MMA Junkie's Knockout of the Month for June: Ilia Topuria calls his shot and makes history
At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting for your choice.
Nominee: Steve Collins def. Gabariel Brown at LFA 210
Steve Collins (5-0) found himself defending an armbar in the first round of his 152-pound catchweight fight against Gaberial Brown (4-3). There are a few techniques available to fend off the limb submission, but Collins opted for the most savage option.
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Collins got his feet under him, and deadlifted Brown high in the air, and then dropped him on his head, "Rampage" Jackson style. Brown appeared out cold from the impact with the canvas, but a few follow-up punches were landed before the referee could rush in to stop the fight.
Nominee: Billy Alexander def. Zachary Siemasko at Ring of Combat 86
Billy Alexander (1-0) couldn't have fathomed a more brutal finish in his MMA debut when he put Zachary Seimasko (0-1) out cold in scary fashion.
After some sloppy action that would be expected out of two professional newcomers, Alexander charged at Seimasko with a flying knee that instantly send him flying backward unconscious.
Nominee: Malcolm Wellmaker def. Kris Moutinho at UFC on ESPN 69
Malcolm Wellmaker (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) gave the Atlanta crowd what it wanted with a devastating one-punch knockout of Kris Moutinho (14-7 MMA, 0-3 UFC).
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Georgia native Wellmaker continued to add to his hype as a bantamweight prospect to watch with an absolutely perfect right hook that put Moutinho out on impact and sent him face planted into the canvas less than three minutes into the fight.
Nominee: Gregory Rodriguez def. Jack Hermansson at UFC 317
Gregory Rodrigues scored a vicious one-punch knockout of Jack Hermansson that will be the new standard of his highlight reel.
In the first round of the middleweight bout, Rodrigues (17-6 MMA, 8-3 UFC) caught Hermansson (24-9 MMA, 11-7 UFC) with a clean left hand that immediately stiffened him on the canvas. One unnecessary hammer fist sealed the show. Hermansson was down for several minutes after the knockout blow connected, but eventually got back to his feet and left the octagon under his own power.
The winner: Ilia Topuria def. Charles Oliveira via punches at UFC 317
Ilia Topuria has gold around his waist once again.
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In the UFC 317 main event, Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) knocked out Charles Oliveira in 2:27 and claimed a championship – this time, at lightweight.
The fight was wild for as long as it lasted. Oliveira (35-11 MMA, 23-11 UFC) was cut in the opening minute. When he tried to drag the fight to the canvas, Topuria reversed his attempt and landed on top.
Oliveira attempted a heel hook, which Topuria wiggled away from. Back on the feet, Topuria cracked him with a straight right hand that instantly snatched Oliveira's consciousness from him. Two more follow-up shots smashed Oliveira's face before the fight was waved off.
Topuria, 28, won the UFC featherweight title in October. He vacated the title months later, citing weight cut issues. A breakthrough star in the Spanish and Georgian markets, Topuria became the first undefeated fighter to win a second UFC title.
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This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: MMA Junkie's KO of the Month for June 2025: Ilia Topuria makes history
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