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'Never seen that': UFC in shock over 'craziest KO in history'

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·3-min read
Joaquin Buckley, pictured here producing one of the craziest knockouts in UFC history.
Joaquin Buckley has produced one of the craziest knockout in UFC history. Image: ESPN/Getty

Joaquin Buckley has produced what many are calling one of the best knockouts in UFC history.

Fighting on the preliminary card of UFC Fight Island 5 in Abu Dhabi, Buckley and Impa Kasanganay went toe-to-toe in an entertaining contest.

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At the end of the first round, Kasanganay blocked a kick from Buckley and held onto his foot.

In one of the most insane moments of the year, Buckley then proceeded to leap off his other foot and hit Kasanganay with an explosive spinning kick.

Kasanganay copped the full force of Buckley’s kick in the face, swaying on his feet for a few seconds before toppling over backwards onto the mat.

The referee immediately rushed in to call off the fight, handing Buckley the stunning KO victory.

“That is one of the most spectacular knockouts we have ever seen,” one TV commentator exclaimed.

The official UFC Twitter account went one step further, labelling it “the most unbelievable KO in UFC history.”

Social media was in a state of shock over the incredible scenes.

Dana White in awe of insane knockout

UFC president Dana White, watching in his locker room in the back, said it erupted.

“We were just talking about whether we should give him all of the bonuses right now,” White told Yahoo Sports US.

The knockout ranks among the greatest finishes ever in MMA history.

Among the best UFC/WEC finishes, it’s alongside Anthony “Showtime” Pettis’ showtime kick off the fence that finished Benson Henderson in the final WEC fight ever; Gabriel Gonzaga’s head kick KO of Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic; Edson Barboza’s head kick KO of Terry Etim; Uriah Hall’s spinning back kick KO of Adam Cella in “The Ultimate Fighter”; and Yves Edwards’ KO of Josh Thomson at UFC 49.

“The athleticism required to do what he did, that is crazy,” White said.

Joaquin Buckley, pictured here celebrating his KO victory over Impa Kasanganay.
Joaquin Buckley celebrates his KO victory over Impa Kasanganay at UFC Fight Night. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Buckley opened the fight strong, attacking Kasanganay with a flurry of punches and landed several hooks that hurt him.

But that was nothing compared to the finish.

“We drill to kill, but I never landed that in a fight before,” Buckley said in the cage after the win.

Few ever had done so. The one will be part of UFC highlight reels for years, if not decades to come.

with Kevin Iole - Yahoo Sports

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