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Top 10 knockouts that ended a UFC career

By Nick Strickland

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 6: Rashad Evans (black shorts) def. Chuck Liddell (blue shorts) - KO - 1:51 round 2 during UFC 88 at Philips Arena on September 6, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 6: Rashad Evans (black shorts) def. Chuck Liddell (blue shorts) - KO - 1:51 round 2 during UFC 88 at Philips Arena on September 6, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – AUGUST 01: (R-L) Julian Marquez reacts to his knockout victory over Phillip Hawes in their middleweight bout during Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series at the TUF Gym on August 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/DWTNCS)
LAS VEGAS, NV – AUGUST 01: (R-L) Julian Marquez reacts to his knockout victory over Phillip Hawes in their middleweight bout during Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series at the TUF Gym on August 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/DWTNCS) /

Over the years we have seen a number of UFC careers end with a brutal knockout and here we have ten such examples.

The fight game is both beautiful and savage. The participants enter the octagon knowing their careers could be on the line and it could all come crashing down with one kick or punch. Over the years we have seen UFC careers ended in brutal fashion.

This game takes no prisoners. You could be a current champion or even a former titleholder who was on top of their game. A promising future contender or even a prospect it would make no difference if the MMA universe decides it is your time to hang ’em up, then its time.

Let’s take a deep plunge into the more brutal side of the fight business and reel off 10 names who’s UFC career was ended in an instant, either immediately after the knockout or some months later.

Some of the ladies and gentlemen were the biggest names in MMA while others could have been the future stars. From Chuck Liddell to Ronda Rousey all the way back to Matt Hughes, I will take you on a journey back in time.

LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 07: Gray Maynard stands in the Octagon prior to his featherweight bout during The Ultimate Fighter Finale at T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 07: Gray Maynard stands in the Octagon prior to his featherweight bout during The Ultimate Fighter Finale at T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) /

10. Gray Maynard

Maynard was once a dominant force in the UFC’s lightweight division going on a 10 fight unbeaten streak before challenging for Frankie Edgar’s title back in 2011. The two men engaged in a memorable fight that ended in a draw. They met again but this time Frankie stopped Maynard late in the fight, a loss that Gray has never really recovered from.

Since the Edgar fights, Gray has dropped five of his last seven outings with three coming by way of (T)KO. Nate Diaz, TJ Grant and Ross Pearson all ran straight through the man who was once a dominant force and someone not to taken lightly.

While his UFC career is not over, Maynard has never looked the same as he did prior to his title-challenging contests and that stoppage loss to Edgar during their final fight.

With two wins in his last three contests, Gray is far from done with MMA but let’s hope he doesn’t end up like BJ Penn.

MACAU – AUGUST 23: Cung Le of USA waits at the octagon before his 5-Round middleweight fight against Michael Bisping of England during the UFC Fight Night at The Venetian Macao Cotai Arena on August 23, 2014 in Macau, China. (Photo by Victor Fraile/Getty Images)
MACAU – AUGUST 23: Cung Le of USA waits at the octagon before his 5-Round middleweight fight against Michael Bisping of England during the UFC Fight Night at The Venetian Macao Cotai Arena on August 23, 2014 in Macau, China. (Photo by Victor Fraile/Getty Images) /

9. Cung Le

A former Strikeforce champion with devastating striking abilities, Cung Le was a late arrival to the world of MMA but one that was super fun to watch.

During his time in the world of cage fighting Le (9-3) gave us eight phenomenal knockouts to replay over and over again. From Frank Shamrock to the spinning back kick he used to knock out Scott Smith, Cung made a statement in every fight.

He had a nice little run in the UFC going 2-2 with wins over Patrick Cote and Rich Franklin but it was his loss to Michael Bisping that ended his fighting career. The Englishman put a beating on the Le, leaving him a bloodied mess inside the cage. Le had no answer for the barrage of strikes and was finished early in the fourth round.

Shortly after the loss, Le retired from the sport.

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