Penick's Take
PENICK: 2011 Mid-Year MMA Awards - Knockout of the Year (So Far)
Jul 7, 2011 - 8:30:05 PM PENICK: 2011 Mid-Year MMA Awards - Knockout of the Year (So Far)

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

We've reached the halfway point of 2011, and with six months of MMA action in the rear view, and with a break in major events this month it makes sense to look back at the best of what 2011 has produced in the sport. Throughout the rest of this week, I'll be breaking down my favorite fights and finishes of the year in my 2011 Mid-Year MMA Awards.

2011 Knockout of the Year (So Far): Lyoto Machida's Front Face Kick KO - UFC 129 - April 30

2011 has brought us a ton of really vicious and exciting knockouts, but the best visual and most exciting finish with strikes came from Lyoto Machida at UFC 129 in Toronto. It seemed like Anderson Silva's front face kick of Vitor Belfort in February wouldn't have any challengers to the crown of "KO of the Year" in 2011, but his teammate Machida one-upped him just a couple short months later.

Taking on UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, Machida not only delivered a front face kick of his own, he added the jumping element to the delivery as well. It was a move ripped right out of the movie "The Karate Kid," and the visual of Couture's tooth flying out as well added to the effect.

It was vicious, creative, unique, and rare, and it made for the best knockout finish in a year full of them.

The Best of the Rest

Sam Stout def. Yves Edwards - UFC 131 - June 11: One of the best pure one-punch knockouts the UFC's ever had, Sam Stout finally showcased a reason for his "Hands of Stone" nickname in his only finish inside the Octagon. The brutal counter-left hook he landed on Edwards' chin sent Edwards crashing to the mat, and with his head bouncing off the ground Stout had no need for a follow-up.

Anderson Silva def. Vitor Belfort - UFC 126 - February 5: Silva's shocking, seemingly out of nowhere front kick put Belfort out of it, but it required some follow-up from Silva to finish the fight. While the same can be said of Machida's victory over Couture, this one fell just slightly below that on the craziness scale, and it takes a spot just below that finish and Stout's knockout for me.

Carlos Condit def. Dong Hyun Kim - UFC 132 - July 2: After delivering a vicious one-punch knockout to Dan Hardy last October, Carlos Condit followed it up with a flying knee and pinpoint punches on the cage against Kim just last weekend. The perfectly placed flying knee was fantastic and earned him the "Knockout of the Night" on a card that featured four first-round finishes.

Cheick Kongo def. Pat Barry - UFC on Versus 4 - June 26: Though there was some controversy with referee Dan Miragliotta stepping in and making physical contact with Barry while he was attacking, the comeback by Kongo in the fight was ridiculous, and the two punches he landed with his back against the cage to send Barry tumbling to the mat was crazy. He added some unnecessary shots afterward, but the come from behind aspect and two well placed right hooks earned his spot on this list.

Travis Browne def. Stefan Struve - UFC 130 - May 28: This fight delivered one of my favorite visuals in all of MMA this year, with Struve getting bent over backward by one of the most well-placed Superman punches in MMA history. Browne wound up for the blow as Struve tried to engage, and it connected right to the jaw and caused the contortion we saw from the 6'11" Struve. It was a great punch, an exciting finish and an excellent visual.