5 of the most brutal uppercut knockouts in UFC history

#2 Derrick Lewis vs Curtis Blaydes - UFC Fight Night 185

UFC Fight Night Blaydes v Lewis: Weigh-Ins

This weekend's UFC 265 card sees Derrick Lewis face off against Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight title. 'The Black Beast' is firmly in line for a championship shot due to a four-fight win streak, including a brutal knockout of fellow contender Curtis Blaydes.

Ahead of his fight at UFC Fight Night 185, Blaydes was on a four-fight win streak of his own. And despite clinching the first round, 'Razor' found himself as stiff as a board 96 seconds into the second stanza. Lewis landed a cleverly disguised uppercut that saw Blaydes - who was shooting for a trademark takedown - fall to the canvas like a statue before needing several minutes to recover.

Derrick Lewis BRUTALLY knocks Curtis Blaydes unconscious in the second round #UFCVegas19 pic.twitter.com/LZzWdHU5M1

— CATCHWEIGHT Podcast (@catchweightpod) February 21, 2021

Lewis has made a habit of pulling knockout victories out of his hat. Will we see another installment of his power in a few days' time?

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#1 Francis Ngannou vs Alistair Overeem - UFC 218

UFC 218: Overeem v Ngannou

If Derrick Lewis is scary, Francis Ngannou is positively terrifying. 'The Predator' has immense knockout power, an imposing physique and the UFC heavyweight title strapped around his waist.

Ngannou entered his fight against Alistair Overeem at UFC 218 on a nine-fight win streak (five in the UFC). Overeem was expected to be the man to end Ngannou's dominance in the promotion, but the Dutchman found himself on the receiving end of an all-time great knockout.

Ngannou threw a massive left uppercut early in the first round, lashing Overeem's head back as he fell to the floor in alarming fashion. The knockout has often been talked about as one straight out of a video game, and it's not hard to see why.

#OnThisDay in 2017...🇨🇲 @Francis_Ngannou delivered an ALL-TIME GREAT KO vs Alistair Overeem. pic.twitter.com/4wYWsKQPxt

— UFC (@ufc) December 2, 2020

The win immediately thrust Ngannou into the title picture. Although he lost to Stipe Miocic and then Derrick Lewis, he put together a five-fight win streak that culminated in winning the UFC heavyweight title.