Even Vitor Belfort was impressed with the kick Anderson Silva threw to knock Belfort out at UFC 126. Belfort tweeted, "I just saw the kick. It was fantastic even then I think this will land once in a million."
A front kick by itself is not that impressive. It's usually thrown to the body to create space, but can be dangerous because your opponent could catch it, and use it for a takedown. This kick was unique because of where Silva landed it and the speed he used in throwing it. Silva placed the kick perfectly on Belfort's chin, snapping his head back. He also threw it so fast that Belfort had no chance at catching Silva's leg.
But where does it rank among other head kick knockouts?
Do you put it above Anthony Pettis' Matrix-like, off-the-cage kick of Ben Henderson at the final WEC event? Or the head kick that Rashad Evans used to knock out Sean Salmon and signal that Evans was more than "just a wrestler?" Maybe it's Gabriel Gonzaga using the Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic's signature head kick against him, knocking the Pride legend to the canvas? Or Dan Hornbuckle stiffening Akihiro Gono at Sengoku's Ninth Battle?
Considering the circumstances of the bout, Silva is above them all. He was defending his belt in the main event of a sold-out, Super Bowl weekend UFC card. He knocked out someone who was last knocked out in 2004, and that was via a doctor's stoppage.
Do you agree? What that your favorite head-kick knockout?
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