The Fastest Knockouts In UFC History

The UFC is undoubtedly the world's most prestigious and most competitive MMA organisation. The best fighters in the world share the same stage as they try to lift what most people can only dream of – the famous champion belt.

Throughout the years, we've seen many interesting fights with breath-taking finishes. Knockouts are what fans love to see the most, and that's what we wanted to talk about

Which Fighters Are Bookie-Favourites For Knockouts?

Historically, around 31% of UFC bouts end in a knockout. It’s the result most fans are hoping for when they tune in, especially when the card features known "one-shot" specialists. Certain fighters have built their entire careers on this power; their reputation for finishing fights is so well-established that platforms like NetBet often reflect this in the pre-fight odds, frequently pricing them as clear favourites for a KO victory.

Fighters such as Alex Pereira, Khalil Rountree, and Tom Aspinall are perfect examples of this. Their presence in the Octagon changes the atmosphere because everyone knows the fight could end in a split second. Then there’s Derrick Lewis, the legendary "Black Beast," who boasts a knockout rate of 86%. When you're looking at those kinds of numbers, it's clear why his bouts are such a draw for those who enjoy the thrill of a wager on a specific finish.

Of course, while these stats are impressive, they are simply part of the sport's inherent unpredictability. For many viewers, having a flutter on these outcomes is just a way to add an extra layer of engagement to the event, provided it’s done responsibly as a form of entertainment. Interestingly, the likelihood of a knockout shifts significantly depending on the weight category:

• Heavyweight: 50%
• Light heavyweight: 43%
• Middleweight: 37%
• Welterweight: 33%

The frequency drops right down in the women’s strawweight division, where it sits at a modest 13%. But who actually holds the record for the quickest finish? Let's get into the specifics.

Jorge Masvidal: 5 Seconds

Not only is this the fastest knockout, but it’s arguably the most popular knockout in UFC history. The event was UFC 239: Jones vs Santos. Ben Askren was supposed to be the next big thing because he was undefeated as a fighter and a well-known wrestler. He also came shortly after the UFC decided to let Mighty Mouse go, even though he had 11 successful title defences, and is currently one of the most decorated fighters of all time.

Jorge Masvidal hails from Miami, and the build-up to his fight against Askren was anything but friendly. When the cage closed, and the fight began, Masvidal quickly ran to the centre and hit Askren with a devastating flying knee in the face.

After falling, he landed two additional G&P punches, which he called "super necessary." The referee stopped the fight after 5 seconds, and Masvidal claimed the crown for the fastest knockout in UFC history and even became the first-ever BMF title holder.

Duane Ludwig: 6 seconds

Coming in at number 2, we have Duane Ludwig, who fought against Jonathan Goulet in January 2006 as part of the UFC Fight Night 3 card. Right after the start of the round, Goulet went in to pressure Ludwig. After taking the centre of the cage, he rushed with a jab and got caught with a check cross while Ludwig was moving backwards.

Ludwig was good enough not to follow through with G&P. Instead, he waited for the referee to stop the match, which he did.

Todd Duffee, Terrance McKinney, and Chan Sung Jung: 7 Seconds

After the start of the fight, Hague went in for a devastating right hand, but missed and got caught with Ludwig’s check hook. After falling to the ground, Duffee followed with another 8 G&P punches before the referee stopped the fight. Once the winner was declared, the clock showed that the knockout occurred exactly 7 seconds after the fight started.

Chan Sung Jung, Ryan Jimmo, and Terrance McKinney all had 7-second knockouts as well:

• Sung Jung knocked out Mark Hominick at UFC 140 (Jones vs Machida)
• Ryan Jimmo KO’d Anthony Perosh at UFC 149 (Faber vs Barao)
• Terrance McKinney KO’d Matt Frevola at UFC 263 (Adesanya vs. Vettori 2)

James Irvin, Makwan Amirkhani, and Leon Edwards: 8 Seconds

James Irvin was the first fighter to clock an 8-second knockout. He did that against Houston Alexander in 2008 (UFC Fight Night: Florian vs Lauzon). Makwan Amirkhani had an 8-second knockout at the start of 2015 against Andy Ogle.

Interestingly enough, Leon Edwards had an 8-second knockout that same year when he fought Seth Baczynski in the UFC Fight Night: Gonzaga vs Cro Cop 2 event. Leon Edwards would go on to deliver one of the most brutal KO’s in UFC history when he fought Kamaru Usman in August 2022. The head kick KO got him the belt, but he lost it against Belal Muhammad in 2023.

Fastest Knockouts in Title Fights

Some may have thought that the fastest knockouts would mean KO’s in title fights. To make sure that we bring you more information, we also wanted to share some of the fastest knockouts in title fights:

• Conor McGregor vs Jose Aldo: 13 seconds
• Ronda Rousey vs Cat Zingano: 14 seconds
• Andrei Arlovski vs Paul Buentello: 15 seconds
• Ronda Rousey vs Alexis Davis: 16 seconds
• Frank Shamrock vs Igor Zinoviev: 22 seconds