MMA: Top 10 Knockouts of 2010

2010 has shown us some of the most memorable knockouts in MMA history.

You've seen men go stiff as a board, and men collapse in a heap.

You've seen champions be stripped of their title in an instant.

The biggest names in mixed martial arts squared off in the octagon this year, and
some of them ended in the blink of an eye.

So it's lights out for 2010. We can only hope 2011 will pack as much of a punch.

Honorable Mention

Notable Knockouts...

KJ Noons KOs Jorge Gurgel

Not included in the top ten only because Noons did hit Gurgel after the first bell, and he hit him
with an illegal knee after he finished him in the second.

It was sort of a dirty win, and I didn't think it was as deserving as the others.

Cain Velasquez KOs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

A lot of people will argue this one, but this knockout didn't exactly fit into the list. Big Nog is difficult to stop, but Frank Mir did it before Cain.  

Takanori Gomi KO's Tyson Griffin

Tyson Griffin is one tough dude. This was the only knockout loss of his mixed martial arts career. He got hit with a perfect hook, and couldn't put his hands out before he hit the floor. Those canvas face-plants were always one of my favorites.

The Rest...

Robbie Lawler KO's Matt Lindland

Marlon Sandro KO's Tomonari Kanomata

Sarah Kaufman KO's Roxanne Modafferi

No. 10: Dan Henderson KOs Renato Sobral

Dan Henderson is a dangerous man.

He also delivered one of the best knockout punches in the history of MMA last year, where he shut down Michael Bisping.

Sobral was hit with three vicious H-bombs from the ground, then a few more to put him to sleep.

No. 9: Jose Aldo KOs Manny Gamburyan

How could I not include Jose Aldo?

He's fast, deadly with his striking and has a flying knee that never disappoints.

Aldo hit him with a punishing shot and gave Gamburyan no chance to recover. Once Aldo had control of his back, he delivered some dangerous blows to the head and Manny was asleep within seconds.

No. 8: Mac Danzig KOs Joe Stevenson

Danzig was the underdog going into this fight, and he needed to deliver an impressive fight for the sake of his UFC career.

He did more than deliver.

No. 7: Rich Franklin KOs Chuck Liddell

At the UFC 115, two former champs met in the cage for a memorable match up.

Franklin and Liddell are both over the hill, and overall the outcome was sort of disheartening.

Before the bout I had a knot in my stomach because I knew it would be unpleasant to see either of them be defeated.

With two weakened chins entering the octagon, there was a possibility it would end quickly. Sure enough it did.

Bearing his broken arm, Franklin punched Liddell square in the face, landing him flat on his back. The follow up punch wasn't too pretty either.

Liddell was bloodied and dazed, and at that moment, he knew that was the knockout to end his career.

No. 6: BJ Penn KOs Matt Hughes

This rubber match had everyone on the edge of their seats.

In the end, Penn walked away victorious with a renewed confidence. Coming off two losses to Frankie Edgar, Penn was ready to redeem himself.

Matt Hughes, on the other hand, was coming off of three impressive wins and many thought there could be a title run left in him.

That night Penn proved that his reign was not over, and he hasn't lost his ferocious drive to win.

No. 5: Paul Daley KO's Scott Smith

The former UFC contender Paul Daley made his Strikeforce debut against Scott Smith.

Daley has steam-rolled people in the past and many were curious to see what kind of impression he was going make in Strikeforce.

Daley made a wonderful impression by laying a perfect shot on Smith, and putting him right to sleep.

No. 4: Mauricio Rua KOs Lyoto Machida

You knew this was coming.

Machida's speed wasn't enough to to give him the win and maintain the belt in his bout with Mauricio Shogun Rua.

The former champ got caught with a shot high on the temple, and everything went downhill from there. Machida fell on his back and got hit with a barrage of fists before it was lights out.

This knockout was also named "Knockout of the Year" at the MMA Awards.

No. 3: Gerald Harris KOs Dave Branch

These guys may not have the biggest names in MMA, but this knockout was a perfect example of slamming power at it's finest.

The knockout was even recognized by Sports Center. Harris's UFC career was short-lived, but he gave us some memorable fight finishes.

Upon entering the UFC, he was on a seven fight winning streak, and went on to win three more bouts in the UFC all by TKO/KO.

Although he is no longer with the UFC, Gerald Harris will forever be remembered for this brutal slam.

No. 2: Carlos Condit KOs Dan Hardy

The knockout artist was..knocked out.

This outcome was the last thing anyone expected. Condit entered the cage with vicious striking and bad intentions.

Dan Hardy is one of the top contenders in the welterweight class. He had a few big wins under his belt and dangerous knockout power.

Condit's reach gave him the advantage. According to Joe Rogan the hook was, "Crisper and more accurate." Hardy went down and Condit came in to finish him off.

No. 1: George Roop KOs Chan Sung Jung

Probably one of the most bad ass knockouts of the year.

George Roop was up and coming and it was going to be a challenge facing Chan Sung Jung, otherwise known as The Korean Zombie.

The Zombie was a tough man to put to sleep, and Roop did it with a swift kick to the head. Jung was out the minute Roop's foot hit his face.