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If it makes you do this...
Well heck, if that's the criteria, let's put every leg kick ever (not leg kick KOs, just any one that lands) on the list.
If it makes you do this...
In my view, 4 factors define a great knockout:
1) Technique: For instance, Barboza's spinning kick.
2) Timing: Whether it's extremely early or late in the fight, like Masvidal vs. Askren or Holloway vs. Gaethje.
3) Circumstances: High-stakes situations, such as championship fights, like Edwards vs. Usman 1.
4) Brutality: The severity of the knockout, reflecting how hard the opponent has been hit. Ngannou vs Overeem
HEAVY ON THISIts hard to divorce the context from the actual KO, regardless of how average the technique itself is imo. Yeah, it wasn't some wild 360 tornado kick by Max, but the fact that he pointed at the ground in a fight he was winning, started swinging and KO'd Gaethje at the very last second makes the KO special as a "moment" more so than an actual KO (if that makes sense).
Was it the greatest KO of all time? I'd say no. Masvidal - Askren, Hendo - Bisping, Barboza - Etim, are a few that are more impressive to me personally. Just the setups, execution and sheer viciousness stand out more. Even in those examples, I'd be lying if I said the context (like the knee being the fastest KO, or Bispings trash talk) doesn't play a factor.
Still, as a massive fan of Max, Saturday was a good night for me. That KO was one for the ages no doubt. Possibly Top 5 in the UFC.
Have to wonder how often he practices that in a mirror.If it makes you do this...
I consider it the best because of the story:
- Max was the underdog and people were predicting that he was doing to get absolutely destroyed like Tony Ferguson. It was a practical death sentence fighting Justin
- Max dominated the fight and was 4 rounds to zero going into the 5th
- Max decided to throw down instead of going for an easy decision and got the KO with one second left
I just don't know how you top that. Leon being down 4 rounds and getting a KO is up there. Hendo/Bisping is fun. Anderson/Vitor was wild. Barboza/Etim was flashy. None had the story like Max/Justin.
Only if you were painfully clueless about basic boxing fundamentals.
Ah.
So there it is...
View attachment 1040210
Perhaps you need to watch the end sequence again.
Max is:
fully in control of his angles of entry and exit
has balanced footwork
control of range and
he slips easily and counters.
This lead to Justin being so off balance Max was against his BACK prior to the ending strike which was
Perfectly timed
Perfectly placed
and thrown with Max in zero danger.
I can see how it looks like "swangin and bangin" to the uneducated eye.
Look closer.