February might be a short month, but there was absolutely no shortage of wild knockouts this month – as you will see when you check out the honorable mentions list below.
From the UFC and Bellator to ONE Championship and M-1 Global as well as promotions you’ve never heard of, February 2018 brought the knockouts.
Throughout the majority of February, the Knockout of the Month felt set in stone when Yoel Romero knocked out Luke Rockhold in Perth, Australia. That was the initial plan. However, one of the last events of the month topped it. And, in my opinion, topped it by a lot.
Be sure to check out January’s Knockout of the Month, as well!
On February 22 live from Moscow, Russia was the return of Fight Nights Global with Fight Nights Global 82.
The main event featured a lightweight title fight as defending champion Magomedsaygid Alibekov took on the red-hot Akhmet “Butcher” Aliev.
Early on in the fight, both fighters were tentative given the title implications. In round two Aliev scored a knockdown following a nice headkick that noticeably stunned Alibekov. The challenger then began to work in the guard of the undefeated champion for the closing minutes of round two.
In round three, the finish came. And it was hellacious.
After stuffing a takedown attempt early, Aliev forced Alibekov to strike with him. This is where both on-paper and in the fight thus far, Aliev seemed to hold every advantage. In the closing minute of round three before the championship rounds, Aliev landed a nasty wheel-kick flush on the jaw of Alibekov. Knocking the champion out before he hit the ground.
Aliev attempted the same kick earlier in the fight but was unable to connect properly. Of course, he made right on his second attempt.
Immediately following the violent knockout, Aliev refused to celebrate and instead assisted the referee in helping an unconscious Alibekov.
“Butcher” becomes the new FNG Lightweight Champion, improves to 17-4, and wins his seventh-straight. In the process, he dethroned Alibekov and hands him the first defeat of his career – as he now sits at a respectable 9-1.
Check out the massive list of honorable mentions below!
- XFN 346 | Lewis Erives def. Warren Williams via KO2 (Punch)
- RFC: WOTD Taiwan 01 | Devon Morris def. Young Woo Yoo via KO1 (Punch)
- Pancrase 293 | Senzo Ikeda def. Yuya Wakamatsu via KO5 (Knees)
- Kunlun Fight 69 | Mark Abelardo def. Yan Xibo via TKO1 (Standing Elbows)
- UFC 221 | Yoel Romero def. Luke Rockhold via KO3 (Punch)
- One Pride Pro Never Quit 16 | Randi Pangalila def. Fajar Ibel via KO1 (Punch)
- M-1 Challenge 87 | Daniil Prikaza def. Anderson Queiroz via KO1 (Punches)
- M-1 Challenge 87 | Timur Nagibin def. Jadison Costa via KO3 (Punches)
- M-1 Challenge 87 | Arman Ashimov def. Mikael Silander via KO2 (Punch)
- Titan FC 48 | Shorty Torres def. Alberto Orellano via KO1 (Punch)
- Titan FC 48 | Juan Puerta def. Gustavo Balart via KO3 (Flying Knee)
- Bellator 194 | Michael Kimbel def. Geoffrey Then via KO1 (Slam)
- Bellator 194 | Regivaldo Carvalho def. Tom English via KO1 (Punch)
- LFA 33 | Kevin Wirth def. Isaiah Gutierrez via KO3 (Side Kick)
- SFL 2018 | Pawan Goyat def. Tiran Takhshala via KO1 (Punches)
- DFN 3 | Bogdan Bulecki def. Michail Kurch via KO1 (Punch)
- UFC FN 126 | Derrick Lewis def. Marcin Tybura via KO3 (Punches)
- UFC FN 126 | Curtis Millender def. Thiago Alves via TKO2 (Knee)
- The King Fighting Championship | Bo Yan def. Qingxiang Zhu via KO1 (Punch)
- FNG 83 | Dmitry Bikrev def. Vasiliy Zubkov via KO1 (Punch)
- TFC 17 | Kyu Sung Kim def. Masayuki Watanabe via KO2 (Punches)
- ONE: Quest for Gold | Phoe Thaw def. Sor Sey via KO1 (Frontkick & Punches)
- UFC on FOX 28 | Jeremy Stephens def. Josh Emmett via KO2 (Punches & Elbows)
- UFC on FOX 28 | Alan Jouban def. Ben Saunders via KO2 (Punch)
- KOP 60 | Raymond Davis def. Kurt Sutherland via KO1 (Punch)
- RCC 2 | Bruno Silva def. Gennadiy Kovalev via KO1 (Body Knee)
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