Welcome to this week’s edition of MMA News’ Top 10 Finishes of the week! Every week there’s highlight-reel finishes all across the MMA world, and we’ve found some of the absolute best ones to showcase.
The UFC’s card in Austin tied a promotional record for the most KO/TKO stoppages at a single event, but only a few of those managed to make the cut in a week full of impressive finishes.
The return of the PFL provided several candidates, but promotions from Europe and Mexico also managed to produce everything from head kicks to one-shot counters for this week’s list.
#10: Roman Dolidze Sets The Tone In Austin
The first of 9 stoppage victories at UFC Austin also serves as the first finish for this week’s list, courtesy of Georgian middleweight Roman Dolidze.
THAT KNEE
What a way to start #UFCAustin pic.twitter.com/OuIsOSDfdI
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 18, 2022
Dolidze pressed Kyle Daukaus to the fence just over a minute into their fight before throwing up a knee that dropped “The D’Arce Knight” and had the ref jumping in after a few follow-up punches.
#9: Itzel Padilla Impresses In Pro Debut
Debuting atomweights opened the night at Lux Fight League 23 where Itzel Padilla set a high bar for the rest of her career.
Padilla landed a head kick that sat Tania Tapia down on the canvas and provided the first of three head kick finishes included on this week’s list.
#8: Adrian Yanez Puts On A Show
The bad blood between bantamweights Adrian Yanez and Tony Kelley was a major talking point ahead of UFC Austin, and Yanez rose to the occasion in his home state of Texas.
A STATEMENT IN HIS HOME STATE
@yanezmma was determined to get the finish at #UFCAustin pic.twitter.com/XZOB45HOqi
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 18, 2022
Yanez pushed the pace for as long as the fight lasted before finally dropping Kelley with a series of punches that had the fans in Austin roaring.
#7: Omari Akhmedov Books A Playoff Spot
Omari Akhmedov put in an impressive performance that guaranteed him a spot in the 2022 PFL playoffs, but he also got a little help from the referee to earn a place on this week’s list.
Akhmedov locked up an arm triangle choke on Teodoras Aukštuolis that put the Lithuanian unconscious as the PFL’s “Ref Cam” gave fans a close-up of Aukštuolis’s face.
#6: Kacper Formela Defends FEN Title
This week’s second head kick finish comes from featherweight Kacper Formela’s main event victory at FEN 40 in Poland.
Making the first defense of his FEN featherweight title against Aleksandr Gorshechnik, Formela landed a head kick just before the end of the first round and followed-up with a few brutal hammer fists for good measure.
#5: Jeremiah Wells Flatlines “The Crusher”
Jeremiah Wells managed to deliver a highlight-reel KO on a night where the crowd at UFC Austin had already witnessed several fantastic finishes.
"LEFT HOOK FROM HELL"
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 18, 2022
The 35-year-old welterweight flattened Court McGee with a left hook and handed the longtime veteran just the second stoppage loss of his MMA career.
#4: Joseil Silva Counters Off The Back Foot
Time was winding down in a flyweight bout at ACA 140 until Josiel Silva turned defense into offense with just over a minute remaining.
Goga Shamatava tried walking the Brazilian down with strikes, but Silva comfortably slipped away before landing a perfectly timed left hand.
#3: Ivan Vitasovi? Doesn’t Look Back
In a week that featured several head kick finishes, Ivan Vitasovi?’s win in the main event at FNC 6 managed to stand above the rest.
The Croatian claimed the FNC heavyweight title when he dropped Oli Thompson and walked away before his opponent even hit the mat.
#2: Alan Castro Refuses To Let Go
Mexican flyweights Alan Castro and Osovaldo Gonzalez managed to fit an entire bout’s worth of action into just over a minute of fight time at Naciones 7.
After the two traded on the feet and engaged in several scrambles on the ground, Castro locked up a triangle choke that eventually put Gonzalez unconscious.
#1: Ricardo Ramos Flashes Back To 2017
On a night where the UFC handed out bonuses to every fighter that earned a finish, Ricardo Ramos stole the spotlight be recreating a knockout he scored nearly 5 years ago.
SPINNING ELBOW GOT IT DONE
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 18, 2022
The 26-year-old landed a spinning elbow that had Danny Chavez slumped against the cage just over a minute into their bantamweight bout on the UFC Austin prelims.
What do you think of this week’s list? Are there any finishes you think should have made the cut that didn’t? What about ones you think should have been ranked higher or lower?
Continue Reading MMA News’ Top 10 Finishes Of The Week (6/12 – 6/18) at MMA News.