The Top 10 Most Lethal Strikers in the UFC

A Top 10 UFC striker list appeared earlier in the week and is essentially what spurned me to come up with a Top 10 list of my own in no particular order.

No matter the fan, one can not deny the fact that everyone in the MMA community respects and loves the knockout.

So which fighters in the UFC bring the most feared striking to the Octagon. I have based these 10 fighters by the striking shown thus far in their respected UFC careers nothing more, nothing less. These list are always up for debate so enjoy yourselves.

Pat Barry

With six professional bouts to credit the former K-1 and San Shou kickboxing competitor, Duke Roufus protege, Pat Barry was most recently seen knocking out fellow Heavyweight striker Antoni Hardonk earning a $60,000 "Fight of the Night" bonus.

He underwent surgery to insert a pin in his thumb near the wrist, an injury that happened during the Hardonk fight. Barry is 5-1 with all five professional wins coming via knockout and his leg kick stoppage of Dan Evenson, Pat Barry has made himself known inside the UFC for being a showstopping striker.

Vitor Belfort

Coming off of a stunning TKO(punches) of former middleweight champion Rich Franklin, Belfort picked up his sixth T(KO) inside of the UFC. While Belfort had been away from the UFC for some four years, he has notched four knockouts in his last five fights. Belfort hits the number nine spot due to inactivity inside the UFC but gets listed because of the T(KO) in his return.

Paul "Semtex" Daley

Semtex stormed into the UFC in his debut with a knockout win over Top 10 welterweight Martin Kampmann. Since then, another spectacular knockout over respected grappler Dustin Hazelett that earned Semtex "Knockout of the Night" honors. Semtex has burst onto the scene in the UFC's welterweight division showing the one punch knockout power that most dream of and never have.

Quinton Jackson

The former light heavyweight champion of the UFC owns three knockouts inside of the Octagon two of which are against current Hall of Famer Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell and future hall of famer Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva.

Jackson was last seen in action against Keith Jardine at UFC 96, while he did not pick up a knockout he did however, manage to put Jardine on the canvas a few times.

Junior Dos Santos

Since entering the UFC, JDS has T(KO) victories over the likes of Brazilian jiujitsu ace Fabricio Werdum, and top strikers Mirko Cro Cop and Gilbert Yvel. While Cro cop may have of been past him prime JDS showed technical and powerful striking causing Cro Cop to submit to punches in the third round.

In his last outing, JDS dropped highly regarded striker Gilbert Yvel at the 2:07 mark in round one. Dos Santos has proven to be a top contender at heavyweight but more so a top level striker within the UFC.

Mauricio Shogun

Last seen in arguably the most controversial title bout in some time, Shogun displayed elite striking and solid body strikes taking light heavyweight champion Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida to a decision.

Shogun possesses top Muay Thai skills and holds T(KO) wins over Hall of Famers Mark "The Hammer" Coleman and Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell inside the Octagon. Rua steps back into the Octagon at UFC 113 in a re-match of the highly anticipated fight to put his Muay Thai skills back on display.

B.J. Penn

The Prodigy is currently dominating the UFC lightweight division making his case as the greatest lightweight champion of all time.

With six wins via T(KO) and against the likes off former champion Sean Sherk, Diego Sanchez, Caol Uno, Din Thomas. Penn possesses a piston jab that keeps opponents at bay while attacking with a variety of strikes which ended his last fight against Diego Sanchez by doctor stoppage due to a gash in Sanchez's forehead by a Penn high kick. With his world class jiujitsu game and phenomenal takedown defense opponents are forced to stand with the heavy hitting Hawaiin.

Thiago Alves

The American Top Team product holds an astounding seven T(KO) victories with the UFC. Alves striking consists of thunderous Thai kicks, explosive knees, and powerful punches.

All of which have been felt by his defeated opponents which include the likes of former welterweight champion Matt Hughes, Karo Parisyan, Chris Lytle, and a three round beating of top ten welterweight Josh Koscheck.

Alves re-matches number two ranked welterweight Jon Fitch this summer and the mma community should be on alert when Alves returns to action as he will no doubt be looking to put on a show of his Muay Thai skills.

Lyoto

The Machida Karate expert holds the light heavyweight championship and owns T(KO) victories over former champion "Sugar" Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva where he earned "Knockout of the Night" honors.

The Dragon's unpredictable mix of kicks, knees, and punches keeps his opponents guessing until he strikes for the finish. He dominates much of his fights without any damage at all absolutely dominating the likes of former champion Tito Ortiz, Rameau Sokoudjou, and Kazuhiro Nakamura. Machida has gone much of his UFC career without losing many rounds at all, with his lone problem being Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.

Anderson Silva

The number one-ranked pound for pound fighter in the world needs absolutely no introduction.

In Silva's octagon debut in 2006, he faced off against slugger Chris "The Crippler" Leben where he introduced himself to America and the UFC by landing 100 percent of his strikes and stopped Leben within 49 seconds of round one.

The pound for pound king most recently moved up in weight and displayed his lethal striking at the light heavyweight division against former champion Forrest Griffin. In what may have been Silva's most impressive performance yet, Silva ended the fight with a first round knockout after striking Griffin to the canvas multiple times before sending him lumbering to the ground.

The Spider is the most dominant and enthralling striker to ever step foot inside of the Octagon. Silva's fights much seem like sparring sessions to him as he doesn't take hardly any damage and delivers lethal strikes at will.

Holding T(KO) wins over a list of fighters in both the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions "The Spider" has taken out: Rich Franklin(2x), Nate Marquardt, Chris Leben, and James Irvin. Just think we haven't even covered his submission victories either.