It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
As 2015 winds down, why not nestle up next to the fire and enjoy some of the best athletes in the world knocking some of the other best athletes in the world into unconsciousness?
The past 12 months have thrown up some particularly impressive knockouts and these are our 10Â favourites.
10 – Marc Diakiese def Rick Selvarajah BAMMA 22
I was lucky to be there live and it genuinely felt like Selvarajah was going to come flying through the cage after being hit with an overhand right from hell.
9 – Jonas Bilharinho def. Fabiano Fernandes Jungle Fight 76
The guy that Jose Aldo brought in to replicate Conor McGregor turns out to be no joke at all.
8 – Jay-Ar Campos def Michal Vojtanic Clan Wars 21
Nothing turns out an opponent’s lights like a flying knee and Jay-Ar Campos redefined the term ‘landing flush’ when he knocked out Michal Vojtanic in Belfast earlier this year.
7 – Frank Mir def. Todd Duffee UFC Fight Night 71
Todd Duffee was the supposed knockout artist while Frank Mir was always going to pursue the ground game in this main event in July. But anything can happen in the octagon and Duffee found that out the hard way when when a left hook sent him to sleep.
6 – Conor McGregor def. Jose Aldo UFC 194
It took a year to get them in an octagon and just 13 seconds to get them out as Conor McGregor took advantage of an overextension from Aldo to drop him with a flush left hook.
5 – Ross Pearson def. Sam Stout UFC 185
Sam Stout has hands of stone but, unfortunately, his chin wasn’t made of the same stuff as he was left stiff by a ripping left hook from Ross Pearson in March.
4. Thomas Almeida def. Brad Pickett UFC 189
He’s got power in his punches, kicks, knees. He could probably knock you out with a flick.
3 – Hisaki Kato def. Joe Schilling Bellator 139
Kickboxing phenom Joe Schilling was supposed to have the striking edge here but Hisaki Kato clearly didn’t get the memo.
2 – Holly Holm def. Ronda Rousey UFC 193
You might have heard that Ronda Rousey isn’t the women’s bantamweight champion anymore and it’s all down to this well-disguised, chopping roundhouse kick to the neck.
1 – Thomas Almeida def. Anthony Birchak UFC Fight Night 77
So nasty he made our list twice. Spinning back elbow, left hook, right straight, left hook, right straight and one of the most unpleasant-looking crumpled messes you’re ever going to see.
Almeida is nasty! This kid is 21-0 now and another vicious KO. pic.twitter.com/JcNexfLBC1
— danawhite (@danawhite) November 8, 2015
