The quickest KOs in the cage that made the MMA record books
MMA is a fickle sport that can change in the blink of an eye. When two powerful fighters enter the cage, nobody knows exactly how long the match will last. This is not the kind of sport you want to take your eyes off of, even for a few minutes.
While the average MMA fight lasts anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes, some battles have surprised everyone by lasting less than 20 seconds. Some of these fights have gone down in history as the most brutal and impressive knockouts to date.
9 seconds – Allen Crowder vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
In a battle against “Pretty Boy” Allen Crowder, Jairzinho Rozenstruik reached knockout status in just 9 seconds flat. After a brief, albeit feisty, show from Crowder, the fight was over. While Rozenstruik is known for a variety of iconic victories, this is one he achieved in the shortest amount of time.
9 seconds – Joe Veres vs. Gray Maynard
Gray Maynard may no longer be a part of the UFC, but this 9 second knockout against Joe Veres put him on the map as one of the most astounding victories to date.
As soon as he entered the Octagon on Night 11 of UFC Fight Night, Maynard leapt onto Veres with an exacting left hook, leading to an instant win. To this day, Maynard is considered one of the most powerful UFC fighters to have never actually won a belt.
8 seconds – Andy Ogle vs. Makwan Amirkhani
Makwan Amirkhani made an unforgettable debut into the UFC world with his crazy flying knee against Andy Ogle’s unsuspecting head. The fact that it happened within just 8 seconds of starting made Amirkahni’s victory all the more impressive.
Although there was some debate over how quickly the referee ended the game, this knockout remains one of the most memorable in MMA history.
8 seconds – Seth Baczynski vs. Leon Edwards
When Seth Baczynski kicked off this fight with such ferocious momentum and energy, no one expected the British Leon Edwards to come out on top. But with a spectacular front kick to Baczynski’s brow, Edwards made a name for himself as “Rocky,” one of the best UFC fighters in his category—and has become one of the most popular fighters in the UK ever since.
7 seconds – Anthony Perosh vs. Ryan Jimmo
Ryan Jimmo had many victorious moments throughout his career, but this 7-second knockout against Anthony Perosh is one of his earliest and most iconic. The Canadian fighter walloped Perosh on the side of his face, putting him to sleep just moments after the match had begun.
After leaving the world of UFC and MMA, Jimmo was tragically killed in a hit-and-run in 2016. However, his legacy lives on in his string of spectacular knockouts throughout his career.
7 seconds – Chan Sung Jung vs. Mark Hominick
Mark Hominick may have been the heavy favorite in this throwdown against lesser-known Chan Sung Jung, but the “Korean Zombie” walked away the champion after this jaw-breaking fight. The moment that Hominick let his guard down, Sung Jung intervened, knocking out his opponent in 7 seconds flat. Rarely has an underdog made such a comeback.
7 seconds – Matt Frevola vs. Terrance McKinney
It’s doubtful that even Terrance McKinney could predict how swift and exact his victory would be over Matt Frevola. From the moment the bell rang, McKinney unleashed a full-on blast of punches and blows that would ultimately send Frevola to sleep within 7 seconds, leading to the champion’s 11th knockout win in his illustrious UFC and MMA career.
6 seconds – Moses Diaz vs. Carlos Fonesca
At the six second knockout mark, we have Moses Diaz’s incredible win over Carlos Fonesca in round one of their MMA fight in Florida. The 28-year-old American fighter knocked out his opponent Fonesca with a sharp blow to the forehead, prompting a near-instant collapse. It’s not often that we get to see such a clean punch that results in that fast of a victory.
Ranked number 6 of the Arizona MMA featherweights, Diaz is sure to go on with a few more wins in his career. If any of them resemble this victory over Fonesca, he’ll go a long way.
5 seconds – John Painter vs. Paul Elliot
No one expected UK-born Paul Elliot to smash John Painter quite like he did at the MMA Total Combat tournament, but smash him he did. Dubbed the “King of the North”, Elliot connected his fists to Painter’s head within just 5 seconds, one of the shortest defeats in history.
5 seconds – Igor Glazkov vs. Andrey Shikov
In another incredible 5-second defeat, Russian fighter Igor Glazkov sent “Crazy” Andrey Shikov to sleep with a potent blow to the brow. At just 20 years old, Glazkov proved himself to be a prolific MMA fighter, overcoming his opponent just seconds after the bell was rung.
Being up against such a strong opponent, this win is particularly impressive. Prior to this fight, Shikov was known for his brutal and unpredictable moves, making the win that much more satisfying for Glazkov and his many fans.
4 seconds – Kevin Gaudreault vs. Charles Bellemare
In this unforgettable battle between two iconic MMA fighters, the match was never going to last long. However, no one expected amateur Canadian Charles Bellemare to move quite as quickly and decisively, ending the fight within a mere 4 seconds from the start.
At the time, Kevin Gaudreault was the fan favorite, which made this win from Bellemare all the more stunning. There’s nothing quite like a surprise knockout.
3 seconds – Kevin Mendez vs. Jahmir Selgado
Last but absolutely not least, we have the incredible win that Kevin Mendez celebrated against Jahmir Selgado. Lasting just 3 seconds long in total, it’s no wonder why Mendez is heralded as one of the most powerful and legendary MMA fighters in global history.
Staying power isn’t something that the fighters who got KOed can boast about. While many have gone on to have solid careers and made MMA headlines for the right reasons, these are records they’d probably be far happier to forget about.
