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UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen stopped Frankie Edgar with one of the most violent flying knees in UFC history on Saturday night at UFC APEX. Both fighters entered their co-main event matchup at UFC Vegas 18 ranked among the top five contenders in the UFC’s stacked 135-pound division, but only Sandhagen left the cage with both his senses and title hopes still intact.
You can watch the viral KO below.
FLYING KNEE 🤯
@cors_life landed the highlight reel KO against Frankie Edgar at #UFCVegas18
There were plenty of reactions to the KO all over social media from people in and around the UFC community. Heavy collected the best of them for you to enjoy below.
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‘That Was Scary’ and Other Reactions
Combat sports journalist Kevin Iole posted, “I can’t remember EVER seeing anything like that. Sandhagen leapt into the air and his right knee hit Edgar directly on the chin. Frankie was out immediately. Let’s hope he is OK. That was scary.”
I can’t remember EVER seeing anything like that. Sandhagen leapt into the air and his right knee hit Edgar directly on the chin. Frankie was out immediately. Let’s hope he is OK. That was scary. #UFCVegas18
Bleacher Report’s Tom Taylor posted, “That was always a terrible mismatch in 2021. That was the only way this was ending. Hope Frankie is ok”.
That was always a terrible mismatch in 2021. That was the only way this was ending. Hope Frankie is ok. #UFCVegas18
ESPN’s Ariel Helwani posted, “HOLY SMOKES! CORY SANDHAGEN WITH A FLYING KNEE KO IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. WOW. HE IS UNBELIEVABLE.”
HOLY SMOKES!
CORY SANDHAGEN WITH A FLYING KNEE KO IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. WOW. HE IS UNBELIEVABLE.
Rachel from Real Talk with Kelsey and Rachel posted about the knee and how quickly it all escalated.
That knee.
#UFCVegas18
‘Clean As Hell’ and More
UFC bantamweight contender Aljamain Sterling posted, “Jesus! That was clean as hell! One of the things I really had to be careful of because of Sandhagen height. Two masterful performances back to back.”
Jesus! That was clean as hell! One of the things I really had to be careful of because of Sandhagen height. Two masterful performances back to back.
#UFCVegas18 #TheWeeklyScraps!
Morning Kombat’s Brian Campbell touted how his own prediction for the fight came to pass.
Well that held up well … #UFCVegas18
ESPN’s Karyn Bryant was simply in awe of the knockout.
Oh
My
Goodness.
@cors_life
Barstool’s Robbie Fox also couldn’t believe what he just saw either.
That was spectacular. Maybe the KO of the Year (right behind Shizzat the Rizzat) but just sucks to see it happen to Edgar obviously. Fucking insane.
UFC fan and recording artist Robbie Fox posted, “…that was crazy!!”
OMG, Frankie Edgar just got dropped and went to sleep in seconds, that was crazy!!! I know it’s only early but Sandhagen just created a contender KO of the year for sure 👊🏼💯🔥🔥 #UFCVegas18 @ufc
‘OMG’ and Other Praises for KO of the Year Candidate
UFC welterweight Gilbert Burns is on his way to challenging Kamaru Usman for UFC gold at UFC 258 on February 13, but the Brazilian contender was just as hyped as everyone about seeing Sandhagen’s flying knee KO.
OMG WOW NASTY FLY KNEE! #UFCVegas18
UFC featherweight Herbert Burns, his brother, was impressed, too.
Beautiful flying knee KO by Sandhagen, wow!
Hope all is well with Edgar!
#UFCVegas18
Journalist Heidi Fang chimed in about the KO. Fang posted, “Frankie Edgar is one of the ambassadors of this sport. That was hard to watch. But what a flying knee KO for Sandhagen & a tough, tough loss for Edgar. You hope is ok after that.”
Frankie Edgar is one of the ambassadors of this sport. That was hard to watch. But what a flying knee KO for Sandhagen & a tough, tough loss for Edgar. You hope is ok after that.
MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck said, “HOLY FREAKIN’ POTATOES!!!! That was insane and probably the KO of the year in 2021. Sandhagen gets the winner of Yan-Sterling without a doubt.”
HOLY FREAKIN’ POTATOES!!!! That was insane and probably the KO of the year in 2021. Sandhagen gets the winner of Yan-Sterling without a doubt. #UFCVegas18
Reactions Only From People Named ‘Dominick’ or ‘Megan’
UFC light heavyweight contender Dominick Reyes was watching the fights along with the rest of the UFC world.
👀 Sandhagen #ufc
ESPN’s Megan Olivi posted about the knockout, too.
That was absolutely incredible! What a moment for Cory Sandhagen
But man, my heart breaks for Frankie and his family. Praying for his quick and full recovery.
Ex-UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz said he believes Sandhagen deserves a crack at the belt.
That’s how you get the title shot 👌🏼 #UFCVegas18 @espn @ufc
Finally, UFC women’s featherweight contender said she was on board with that idea, too.
Give that man a title shot!!! Cory Sandhagen is the real deal 😲 #UFCVegas18
No matter what names people have, or even the different ways they might pronounce them (we see you Megan Anderson), almost all of the UFC world was simultaneously shaken and amped by Sandhagen’s epic first-round knockout on Saturday night.
It’s only the end of the first week of February, but it seems that most people already believe they’ve just witnessed the KO of the year for 2021.
READ NEXT: Best Reactions to Viral KO of Jose Canseco [WATCH]
Twitter: @Kelsey_McCarson
YouTube: Real Talk with Kelsey and Rachel
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UFC Community Reacts to Violent Flying Knee KO [WATCH]