5 most timely stoppages in UFC history

#2. Rafael Fiziev vs. Brad Riddell stoppage (UFC on ESPN)

The UFC lightweight division is a shark tank. From top to bottom, it is overflowing with skilled fighters of every variety. When Jose Aldo faced Rob Font in the main event of a UFC on ESPN card, they were joined by Rafael Fiziev and Brad Riddell, who fought under them in the co-main event.

Brad Riddell is a kickboxer by trade, training out of City Kickboxing in Auckland, New Zealand alongside Israel Adesanya. When he and Fiziev crossed paths, Riddell was 10-1, riding a seven-fight win streak. Fiziev, a former Russian Muay Thai kickboxing champion, was also a 10-1 fighter at the time.

The bout proved to be one of the most compelling matchups of the event. While Fiziev was in solid control of the fight, the action arose from both fighters. Perhaps no one could have predicted what was to come in the third round.

A finish didn't seem in sight as neither fighter was seriously hurt prior to the fight-ending sequence. Yet, as Riddell found himself trapped between the fence and his foe, he circled to his right, unknowingly moving into the path of a lightning-quick spinning wheel kick that intercepted him, stunning him so badly he froze.

Referee Herb Dean immediately recognized the danger in allowing Riddell to continue, stepping in with a timely stoppage. Seconds later, the New Zealander collapsed.

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#1. Alexander Volkanovski vs. Chan Sung Chung stoppage (UFC 273)

Fighters place a significant amount of pride on their toughness and heart. The ability to endure punishment in the octagon and persevere is often viewed with honor, and doing so is considered a rite of passage.

Chan Sung Chung, better-known as 'The Korean Zombie', is widely celebrated for his iron chin and nearly supernatural toughness. He is notoriously difficult to finish via strikes, and is known to weather storms in the octagon. However, when he encountered Alexander Volkanovski, Chung met the limits of his legendary durability.

At UFC 273, the bout between the two was a stunning one-sided affair. 'The Korean Zombie' struggled to land any meaningful strikes while also finding himself unable to avoid the increasing punishment he was receiving from Volkanovski's pull-counters and sharp 1-2 combinations.

The sheer speed the Australian possessed was too great for Chung to contend with, and over the course of multiple rounds, he was stunned, rocked, and wobbled.

Never had fight fans seen the Korean great so thoroughly dominated before. When he stumbled after another Volkanovski assault in the fourth round, Herb Dean mercifully waved the fight off in a stoppage that received widespread praise as Chung was on course for a life-altering beating.