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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
2012 has come and gone, but before we turn our attention to the new year, we'll look back this week on the best of last year in my 2012 MMA awards. Today we begin with the Knockout of the Year.
2012 Knockout of the Year: Edson Barboza's spinning wheel kick KO over Terry Etim (UFC 142):
Barboza's incredible highlight reel kick was one of the most amazing finishes in the history of the UFC. It's up there with every highlight reel knockout the UFC's ever had, including last year's amazing front kicks from Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida. The kick came in the third round of Barboza's fight with Terry Etim in Brazil, and as he walked Etim down, he set up the spin, then brought the kick up, landing squarely on Etim's jaw and sending him crashing down to the canvas. It was a perfectly placed kick, a vicious knockout, and the best highlight-reel KO of the year.
The Best of the Rest
Nate Marquardt lights up Tyron Woodley (Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy): Nate Marquardt's first appearance in the welterweight division saw him return to action after more than a year out of the cage. Taking on the undefeated Tyron Woodley in his Strikeforce debut, Marquardt picked up a statement win when he demolished Woodley with one of the most vicious striking combinations of the year. A quick left with a right hook behind it set up the beginning of the end; a right elbow to the side of the head had Woodley hurt and ducked to the side. That left him open for a huge left uppercut that put Woodley down, and he followed with a right uppercut as he was on the way down. It was MMA striking brutality at it's finest; a technical, intelligent series of strikes against the cage that handed Woodley his first career loss (HIGHLIGHT VIDEO HERE).
Chris Weidman elbow destroys Mark Munoz (UFC on Fuel 4): Weidman dominated this fight from start to finish. In fact, Munoz didn't land a single strike through the round and a half the fight lasted. But the finish came after a beautiful counter-elbow that dropped Munoz to the ground. He followed it up with more strikes to finish it off in what was one of the most one-sided fights of the year.
Jose Aldo's knee strike over Chad Mendes (UFC 142): The same card that featured Barboza setting the bar for highlight reel knockouts got some competition in the main event. As a competitive opening frame was coming to a close, Aldo was defending a takedown attempt with Mendes on his back standing. He held onto Mendes' wrist, judging the distance, turned around, and delivered a perfect knee to the jaw. Mendes went down face first, and Aldo landed a few strikes on the ground to earn the knockout win just seconds before the round was over.
Anthony Pettis' head kick KO over Joe Lauzon (UFC 144): Duke Roufus product Anthony Pettis is a human highlight reel. He's already got one of the greatest single moments in any fight ever with his wall climbing kick against Ben Henderson in the WEC, but he's capable of providing every day exciting moments as well. In February at UFC 144 in Japan, Pettis only needed 81 seconds to finish off Lauzon, thanks to a well placed kick to the jaw that sent Lauzon down hard.
Cung Le knocks Rich Franklin out in Macau (UFC on Fuel 7): This was one of the most surprising finishes of the year. Cung Le wasn't taken seriously as a threat to Franklin, who was hoping to go on one last title run in the UFC's middleweight division. But Le came in with a smart gameplan, scouting Franklin well and capitalizing on Franklin's kicks with a perfect counter right to the jaw. Franklin was spun around from the strike and face-planted, bringing an immediate end to the fight.
Ryan Jimmo's seven-second KO over Anthony Perosh (UFC 149): Another massively surprising outcome, not because Perosh should have won, but because Jimmo entered the UFC with a reputation for painfully boring fights. But instead of a dull, three round decision (like many of the fights seen on the UFC 149 card), Jimmo came straight out and knocked Perosh out with the first punch of the fight. It was brutal, it was quick, and it was the polar opposite of expectations. All of that made for a great debut, and a spot as one of the best highlights of the year.
Other Notable KOs in 2012
--Tim Boetsch's uppercuts over Yushin Okami (UFC 144)
--Stephen Thompson's head kick debut over Dan Stittgen (UFC 143)
--Nick Denis' elbows over Joseph Sandoval (UFC on FX 1)
--Michael McDonald over Miguel Torres (UFC 145)
--Lyoto Machida over Ryan Bader (UFC on Fox 4)
--John Moraga over Ulysses Gomez (UFC on Fox 4)
--Donald Cerrone over Melvin Guillard (UFC 150)
--Cub Swanson over Charles Oliveira (UFC 152)
--Brad Pickett over Yves Jabouin (UFC on Fuel 5)
--Bigfoot Silva over Travis Browne (UFC on FX 5)
--Eddie Alvarez's head kick over Patricky Freire (Bellator 76)
--Mike Richman's head kick over Jeremy Spoon (Bellator 76)
--Anderson Silva's knee to the body over Stephan Bonnar (UFC 153)
--Johny Hendricks over Martin Kampmann (UFC 154)
--Daron Cruickshank's head kick over Henry Martinez (UFC on Fox 5)
--Pat Barry over Shane Del Rosario (TUF 16 Finale)
--Rustam Khabilov's suplex over Vinc Pichel (TUF 16 Finale)
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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