Kicks, a stable of traditional Martial arts, are often underutilised
in MMA. However, when used properly, they are one of the most destructive
weapons in a fighters arsenal. Some fighters have made a name for themselves on
their kicking ability alone, enter Mirko Cro-cop, Cung Le and even
featherweight champion Jose Aldo, whose leg kicks are beautifully brutal.
MMA however is always evolving, and a new era has begun in
which Martial Artists are bringing more traditional kicks into the cage, with
malicious intent. Here is my list of some of the most amazing and vicious kicks
in MMA history and the significance behind them :
5. Anderson Silva vs Yushin Okami
Though technically illegal, Anderson Silva’s up kick against
Yushin Okami at Rumble on the Rock 8 was one of the most incredible moments in
MMA history. It highlighted Silva as a freakish Athlete who could achieve what
was previously believed impossible and was ironically, as he was disqualified,
the beginning of an amazing 15 fight winning streak which would see Silva
perched firmly atop most top pound for pound fighter lists. Silva’s ability to
not only get his leg back to the necessary position, but then strike with the
necessary force and accuracy, all while under constant threat of ground and
pound from Yushin “Thunder” Okami, is truly unbelievable. This once in a
lifetime strike is in many ways a synecdochic representation for the truly unique martial artist that
Anderson Silva is.
4. Anthony Pettis vs Benson Henderson
Anthony Pettis’ matrix-like kick against Benson Henderson at
WEC 53 was spectacular on so many levels. It was a kick that to my knowledge
has never been attempted before, let alone executed successfully. It was
performed in the 5th round, when even the fittest fighters are
fatigued and to top it off, it was a very close lightweight title fight. The
sole reason that this impossibly crazy kick is not higher up on this list is
that it simply didn’t finish Henderson, who managed to recover and fight up
until the final bell. What the kicked lacked in effectiveness, it certainly
made up in style, and was not only a fitting cherry on top of WEC’s final
event, but a promise of the potential that the future held with the upcoming
merger with the UFC.
3. Anderson Silva
vs Vitor Belfort
Unsurprisingly, Anderson Silva once more enters this list,
this time for his brutal front kick knockout of Brazilian Vitor Belfort in
their Middleweight title clash at UFC 126. The traditional front kick, one of
the oldest in the book, had never been favoured in the UFC and certainly never
been executed as clinically, until Silva unleashed it on Belfort with lightning
speed, pinpoint accuracy and catastrophic effect. Belfort was out before he hit
the mat, proving just how devastating a front kick can be and etching Anderson
Silva deeper into our minds as the one of the greatest fighters of all time.
2. Edson Barboza vs Terry Etim
The UFC’s second stint in Brazil would prove to be a most
memorable event with amazing fights and an atmosphere second to none. One
moment will be remembered above the rest – Edson Barboza’s knockout of Terry
Etim. Barboza, a standout Brazilian Muay Thai practitioner whipped the Rio De
Janeiro crowd into a frenzy with his perfectly executed spinning heel kick which
landed cleanly on Etim’s chin, sending him rigid towards the canvas. Barboza
can lay claim to the first spinning heel kick knockout in mainstream MMA history.
It seemed somewhat fitting that such a spectacular moment performed by a local
fighter would highlight the UFC’s return to the country of its origin.
1. Lyoto Machida vs Randy Couture
Lyoto Machida’s crane kick knockout of Randy Couture is in
my opinion the greatest kick in MMA history. Popularised by Daniel LaRusso and
Mr Miyagi in the eighties classic ‘Karate Kid’, the crane kick was practised by
a generation of kids, who almost 30 years on had written the move off as a
movie stunt which was completely impractical and unrealistic. Karateka Lyoto
Machida, however, had different views, and a minute into the second round of
their UFC 129 bout, the dragon unleashed a modern day rendition of LaRusso’s
famous kick in front of a full house, on the biggest MMA stage of them all. The
kick, delivered to the chin of UFC hall of famer Randy Couture with sadistic
elegance, not only ended the MMA legend’s night, but doubled as the perfect
swan song for his career. Couture would officially retire from the Octagon in
his post fight interview. Lyoto Machida, the karate kid, had in a single
graceful blow brought an eighties pop culture to life and ended one of the
great MMA careers.
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