The 2021 Knockout of the Year award was a lot more difficult to decide than in 2020. No one quite pulled off what Joaquin Buckley was able to do against Impa Kasanganay but that’s not to say we didn’t have some epic KOs this year. In fact, we had so many that it seemed a shame just to shout out one. So, before we announce the actual winner we want to give props to the guys who ran it close in 2021.
#3 Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal II – UFC 261
The UFC welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, made an emphatic statement back in April to end his short rivalry with Jorge Masvidal.
Usman previously beat ‘Gamebred’ by decision after Masvidal accepted a short notice fight with him in 2020. Rather than let his opponent have an excuse for losing, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ decided to rematch Masvidal, who was given a full camp to prepare for the UFC 261 main event match-up.
On fight night, Usman made a huge statement when he stood with Masvidal and knocked him out cold in the second round.
It was a KO that certainly impressed the LowKickMMA staff, even if it didn’t quite beat out the eventual winner of KOTY.
WHAT A KNOCKOUT!
Kamaru Usman makes a statement by finishing Jorge Masvidal in the second round!
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) April 25, 2021
#2 Cory Sandhagen vs. Frankie Edgar – UFC Vegas 18
Up next, we have my personal favourite KO of the year.
Cory Sandhagen announced himself as a legit threat at bantamweight when he wiped out former UFC lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar, inside 30 seconds back in February. ‘The Sandman’ landed a picture-perfect flying knee that sent Edgar crashing statuesque to the canvas with just 28 seconds on the clock.
Sandhagen has since pushed both TJ Dillashaw and Petr Yan all the way but was unable to pick up another win in 2021.
Start your KO of the Year lists, people
— UFC (@ufc) February 7, 2021
#1 Jiri Prochazka Wins LowKickMMA’s 2021 Knockout Of The Year
The newest light-heavyweight sensation, Jiri Prochazka, deservedly walks away with the award for LowKickMMA’s Knockout of the Year.
Prochazka is always in entertaining fights but earlier this year at UFC Vegas 25 he really took things to the next level when he fought two-time title challenger, Dominick Reyes.
The Czech fighter charged forward with reckless abandon, and it worked! Prochazka beat the breaks off Reyes for two rounds before the Mexican American fighter fell face first to the canvas after being hit with a spinning back elbow.
Full list of KOTY Votes
Jordan: Sandhagen vs. Edgar
Lewis: Prochazka vs. Reyes
Michael G: Prochazka vs Reyes
Curtis: Usman vs. Masvidal II
Ross: Poirier vs. McGregor II
Ian: Usman vs. Masvidal II
Michael C: Brown vs. Lima
Abhinav: Prochazka vs. Reyes
Keelin: Sandhagen vs. Edgar
Ryan: Prochazka vs. Reyes
Patrick: Bahamondes vs Roberts
Do you think the right person won our Knockout of the Year award?