UFC 126: Anderson Silva and The Top 10 Head-Kick Knockouts Of All Time (Video)

Anderson Silva destroyed Vitor Belfort Saturday night at UFC 126 with a nasty head-kick knockout.

Silva has now held the title for eight fights in a row, with his last title defense perhaps being his most dominant.

The shot Belfort took to his jaw from the foot of Silva is reminiscent of other great head-kick knockouts in mixed martial arts history.

Let's take a look at some other great knockouts.

No. 10. Brandon Vera Vs Justin Eilers, UFC 57: February 4th, 2006

KO at approx. 2:30

With three minutes and 40 seconds still left in round one, Brandon Vera smacked Justin Eilers with a high left kick to the head.

Although the kick looked as if it only grazed the top of Eiler's head, it still made him stumble and collapse which makes the knockout even better.

No. 9. Rashad Evans Vs Sean Salmon, UFN 8: January 25th, 2007

KO at approx. 1:58

Rashad Evans has a lot of great knockouts in his career, but the one against Sean Salmon might be his best.

One smack from the right foot of Evans and Salmon went crashing to the floor.

No. 8. Mark Scanlon Vs Mike Reid, OMMAC 7: Vengeance: October 2nd, 2010

KO at approx. 1:43

It took Mark Scanlon less than 15 seconds to knock out Mike Reid in this OMMAC fight.

Reid had almost no time to react to the swift right foot of Scanlon, and he was KO'd immediately.

No. 7. Chuck Liddell Vs Renato Sobral, UFC 40: November 22nd, 2002

KO at approx. 2:00

Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell knocked out Renato Sobral on two separate occasions.

This one was quick, thanks to the left shin of Liddell whacking Sobral's head right as he leaned down.

No. 6. Anthony Johnson Vs Kevin Burns, TUF 8: December 13th, 2008

KO at approx. 1:45

Anthony Johnson is a beast in the cage and his knockout of Kevin Burns on The Ultimate Fighter proves it.

Just as Burns went for a left hook, Johnson caught him in the chin with his left foot and sent him down to the floor, unconscious.

No. 5. Yves Edwards Vs Josh Thomson, UFC 49: August 21st, 2004

KO at approx. 15 seconds

This knockout of Josh Thomson is a very skillful and acrobatic one.

Thomson is being held from behind, and just as he turns around to face Edwards, he gets a spinning kick to the face and a loss to Yves Edwards.

No. 4. Rory Markham Vs Brodie Farber, UFN 14: July 19th, 2008

KO at approx. 5:07

At first glance it looks as if Markham hits Farber in the neck, but it's really a great shot to the chin that did the trick.

This is definitely one of Markham's best fights and one of the best head-kick knockouts of all time.

No. 3. Pete Williams Vs Mark Coleman, UFC 17: May 15th, 1998

KO at start

I don't know how Mark Coleman didn't see the kick coming from Pete Williams because it looks as if Coleman is staring right at it.

Regardless, the powerful boot by Williams from all the way back at UFC 17 is an unbelievable knockout.

No. 2. Anderson Silva Vs Vitor Belfort, UFC 126: February 5th, 2011

KO at start

All Anderson Silva did Saturday night was run around the octagon for a few minutes and then deliver one of the greatest knockouts of all time.

Belfort had a lot of hype coming into this matchup and Silva destroyed it with a front foot kick.

No. 1. Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic Vs Gabriel Gonzaga, UFC 70: April 27th, 2007

KO at start

This was a fight that would go down in history.

'Cro Cop' was expected to do very well, but Gabriel Gonzaga had other plans.

Gonzaga planted a devastating head-kick with his right foot that left 'Cro Cop' unconscious and badly injured.