Fastest Knockouts in UFC History
In the UFC, speed isn’t just a weapon. It’s a spectacle that leaves left the crowd speechless. Some fighters don’t need five rounds or even one minute to prove they’re elite. All it takes is a few seconds and one perfectly placed strike to end a fight and etch their name into history. These instances aren’t merely victories, they’re incredible highlights that go viral on social media and are watched repeatedly for years. Forget about fifteen minutes of fame; in the UFC, legends are created in just five seconds. This explosive energy is what makes MMA the most unpredictable sport in the world. The current UFC fastest knockout record belongs to Jorge Masvidal. Masvidal hit Askren with a flying knee in just five seconds into UFC 239, achieving the quickest KO in UFC history. With one perfectly timed hit, he took the spotlight and ended Askren’s undefeated streak.
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Top 5 Fastest Knockouts in UFC History
Here are the top 5 fastest knockouts in UFC history that prove timing is everything.
| Rank | Fighter | Opponent | Weight Class | Event | Time | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jorge Masvidal | Ben Askren | Welterweight | UFC 239 | 00:05 | Flying knee |
| 2 | Duane Ludwig | Jonathan Goulet | Welterweight | UFC FN 3 | 00:06 | Punch |
| 3 | Chan Sung Jung | Mark Hominic | Featherweight | UFC 140 | 00:07 | Punch |
| 4 | Ryan Jimmo | Anthony Perosh | Light Heavyweight | UFC 149 | 00:07 | Punch |
| 5 | Terrance McKinney | Matt Frevola | Lightweight | UFC 263 | 00:07 | Punches |
Jorge Masvidal vs. Ben Askren(5 seconds)
Event: UFC 239
Date: July 6, 2019
Venue: Las Vegas, Nevada
At UFC 239, Jorge Masvidal achieved the quickest knockout in UFC history, finishing the fight in only five seconds. Ben Askren entered the octagon undefeated, boasting about his skills, and immediately went for his signature takedown as soon as the fight started. However, Masvidal anticipated the move, charged forward, and landed a flying knee that knocked Askren out cold right away. Askren fell to the ground before he could even touch the mat, prompting the referee to step in. That one strike turned Masvidal into a superstar and marked the beginning of the “BMF” era, while Askren struggled to recover from the defeat.
Duane Ludwig vs. Jonathan Goulet (6 seconds)
Event: UFC Fight Night 3
Date: January 16, 2006
Venue: Las Vegas, Nevada
Duane Ludwig demonstrated why fighters were scared of his punches. In a welterweight match against grappler Jonathan Goulet, Ludwig dodged a slow right hand and countered with a flawless straight right to Goulet’s chin. Goulet fell immediately, and the fight was stopped in only six seconds, although it was initially noted as 11 seconds. Many years later, the Nevada State Athletic Commission looked at the footage and adjusted the time, awarding Ludwig the second fastest knockout in UFC history for more than ten years. It was a real classic that you could easily miss if you blinked.
Chan Sung Jung vs. Mark Hominick(7 seconds)
Event: UFC 140
Date: December 10, 2011
Venue: Toronto, Canada
Chan Sung Jung stunned Toronto with an incredibly quick finish. Facing off against former title contender Mark Hominick, who had just come from a tough fight with José Aldo, Jung took only seven seconds. As Hominick charged in with a wide right hook, Jung steadied himself and delivered a sharp counter right to the temple. Hominick fell, and a rapid series of strikes on the ground led to the referee stopping the fight. This was one of the quickest knockouts in UFC history and showed that Jung was not just a pressure fighter. He was a real threat in the featherweight division with the ability to end fights.
Ryan Jimmo vs. Anthony Perosh (7 seconds)
Event: UFC 149
Date: July 21, 2012
Venue: Calgary, Canada
Canadian light heavyweight Ryan Jimmo had one of the most memorable debuts ever. Going up against veteran Anthony Perosh, Jimmo took only seven seconds to deliver a powerful overhand right that knocked Perosh out cold. Then, in a moment that became almost as famous as the knockout itself, Jimmo celebrated with his iconic robot dance right in the middle of the Octagon. This victory tied the record for the third-fastest knockout in UFC history, placing Jimmo’s name in the record books next to Chan Sung Jung.
Terrance McKinney vs. Matt Frevola (7 seconds)
Event: UFC 263
Date: June 12, 2021
Venue: Glendale, Arizona
Terrance McKinney took full advantage of his last-minute debut against Matt Frevola. Just moments after the fight started, the southpaw charged forward and delivered a sharp one-two punch, starting with a straight left and then a right hook, which knocked Frevola down immediately. After a few hammerfists, the fight ended in just seven seconds, marking the quickest knockout in UFC lightweight history and tying for the second-fastest finish by strikes in UFC history. Terrance McKinney almost lost his life due to a drug overdose, experiencing two flatlines. His return to achieve the quickest lightweight knockout in UFC history transformed it into an inspiring tale of redemption.
