felder’s shots, the most famous use of the spinning backfist in the octagon still belongs to Shonie Carter, who used the strike to turn the lights off on future welterweight champ Matt Serra at UFC 31, way back in 2001.

At the time, MMA was still a relatively young sport. It’d only been going in the US for eight years, after all. So the idea that a fighter could throw a spinning backfist and make it work inside the octagon felt more like a pipe dream from a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie.

However, not only did ‘Mr International’ knock Serra down with a spinning backfist in the first round after faking a kick, he used the same strike in the third round, catching ‘The Terror’ as he appeared to be stepping in to shoot for a takedown. This time, it put him away for good, carving his name into UFC history in the process.

Incredibly, it would be another 10 years, give or take, before another fighter landed a spinning backfist knockout in the UFC. Bizarrely enough, though, Carter himself came close in his rematch with Serra during their stint on TUF 4.

Overall, then, Carter’s spinning backfist may not be the most visceral example of the strike being used in the octagon, but as it was the original, it remains untouchable in the history of the promotion.