MIXED MARTIAL ARTS' premier promotion produced some incredible knockouts this past year - many of which went viral.
2021 was full of vicious, beautiful and well-planned stoppages that made MMA lovers around the globe jump from their seats.
Dustin Poirier started 2021 with an impressive KO win over Conor McGregor at UFC 257
SunSport spent hours analyzing fights in order to compile the list of five top knockouts for the year. You can view it below.
SUNSPORT'S TOP FIVE KNOCKOUTS FOR 2021
Cory Sandhagen vs Frankie Edgar - UFC Vegas 18
With a viral KO by Frankie Edgar, former lightweight king Frankie Edgar, Sandman Sandhagen soared to the top of the bantamweight division.
Just 25 seconds into the match, Sandhagen leapt into the air and cracked Edgar flush on his chin with a perfect flying knee.
Edgar, once durable and battle-tested, was sent to the shadow realm. He fell to the ground like a marbelised statue.
Francis Ngannou vs Stipe Mocic - UFC 260
Ngannou made UFC history with his stunning stoppage of Stipe Milocic in the second round to become the promotion’s first African-born heavyweight champion.
After being cracked with a large right hand, the Predator took revenge on Miocic and closed out the show with an academic fist.
Miocic was taken to the hospital for further medical evaluation after the sickening stoppage.
Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal - UFC 261
After their five-rounder in July, Nigerian Nightmare Usman was determined to win his rematch against Masvidal.
Masvidal fought his first bout with Masvidal on six days notice. He was determined to beat the welterweight king despite having a full camp.
However, Usman ruled out that theory with a brutal straightright - which he created by trapping Masvidal’s right hand - less then 60 seconds into their eagerly awaited rematch.
Masvidal's lights went out just before he crashed onto the canvas. Usman then closed the show with some academic follow up shots.
Jiri Prochazka vs Dominick Reyes - UFC Vegas 26
Jiri Prochazka, a Czech clubber and charismatic, was able to make his mark on the UFC's history by stopping former light-heavyweight title challenger Reyes at UFC Vegas 26,
After a second round of great success, the RIZIN205lb king split the Devastator with a stunning spinning-back elbow that became viral.
Reyes was instantly separated from consciousness by the beautiful, but fatal strike and landed horribly on his neck.
Prochazka's stunning victory over the unorthodox, dynamic fighter catapulted him to number one on the list of contenders. Now, he is set for a battle with Glover Teixeira, the light-heavyweight champion.
Iganacio Bahamondes vs Roosevelt Roberts - UFC Vegas 35
In August, Bahamondes' fight against Roosevelt Roberts at UFC Vegas 34 produced a contender for Knockout Of The Year.
The Chilean performed a spectacular spinning wheel kick with just five seconds left in the clock. It landed flush on Roberts jaw.
Bahamondes alum Dana White's Contender Series collapsed in a heap as La Jaula realized that he had won his first victory inside the octagon.
