Head kicks end fights in a blink, and these strikers turned them into signatures: title-changing shots, stunning upsets and spinning highlight-reel finishes across every era of the octagon.
1Edson BarbozaBrazilian Muay Thai striker whose spinning wheel kick knockout of Terry Etim at UFC 142 is still replayed as one of the greatest ever.1000pts
2Holly HolmThe boxer-kickboxer who ended Ronda Rousey's reign with a left head kick at UFC 193 in 2015, one of the sport's biggest upsets.1000pts
3Vitor Belfort'The Phenom' who scored three head kick knockouts in 2013, over Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold and Dan Henderson.636pts
4Stephen Thompson'Wonderboy', the karate-trained welterweight whose spinning hook kick knocked out Jake Ellenberger in 2014.636pts
5Valentina ShevchenkoLong-reigning flyweight champion whose left head kick knocked Jessica Eye out cold at UFC 238.538pts
6Chuck Liddell'The Iceman', the light heavyweight legend who knocked out Renato Sobral with a head kick at UFC 40.538pts
7Rashad EvansThe former light heavyweight champion whose head kick on Sean Salmon in 2007 became one of the UFC's most-replayed knockouts.538pts
8Leon EdwardsThe British welterweight who won the UFC title at UFC 278 with a last-minute head kick that flattened Kamaru Usman.538pts
9Anderson SilvaLongtime middleweight champion whose front kick to the face knocked out Vitor Belfort at UFC 126.418pts
10Donald Cerrone'Cowboy', the long-time UFC wins leader whose head kicks finished opponents such as Adriano Martins and Matt Brown.418pts
11Rose NamajunasThe two-time strawweight champion who regained the belt by knocking out Zhang Weili with a left head kick at UFC 261.418pts
12Marlon Vera'Chito', the bantamweight who knocked out Dominick Cruz with a head kick and Frankie Edgar with a front kick to the face in 2022.418pts
13Uriah HallThe middleweight known for highlight spinning kicks, including his knockout spinning hook kick of Adam Cella on The Ultimate Fighter.418pts
14Anthony Pettis'Showtime', the kick specialist who knocked out Joe Lauzon with a head kick in his second UFC fight at UFC 144.418pts
15Lyoto MachidaKarate stylist who retired Randy Couture with a jumping front kick, the 'crane kick', at UFC 129.0pts
16TJ DillashawThe bantamweight who took the title from Renan Barão at UFC 173 after dropping him with a head kick and finishing with punches.0pts
17Gabriel GonzagaThe heavyweight who beat feared kicker Mirko Cro Cop at his own game with a right head kick at UFC 70.0pts
18Justin GaethjeThe brawling lightweight who won the BMF title at UFC 291 by knocking out Dustin Poirier with a right head kick.0pts
Photo credits
- Holly Holm — MMAnytt, CC BY 3.0
- Vitor Belfort — Tiago Cata, CC BY 2.0
- Valentina Shevchenko — ElisaQualizza, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chuck Liddell — IthakaDarinPappas, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leon Edwards — James English, CC BY 3.0
- Anderson Silva — Dilma Rousseff, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Rose Namajunas — Andy Grahn, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Uriah Hall — MMAnytt, CC BY 3.0
- Lyoto Machida — Marcos Joel Reis, CC BY 2.0
- TJ Dillashaw — K.O, CC BY 3.0
- Gabriel Gonzaga — Jenn Gilbraith, CC BY-SA 3.0
