MMA
What is the greatest UFC knockout of all time?
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The UFC has produced countless spectacular knockouts over the years, but few can match what Jorge Masvidal did to Ben Askren.
From Conor McGregor's stunning finish of Jose Aldo to Leon Edwards' last-minute head kick against Kamaru Usman, there is no shortage of contenders for the greatest knockout in UFC history.
But Masvidal's flying knee at UFC 239 has a claim that no other knockout can make.
It remains the fastest finish in UFC history, with just five seconds separating the opening bell from one of the most memorable moments ever seen inside the Octagon.
What happened in Jorge Masvidal vs. Ben Askren?
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Masvidal and Askren met in a welterweight fight at UFC 239 in Las Vegas on July 6, 2019.
There was already plenty of tension between the pair heading into the contest, but nobody could have expected it to be settled quite as quickly as it was.
As soon as the fight started, Masvidal sprinted across the Octagon and launched himself into a flying knee.
Askren lowered his level as Masvidal approached, putting himself directly in the path of the strike.
The knee connected and the fight was effectively over almost immediately, with Masvidal officially awarded the knockout just five seconds into the opening round.
It also handed Askren the first defeat of his professional MMA career.
Is Jorge Masvidal's knockout the fastest in UFC history?
Yes. More than seven years later, Masvidal's five-second victory over Askren remains the fastest knockout and fastest overall finish in UFC history.
The previous benchmark belonged to Duane Ludwig, whose 2006 victory over Jonathan Goulet was officially recorded at six seconds.
Masvidal shaved another second off that mark, and nobody has managed to equal or beat his record since.
The UFC itself has previously described the finish as "arguably the greatest knockout in UFC history", and it is easy to understand why.
It had everything: a bitter rivalry, an audacious technique, an immediate knockout and a record that still stands years later.
The finish also transformed Masvidal's career. After beating Darren Till earlier in 2019, the Askren knockout propelled "Gamebred" into another level of UFC stardom and helped set up his BMF title fight against Nate Diaz later that year.
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Masvidal may be best known for his own unforgettable moments inside the Octagon, but fight fans can now watch the former UFC star's promotion on DAZN.
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