Best MMA Knockouts of 2012

These are the best MMA knockouts of 2012. We might not have found them all, but we can assure you that these are definitely worthy of being included among the year’s best. Here we go — in no particular order…

Eddie Alvarez had a lot riding on his fight with Patricky Pitbull at Bellator 76. He came through with one of the year’s most spectacular finishes.

The Barboza vs. Etim fight at UFC 142 was one of the first candidates for KO of the Year. It was back in January that Barboza’s wheel kick made fans jump out of their seats.

The Smilin’ Sam Alvey vs. Leo Kuntz fight was technically an exhibition bout because it happened on “The Ultimate Fighter,” but it doesn’t make it any less awesome. One punch KOs are always killer.

You can’t have a better UFC debut than Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson’s at UFC 143. He burst onto the scene with this head kick knockout of Dan Stittgen.

Andrei Arlovski got some revenge on Tim Sylvia at ONE FC 5, even if he didn’t get a win for doing it. Arlovski’s soccer kick was deemed illegal, but no less satisfying.

Former UFC fighters Gilbert Yvel and Houston Alexander did battle at RFA 2 in March. Yvel’s power in both hands dropped Alexander in a face plant.

Hendricks scored another first round knockout against Martin Kampmann at UFC 154. Is GSP nervous? He should be.

Michael Chandler defeated MMA legend Akihiro Gono in style at Bellator 67, taking care of business less than a minute into the first round.

Cung Le still dazzles crowds — and opponents — with his unique brand of striking. He dropped Rich Franklin in the first round of their UFC on Fuel fight in Macao.

Rick Hawn may be an Olympian in Judo, but he showed his striking ability in wrecking Lloyd Woodard at Bellator 66 in April.

Cub Swanson wrecked Ross Pearson at UFC on FX: Maynard vs. Guida. Three fights for Swanson in 2012, all ending in KO victories.

Jimmo gets props not only for knocking out Anthony Perosh in just :07 in his UFC debut, but also his spot-on robot dance.

Swick came back from a layoff of over two years to post this KO of DaMarques Johnson.

If you watched this fight live, you were probably yelling, “Stop the fight!” King Mo put some serious ground and pound on Lorenz Larkin — and he was pissed after the fight that the ref was so slow to stop it.

The Cowboy wobbled Guillard with a head kick then put him down with a huge right hand.

I don’t know that there is anything more exciting than a flying knee KO. Brian Rogers smoked Vitor Vianna with one at Bellator 61.

Anthony Pettis made the most of his only fight in 2012 with this sick head kick KO of Joe Lauzon at UFC 144.

Nate Marquardt showed why he is one of the most dynamic strikers in MMA with his amazing KO of Tyron Woodley at Strikeforce in July.

Eddie Wineland was in dire need of a win when he faced Scott Jorgensen in June. His 1-3-2 combo earned him the victory, and one of the best KOs of 2012.

Anthony Johnson shook off an eye poke and delivered one of the best KOs of the year against DJ Linderman at WSOF 1.