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Crazy Flying Finishes in UFC History

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The UFC’s most spectacular knockouts turn the Octagon into an arena for high-stakes aerial maneuvers.

Flying finishes represent the peak of technical execution and explosive athleticism within the UFC. While standard strikes are commonplace, fighters who successfully integrate mid-air offense often define their legacies through these high-risk, high-reward moments.

• Jorge Masvidal set the UFC record for the fastest knockout in history at UFC 239 in July 2019, sprinting across the cage to land a flying knee on Ben Askren in just five seconds.
• Yoel Romero utilized a perfectly timed flying knee to stop former champion Chris Weidman in the third round at UFC 205 in 2016.
• Historical bouts, such as Shonie Carter’s 2001 spinning backfist against Matt Serra and Fabricio Werdum’s 2014 flying knee against Mark Hunt, set the precedent for unorthodox aerial finishing.

The Record-Breaking Knee

The flying knee has become the most recognized aerial technique in professional mixed martial arts. Jorge Masvidal’s finish of Ben Askren at UFC 239 remains the promotion’s undisputed benchmark for speed and aggression. Masvidal anticipated Askren’s level change at the opening bell, launching himself into the strike before the fight had even settled.

Jorge Masvidal secured the fastest knockout in UFC history—officially timed at five seconds—by sprinting across the Octagon and connecting with a flying knee as Ben Askren attempted a takedown.

Established Aerial Highlights

Before Masvidal’s record-breaking night, several fighters utilized the flying knee to shift the momentum of high-stakes bouts. At UFC 189 in 2015, Jeremy Stephens launched a mid-air knee to end a competitive fight against Dennis Bermudez, while Thomas Almeida utilized the same technique to finish Brad Pickett on the same card. Carlos Condit also famously used a flying knee to stop Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 132 in 2011.

Early Evolution of High-Risk Maneuvers

While modern highlight reels focus heavily on the flying knee, the foundation for aerial finishes was laid by early, creative strikers. Shonie Carter’s 2001 spinning backfist against Matt Serra at UFC 31 is frequently included in these compilations. Despite being a strike launched from a grounded position, it remains a critical example of the high-risk maneuvers that defined the sport’s early evolution and pushed fighters to seek finishes from unorthodox angles.

Masvidal is currently scheduled to challenge Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title at UFC 251, a matchup that will test whether his explosive, high-risk approach can dismantle the champion’s suffocating pressure as seen in the UFC 251 lead-up.