It is often said that mixed martial arts is still behind the proverbial curve when it comes to striking.
Whether we’re talking about fighters lacking jabs in open-stance affairs or the way in which striking is both adjudicated and tracked in this sport, there’s still a decent amount to be desired for those who appreciate fisticuffs on the finest level.
Moreover, whether we’re talking about MMA’s top officials and judges or Gen Pop who consumes this product, there seems to be a criminal underappreciation for strikes to the body.
Despite body shots proving to be effective since the existence of organized martial arts and combat sports alike, it’s still not uncommon to see fighters allowed to take unnecessary damage en route to defeat or be awarded questionable rounds for surviving frames due to MMA’s apparent blind spot for bodywork.
This, of course, is particularly ironic considering that fighters themselves (whether they’re speaking publicly on a broadcast or are answering privately in person) revere bodywork to the point where most of them would prefer a clean headshot over a brutal body blow.
Say what you will about the striking evolution in MMA, but the fighters have been providing us with some spectacular highlights in the body shot department for some time now.
So, with that in mind, I thought it would be fun to pay homage to all forms of body strikes by revisiting my top 10 most memorable body shot stoppages in MMA.
As usual, these lists reflect my personal tastes and biases and are not meant to serve as some ultimate authority. That said, I feel very strongly about not only my list but also my honorable mentions at the end – which are more than strong enough to serve as their own top 10.
So, without further ado …
10
Bas Rutten def. Jason DeLucia at Pancrase 30: Truth 6 (June 28, 1996)
Considering there may be no bigger body-shot fan than Bas Rutten, I’d be remiss if I left “El Guapo” off this list.
Perhaps it was his background in traditional martial arts like Kyokushin karate or his time spent training with fellow Dutch kickboxers, but Rutten became popular for the open-hand striking success he had during his run in Pancrase in the 1990s.
Whether he was pulling his fingers back to deliver deceptively powerful palm strikes or punishing his opponent’s liver with punches and kicks alike, Rutten – who actually apologized a lot during his matches – was completely unapologetic when it came to crushing the body.
You can see perfect examples of Rutten’s preferred weapons of choice in his third meeting with Jason DeLucia at Pancrase 30.
Interessez vous à Bas Rutten la legende de pancrace c'etait un expert des Palm Strikes (coup avec la paume) on le voit ici detruire le foie de Jason Delucia avec ce coup https://t.co/qqd8J1AJ3Z pic.twitter.com/wSrYVQ15Er
— Jean Positivité (@Grimmermag) August 27, 2023
9
Melvin Guillard def. Gabe Ruediger at UFC 63 (Sept. 23, 2006)
This was a memorable performance from Melvin Guillard that features the under-utilized right cross to the body.
Despite not needing to sell your lead hand too hard in order to draw out a high guard, very few fighters decide to take the opening of a level-changing cross to the body.
As Guillard shows in the clip, this strike is not a liver-dependent body shot and is available in essentially every stance pairing.
Melvin Guillard finished weight cut specialist, Gabe Ruediger, 14 years ago today #UFC
pic.twitter.com/XqwZZrwfVG— JReal (@BloodyCanvasJon) September 23, 2020
Poor Gabe Ruediger must’ve had flashbacks to the enema he received on his season of “The Ultimate Fighter” after this one.
8
David Loiseau def. Charles McCarthy at UFC 53 (June 11, 2005)
Considering that spinning back kicks are one of my favorite forms of body shots, I had to put fellow taekwondo black belt David Loiseau on this list.
Although a young Georges St-Pierre and Firas Zahabi can be spotted in the corner for this fight, Loiseau was the known product who was Canada’s next big hope at the time.
What I love most about this knockout is the fact that Loiseau was purposefully looking to time and counter Charles McCarthy’s right hand.
