MMA fans saw no shortage of highlight-reel finishes in 2025, but a handful of knockouts stood out not just for their power, but for the setup, timing, and technique behind them. Here are five of the year's most technically impressive stoppages.
Topuria's lightweight title win over Charles Oliveira came in the first round and made him a two-division UFC champion at just 28 years old. The finish showcased the same precise, patient striking that has defined his rise through two weight classes.
Procházka turned a fight that appeared to be slipping away into a highlight-reel finish, landing a well-timed elbow that changed the course of the bout in an instant — a signature of his unorthodox, high-output striking style.
At UFC 313, Ruffy set up his finish with a subtle left-hook feint that drew a reaction from Green, opening the door for a spinning wheel kick that landed clean. The sequence — patient feeling-out exchanges followed by a perfectly disguised spinning technique — earned it top marks among the year's knockouts.
Pico entered the featherweight bout as one of the most highly touted prospects in MMA, with a background in elite wrestling and boxing. Murphy, fighting as the underdog, worked through a competitive opening before finding the finish, taking a title shot in the process.
Bukauskas closed the distance behind a clean left hook that stopped Cerqueira, one of several crisp, fundamentally sound finishes that made this year's knockout reel — proof that technical precision can be just as devastating as raw power.
From title-fight finishes to underdog upsets, 2025's best knockouts shared a common thread: technique and timing over sheer power. Each of these moments reshaped divisional rankings and gave fans finishes that will be replayed for years to come.