UFC 129: Lyoto Machida's Front Kick and the UFC's 5 Best Knockouts of the Year

UFC 129 featured many significant fights including two title fights, a former WEC champion and the final moment in the Octagon for Hall of Famer Randy Couture.

His opponent, Lyoto Machida, faked a kick and threw a jumping front kick to get the KO win in the second round. It was a real "karate kid" move that tops the list of the best knockouts of the year. Or does it?

These are the UFC's five best knockouts of the year so far.

No. 5: John Makdessi KO Kyle Watson

On the undercard of UFC 129, young up-and-comer John Makdessi unloaded a powerful spinning back fist to knock out his opponent Kyle Watson.

The 25-year-old is a dynamic and exciting lightweight fighter coming up in the division. He currently trains at the TriStar Gym with Jon Jones and Georges St-Pierre.

With a 22-0 record in kickboxing, Makdessi has learned the tools of the trade and showcases them in his MMA bouts with a variety of kicks, including turning side-kicks, front kicks and spinning back-kicks.

Expect more of the same from this daring and determined prospect.

No. 4: Jeremy Stephens KO Marcus Davis

Sometimes, the best knockouts are the ones you never see coming.

Everyone knew Jeremy Stephens had knockout power, but after two and a half rounds of getting out-boxed by former boxer Marcus Davis, nobody thought it was possible in this fight.

It was Davis' lightweight debut after having a tough couple outings at welterweight. He looked good early, putting the 24-year-old on the long end of a jab. It wasn't enough to keep the determined Stephens from getting to Davis to land a ruthless haymaker in the third round to knock him out cold.

It was one of the most spectacular knockouts of the year, and the dramatic comeback added to the victory.

No. 3: Brendan Schaub KO Mirko Cro Cop

Nobody knew how much Pride Open Weight Grand Prix champion Mirko "Cro Cop" Flipovic still had left in his chin, but they found out in his UFC 125 bout with Ultimate Fighter finalist Brendan Schaub.

In a competitive back-and-forth bout featuring one of the most popular fighters to ever grace the Octagon, Schaub landed a right hand that put the Croatian heavyweight on the mat in the third and final round.

An unnecessary follow-up punch was landed, which Schaub later apologized for.

No. 2: Lyoto Machida KO Randy Couture

Photo by Tracy Lee at Yahoo! Sports

Randy "The Natural" Couture was the underdog going into his fight with former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida. He likes it that way, but it doesn't always work to his advantage.

Machida, who is known for his excellent karate skills, showed why he is one of the best fighters in the world when he landed a perfect karate crane kick to the face of the former UFC light heavyweight and former heavyweight champion. It put the 47-year-old down immediately for the final time in his career.

Machida needed a win after two back-to-back losses, and it couldn't have come in any better form or over a better opponent.

No. 1: Anderson Silva KO Vitor Belfort

It was supposed to be Anderson Silva's toughest test to date as far as striker vs. striker matchups go.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort was coming off a long layoff, but he was also coming off a three-fight knockout streak over Rich Franklin, Matt Lindland and Terry Martin. Many expected it to be a far tougher challenger than it turned out to be.

Silva delivered one of the most brutal front kicks you will ever see in the very first round of the title fight, putting Belfort down and out for the first time in his career. Silva only threw a select few punches to measure Belfort, and it was the only strike he landed of the match. He made it count.

It was the first front kick to knock someone out inside the UFC.