David Loiseau finished Charles McCarthy with a spinning back kick and a flying knee, 15 years ago today at UFC 53#UFC
pic.twitter.com/3k6eHK7yFr— JReal (@BloodyCanvasJon) June 4, 2020
As you’ll see (or perhaps have felt yourself), some of the most painful-looking body shot stoppages happen when the recipient is fully extended and/or when they’re caught in between breathes.
7
Shane Campbell def. Derek Boyle at WSOF 18 (Feb. 12, 2015)
Here is this list’s self-admitted hipster selection, Shane Campbell’s “Hadouken” off a liver kick.
I’m obviously a fan of all forms of liver shots, but front kicks – particularly stabbing shots with the toes – are a quietly effective strike that you don’t need to put a ton behind to be effective.
Remember when Shane Campbell landed a liver kick-hadouken combo on Derek Boyle at WSOF 18? pic.twitter.com/hHYPkUuM1e
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) April 20, 2020
Add in the organic Street Fighter homage that Campbell perfectly pulls off in conjunction with the classic delayed reaction (that often comes with successful liver shots) from Derek Boyle, and there’s no way that I leave “Shaolin” off this list.
6
Anderson Silva def. Stephan Bonnar at UFC 153 (Oct. 13, 2012)
Representing body-knee knockouts on this list is the legendary Anderson Silva.
Even though body knees can be effective from perceived negative positions (such as having your back to the fence), you couldn’t ask for a more positive position to land what is one of the cleanest knee knockouts in UFC history.
The violent creativity of Anderson Silva pic.twitter.com/IGjCo0re7b
— Miguel Class (@MigClass) November 16, 2023
As Miguel Class points out in the clip, Silva smartly uses the momentum he created to bounce Stephan Bonnar off the cage and right into a perfectly placed knee to the solar plexus.
Not only was this yet another time where Silva stepped up on semi-short notice to save a UFC show up a weight class, but this was arguably the last time we saw “The Spider” performing at his magical best.
5
Edson Barboza def. Dan Hooker at UFC on FOX 31 (Dec 15, 2018)
After recently going back to rewatch this fight, there’s no way I can’t include Edson Barboza’s destruction of Dan Hooker into the top-five portion of this list.
I’m not sure if Barboza was trying to recreate his own version of Rick Story vs. Dustin Hazelett, but the Brazilian surpassed that bodywork benchmark by a country mile with what is easily the most brutal stoppage win on this list.
Whether we’re talking about knees to the liver, spin kicks to the stomach or left hooks to the solar plexus – Barboza lands it all.
Barboza vs Hooker was an ALL OUT WAR. Nothing but respect for both guys 🙌 pic.twitter.com/P8SKGdtSQD
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) December 16, 2018
And, akin to my point at the top of the article about bodywork not getting its deserved due in MMA, Hooker is left to absorb an absurd amount of damage for about a round longer than he needed to.
In fact, you can hear Daniel Cormier on color commentary almost pleading for the fight to be stopped, saying, “Guys, we could stop this! It’s already over.”
4
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira def. Tito Ortiz at UFC 140 (Dec. 10, 2011)
Speaking of prolonged body-shot stoppages, there’s no way I wouldn’t mention Antonio Rogerio Nogueira’s memorable win over Tito Ortiz.
Aside from being a big “Little Nog” fan, this selection ranks highly on the list due to its representation of something that’s still sadly not present enough in today’s MMA: the incorporation of bodywork into ground-and-pound.
Although it was a standing knee that initially dropped Ortiz to the floor in the first place, Nogueira displays diligent target change-ups to this ground striking.
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira defeats Tito Ortiz at UFC 140 in what was one of the most prolonged body ground-and-pound stoppages that I can remember: pic.twitter.com/0S9GguRFwv
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) November 27, 2023
Whether Nogueira is letting left hooks go to the liver side or is crushing elbows into the ribs, the beloved Brazilian beat “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” so badly that there were surprisingly zero excuses in Ortiz’s post-fight speech (which really says something).
This is also another bout that could’ve been stopped much sooner if body work wasn’t the Rodney Dangerfield of our sport in regard to the respect it receives.
