30 of the best MMA knockouts of all time [UPDATED AUGUST 2023]
By Amy Kaplan
14. Chris Weidman pulls off the unthinkable
From UFC 162 - 2013
This isn’t a very violent knockout, and in truth, it was handed to Weidman on a silver platter, but it’s still one of the best knockouts in MMA history.
Anderson Silva had never been knocked out in UFC competition. He had won his last 17 professional fights. Of those 17 wins, 15 had come by knockout or submission. Anderson Silva is arguably the best mixed martial artists to ever live.
Silva had toyed with so many opponents in the past. He had continually mocked opponents, begging them to land a strike on the champion because it simply couldn’t be done. Silva was even throwing crescent kicks at Weidman, just begging for him to try.
Still, Weidman remained calm and capitalized on his opportunities to strike. He truly did get a bit lucky, catching Silva with the back of his fist. However, he was able to capitalize on his chance to finish the champion, and when the opportunity presented itself, Weidman beat Silva’s face in.
This is the “miracle” moment for mixed martial arts. It’s up there with the 1980 U.S. Hockey team beating the Soviet Union. It’s up there with Boise State knocking off Oklahoma. It’s one of the greatest upsets of all time, even if it’s not a particularly violent knockout.