In the world of MMA, there are a lot of things that can make or break a fighter. One of the most important is how hard they can hit. In this blog post, we’re going to take a look at some of the UFC’s all-time strongest hitters. So sit back, strap in, and get ready for a ride through the archives!
Chuck Liddell
Let’s start with one of the most iconic fighters in UFC history: Chuck Liddell. “The Iceman” was known for his ferocious striking, and he didn’t disappoint when it came to delivering big hits. In his prime, Liddell was one of the scariest strikers in the game.
He had KO power in both hands, and he wasn’t afraid to use it. His highlight reel is full of big knockout wins, including memorable KOs over Randy Couture, Vitor Belfort, and Rich Franklin. There’s no doubt that Liddell was one of the hardest hitters in UFC history.
Dan Henderson
Next up is Dan Henderson, another MMA legend and one of the hardest hitters ever to step inside the Octagon. Henderson was known for his brutal right hand, which he used to devastating effect throughout his career.
He KO’d some of the biggest names in MMA history with that right hand, including Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Michael Bisping, and Hector Lombard. Henderson may not have had the same level of success as Liddell in the UFC, but there’s no doubt that he was one of its all-time strongest strikers.
Shane Carwin
Shane Carwin is a former UFC heavyweight champion with some of the most devastating knockout power in MMA history. Out of his 12 career wins, 8 have come by way of knockout or TKO.
Carwin has knockout over the likes of Frank Mir and Gabriel Gonzaga. He was known for his incredible punching power, and he definitely earned his place among the UFC’s all-time strongest hitters.
Mark Hunt
Mark Hunt is a New Zealand-born heavyweight MMA fighter who currently competes in the UFC. Hunt has competed for almost every major MMA promotion in the world, including PRIDE, K-1, and Strikeforce. He is well-known for his massive punching power and iron chin. Out of his 13 career wins in MMA, 10 have come by way of knockout or TKO.
Not only was Mark capable of throwing a monstrous punch, but he was also more than capable of taking one. Some of the kicks and punches he took throughout his career would have knocked out most other fighters, but Hunt just kept coming forward. He’s definitely one of the UFC’s all-time strongest hitters.
Amanda Nunes
One cannot talk about hard hitters without mentioning Amanda Nunes. Nunes is the current UFC women’s bantamweight champion and the women’s pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world.
She holds the distinction of being the only female fighter in UFC history to hold two belts simultaneously (she is also the current women’s featherweight champion).
Nunes has KO power in both hands, and she has shown time and again that she is not afraid to use it. In her last fight, she practically ragdolled Juliana Penna multiple times with her punches.
Her highlight reel includes big knockout wins over some of the biggest names in women’s MMA, including Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, and Holly Holm. There’s no doubt that Nunes is one of the hardest hitters in MMA history.
Justin Gaethje
Justin Gaethje is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division of the UFC. He is currently ranked #3 in the official UFC lightweight rankings. Gaethje has earned many accolades throughout his career, including “Fight of the Night” honors and “Performance of the Night” honors multiple times.
He is also well-known for his incredible knockout power, with 14 out of his 18 career wins coming by way of knockout or TKO. One of Gaethje’s most famous knockouts came against James Vick and Edson Barboza.
Jan Blachowicz
When “Legendary Polish Power” is a synonym to your name, then you must be doing something right. Jan Blachowicz is a Polish professional mixed martial artist who competes as a light heavyweight in the UFC.
He competed in various promotions, such as KSW and Cage Warriors, before making his way to the UFC. In the UFC, he has quickly made a name for himself with his knockout power. Surprisingly only 9 out of his 29 fights have ended in KO/TKO, with his most recent one being a TKO against Dominick Reyes at UFC 253.
Cody Garbrandt
Cody Garbrandt is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the bantamweight division of the UFC. He is a former UFC Bantamweight Champion but is currently unranked due to losing 5 out of his last 6 fights.
Garbrandt is well-known for his knockout power, with 10 out of his 12 career wins coming by way of knockout or TKO. He has some very impressive KO wins on his resume, including a KO over Thomas Almeida and a TKO over Dominick Cruz.
Derrick Lewis
Derrick Lewis is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes as a heavyweight in the UFC. He is currently ranked #7 in the official UFC heavyweight rankings.
Lewis is well-known for his massive punching power, with 21 out of his 26 career wins coming by way of knockout or TKO. He has some very impressive KO wins on his resume, including a KO over Curtis Blaydes and Gabriel Gonzaga.
While some would say he lacks technique and endurance, he more than makes up with his punching power and almost impeccable timing. When he lands clean, it is lights out for his opponents.
Anthony Johnson
Anthony “Rumble” Johnson is a retired American professional mixed martial artist who competed as a light heavyweight in the UFC. He was well-known for his incredible knockout power, with 7 out of his 23 career wins coming by way of knockout or TKO.
Some of Johnson’s most famous KO wins include a KO over Antônio Rogério Nogueira, Ryan Bader, and the former lightweight champion Glover Teixeira.
Francis Ngannou
Last but not least is Francis Ngannou, who burst onto the scene in 2015 and quickly established himself as one of the heaviest hitters in UFC history. Ngannou has KO’d some of the biggest names in the sport, including Alistair Overeem, Curtis Blaydes, and Cain Velasquez.
He holds the record for the UFC’s heaviest punch ever recorded (129,161 units), which he landed on Overeem in 2018. There’s no doubt that Ngannou is one of the hardest punchers in MMA history.
Conclusion
This list is by no means exhaustive, but these are some of the hardest hitters in UFC history. All of these fighters have knockout power that would make even the most hardened MMA fighter take a step back. So if you’re ever in the mood for a good old-fashioned knockout, be sure to check out any of these fighters’ highlight reels. You won’t be disappointed.