3
Mirko Filipovic def. Ibragim Magomedov at PRIDE FC: Critical Countdown (June 26, 2005)
This one is a classic from Mirko Filipovic’s PRIDE catalog.
Even though I could’ve easily gone with Filipovic’s first top-10 heavyweight win over Heath Herring, his fight with the lesser-known Ibragim Magomedov offered a bit more to chew on in regards to the southpaw savvy of “Cro Cop.”
Not only were Filipovic’s underrated boxing skills on full display (as he darted to and from inside angles like a prime Conor McGregor), but his patent double attack from southpaw bewildered Magomedov from Jump Street.
Mirko Cro Cop 🇭🇷 vs. Ibragim Magomedov 🇷🇺#ViolentMoney #VMTV #MMA pic.twitter.com/x7AOtYGIba
— Violent Money TV (@ViolentMoneyTV) May 17, 2022
The fight finishes with a classic delayed reaction to the liver kick from Magomedov as Filipovic looks to slowly and sinisterly follow him to the floor like a serial killer from a slasher film
2
Siyar Bahadurzada def. Luan Chagas at UFC Fight Night 128 (April 21, 2018)
Although Siyar Bahadurzada’s knockout win over Luan Chagas seems to be forgotten by most, it ends up scoring surprisingly high on this list.
An Afgan action fighter who deserves to be mentioned alongside fellow welterweight warlords like Matt Brown and Robbie Lawler, Bahadurzada was a deceptively skilled brawler who could strike with all eight limbs. And in his last UFC win opposite Chagas, Bahadurzada displayed one of the most memorable finishes by technically finishing his opponent twice before he even hit the mat.
Not sure this stoppage gets enough love…
Siyar Bahadurzada defeats Luan Chagas: pic.twitter.com/jQsNVNzHFZ
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) November 27, 2023
The term “timber” can often be associated with knockouts that cause combatants to tip over like a tree, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better example than this one.
1
Jose Aldo def. Jeremy Stephens at UFC on FOX 30 (July 28, 2018)
Notching the top spot is a classic body snatching from Jose Aldo’s catalog.
Not properly contextualizing careers is sadly not an uncommon practice, but people tend to forget that Aldo actually closed as an underdog to Jeremy Stephens in this fight.
Aldo, who, at the time, lost three of his last four fights in potentially career-ending fashion, was paired up with a streaking Stephens. Not only was Stephens a natural lightweight who was somehow fighting at featherweight, but the UFC’s junkyard dog was finally starting to figure out how to work his own chain at that point of his career.
The fight started out with Stephens hurting Aldo early and corralling him toward the cage, but the legendary Brazilian was able to weather the storm and circle himself out enough to set up one of the most picturesque left hooks to the liver that you will ever see.
José Aldo def. Jeremy Stephens
R1 TKO (Punches)
Aldo finds the liver punch towards the end of R1 and stops Jeremy Stephens with ground strikes pic.twitter.com/iOTtYUDTXE
— Alexander Volkara France (@VolkaraFrance) July 28, 2023
Stephens had traditionally been a very durable fighter throughout his career, but body damage just hits different.
*Honorable mentions: Anthony Pettis def. Donald Cerrone at UFC on FOX 6, Georges St-Pierre def. Matt Serra at UFC 83, Dennis Siver def. Paul Kelley at UFC 105, Jessica Andrade def. Katlyn Chookagian at UFC Fight Night 180, Yoshiro Maeda def. Charlie Valencia at WEC 32, Alistair Overeem def. Brock Lesnar at UFC 141, Kyle Noke def. Peter Sobotta at UFC 193, Aaron Pico def. Shane Kruchten at Bellator 192, Jake Ellenberger def. Matt Brown at UFC 201, George Hardwick def. Dean Trueman at Cage Warriors 124
For a deeper dive into this topic, feel free to check out Dan Tom’s episode on the subject via The Protect Ya’ Neck Podcast.
