Forget ‘Knockout of the Month‘, April was home to some Knockout of the YEAR contenders.
Some vicious KO’s came from all over the globe in April, and narrowing it down to just one was incredibly difficult.
Mike Perry, Yusuke Yachi, and Rafael Carvalho are just a few of the names who added some length to their highlight reels this month. However, when picking the best of the month, none of these got the nod from me.
MMA Sucka’s ‘Knockout of the Month’ for April 2017: One-Punch KO in Manila
All were, obviously, incredibly impressive. But a KO under the ONE Championship banner in Manila is what took out #1 spot.
Honorio Banario vs. Jaroslav Jartim
On a night that featured the promotion’s lightweight championship being defended, another important lightweight bout took place. Fan-favorite Honorio Banario took on streaking Czech-born fighter Jaroslav Jartim.
At the 1:31 mark of the second round, Banario landed one of the cleanest punches humanly possible. Jartim threw a kick to the body of Banario, who responded by lunging in with an absolutely devastating left-hook.
The incredible knockout shot sent an unconscious Jartim onto the mat, where his head would bounce like a basketball ala Sam Stout vs. Yves Edwards, making the already brutal KO even tougher to watch without cringing.
This was Banario’s fourth win in a row, and it came in absolutely devastating fashion.
Check out highlights from the entire event below, but pay attention to the nasty KO courtesy of Honorio Banario!
There was no shortage of amazing KO’s this month. Don’t believe me? Take a look at a nice list of honorable mentions below!
- Pancrase 286 | Yusaku Inoue def. Takashi Umehara via KO1 (Spinning Back-Fist)
- UFC Kansas City | Robert Whittaker def. Jacare Souza via TKO2 (Headkick & Punches)
- UFC Nashville | Al Iaquinta def. Diego Sanchez via TKO1 (Punches)
- UFC Nashville | Mike Perry def. Jake Ellenberger via KO2 (Standing Elbow)
- FFC 29 | Luka Jelcic def. Roberto Pastuch via KO1 (Elbows)
- M-1 Challenge 76 | Movsar Evloev def. Alexei Nevzorov via KO1 (Headkick & Punches)
- Bellator 176 | Rafael Carvalho def. Melvin Manhoef via KO4 (Headkick)
- Bellator 178 | AJ McKee def. Dominic Mazzotta via KO1 (Headkick)
- Bellator 178 | Kastriot Xhema def. Nick Alley via KO1 (Punch)
- RIZIN Yokohama | Yusuke Yachi def. Daron Cruickshank via KO1 (Punch)
- LFA 9 | Sabina Mazo def. Jamie Thorton via KO1 (Headkick)
- Shooto Brasil 71 |Cemy dos Santos def. Renato Rangel via KO1 (Back-Elbow & Punches)
- Brave CF 6 | Habiti Tuerxunbieke def. Orkhan Mamedov via KO1 (Punch)
- Fight2Night 2 | Matt Hamill def. Luiz Cane via KO1 (Punches)
