In this particularly gruesome Halloween feature, Heavy.com is here to break review the absolute bloodiest and most vicious beatdowns in the history of mixed martial arts.
Beatings that leave you shell shocked, in complete fear for the safety of the befallen victim.
While there’s nothing like a good old fashioned back and forth brawl, on the other side of that coin there’s nothing quite like a vicious mauling that leaves you wondering if there’s something wrong with you for thoroughly enjoying the carnage played out before your very eyes.
Well here at Heavy.com we’re here to tell you: If loving brutal beatdowns is wrong, we don’t want to be right.
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Mirko “Cro Cop ” Filipovic
UFC 70; April 21, 2007; Machester, England
Talk about a taste of your own medicine. It sounded like a coconut had exploded when Gonzaga’s right shin slammed against the skull of feared Croatian knockout specialist Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. Normally known for leaving his victims in a heap from his infamous left high kick, Cro Cop found himself trading places with Gonzaga as the the Brazilian left Filipovic snoring, with his right leg twisted like a pretzel.
Tank Abbott vs. John Matua
UFC 6; July 14, 1995; Casper, Wyoming
This bout will forever life in mixed martial arts infamy as the first bout to display the Frankensteiner knockout in all of its glory. For those unfamiliar knockout, it’s when some unfortunate soul is leveled with a strike that causes all of the victims muscles to lock up with the arms outstretched in a Frankenstein fashion. If you listen really closely you can even hear them saying, “RRRRRRR, RRRRRRR”. That’s exactly what happened to Mr. Matua on that fateful night in Casper. The pot bellied Abbott made his MMA debut count as he stormed across the Octagon flinging heavy leather at Matua’s chin. It wasn’t long before the massive Hawaiian was flat on his back with his arms outstretched to the sky, and to make matters worse, Tank landed one last forearm to the tic tacs to leave an explanation mark on an already savage beatdown.
Houston Alexander vs. Keith Jardine
UFC 71; May 26, 2008; Las Vegas, Nevada
Hands down one of the most brutal pummelings in the history of the game, Keith Jardine was knocked limp a total of six times before this one was finally, and mercifully brought to an end. During a mauling that was difficult to watch, “The Dean of Mean” was tossed around the ring like a rag doll as he was smashed with twenty-five clean, adrenaline filled strikes at the hands of the freakishly powerful Alexander before his limp body ultimately sagged to the canvas.
Vitor Belfort vs. Matt Lindland
Affliction: Day of Reckoning; January 4, 2009; Anaheim, California
The “Phenom”enal left hand that crashed into Lindland’s chin sent the once top rated middleweight sailing to the canvas, but it was the series of brain jarring right hands from Belfort that left Lindland doing the zombie tap dance for a few terrifying moments that had everyone in attendance concerned for his safety. Luckily, as is nearly always the case, Lindland managed to regain his senses and rapidly learned how to walk again, like a newborn baby deer.
Wanderlei Sliva vs. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson II
Pride 28; October 31, 2004; Saitama, Japan
Every time these two end up facing off it ends violently, and with an exclamation mark. Easily the most barbaric beating of the trilogy is this bout in Saitama, Japan. Following a back and forth slugfest, “The Axe Murderer” managed to lock Rampage up in his trademark clinch before delivering a series of knees to the head and face of Jackson that left him hanging face first, unconscious over the ropes, with his head gushing as if someone had twisted the “on” lever for a blood spigot attached to his forehead.
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva III
UFC 92; December 27, 2008; December 27, 2008
Revenge is a b***. Something Wanderlei was forced to learn the hard way as he was cut short in attempting hand Rampage a third beatdown in a row. Talk about overkill; Silva was left unconscious from the first left hook Jackson slammed into his chin, yet Quinton felt compelled to land three, count them, three big right hands to his fallen arch-nemesis.
Rashad Evans vs. Sean Salmon
UFC Fight Night 8; January 25, 2007; Hollywood, Florida
Who can forget the night Rashad came out of his wrestler shell at Sean Salmon’s expense. Long viewed as a somewhat one-dimensional, and difficult to watch wrestler, Evans put the world on notice when he used Salmon’s face as a Thai pad for his right shin. One of the scariest KO’s ever broadcast on cable television, Salmon stayed fast asleep for several tense moments before awaking to a migraine headache, and cameras in his face.
James Thompson vs. Don Frye
Pride 34; April 8, 2007; Saitama, Japan
In one of the most overlooked and unnecessary beatings in the history of the sport, Don Frye was battered with an unprecedented 75 clean power shots from the massive James “Colossus” Thompson before the seemingly clueless Japanese referee saw it fit to call an end to the one sided demolition. Frye showed exactly why he is a man legends are made of, refusing to take a seat regardless of what he was smacked with for several pain filled minutes.
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Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping
UFC 100; July 11, 2009; Las Vegas, Nevada
Bisping never knew what hit him the first time Henderson crushed his jaw with his notoriously heavy right hand, let alone the second time Hendo took it upon himself to send home a message to the normally brash Brit in the form of a massive right forearm to the mouth. A devastating knockout that would make any man a little apprehensive before lowering his left hand against Henderson again.
Sergei Kharitonov vs. Semmy Schilt
Pride Critical Countdown 2004; June 20, 2004; Saitama, Japan
I can still hear Schilt moaning and groaning as he wiggles around to free himself to no avail as the sadistic Kharitonov matter of factly turned his face into fresh hamburger. Sergei got the mount on the nearly seven foot Semmy, and from there the Russian passed one of Schilt’s arms with a knee, leaving the helpless fighter with the proposition of defending two of Sergei’s hands with one of his own. Hammerfists a’plenty brought a conclusion to the losing battle for Shilt, but not before a countless series of strikes left his facing acting as a sprinkler.
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