The MMA Plus team select their end of year awards for 2016. In this edition, the staff members select their knockout of the year. But will the team agree on a majority winner?
The categories for the MMA Plus awards are: Fighter of the year, Coach of the year, Fight of the year, Event of the year, Upset of the year, Knockout of the year, Submission of the year, Breakout star of 2016.
MMA Plus 2016 Knockout of the Year picks
Seán Ryan: Knockout of the Year – Lando Vannata (Wheel kick, vs. John Makdessi) UFC 206
Watch it. That’s all.
Stuart Rodger: Knockout of the Year – Yair Rodriguez (Head kick, vs. Andre Fili) UFC 197
Although there has been many late contenders, this knockout from April deserves a place on the list. A beautiful head kick landed flush and with impact for Rodriguez as Fili was out before he hit the mat.
Roberto Reid: Knockout of the Year – Gerald Harris (Slam KO, vs. Aaron Cobb) Legacy FC 63
Going into the fight Harris opponent Cobb reportedly weighed in a massive 50 pounds overweight and as a result the middleweight encounter would now be fought at heavyweight. Despite being at a disadvantage Harris who was competing for the first fight in over three years would pick-up his opponent and slam him with such force it shook the cage.
Andreas Georgiou: Knockout of the Year – Michael “Venom” Page (Flying knee, vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos) Bellator 158
The greatest knockout I have had the pleasure of seeing at a live MMA event, MVP takes this award after his devastating flying knee finish of Cyborg in London. After out-wrestling Cyborg in the first, Page threw a flying knee and celebrated like a Pokemon master.
The finish caused a depressed fracture on the skull of Santos which would later require surgery.
Stephen Flynn: Lando Vannata (Wheel kick, vs. John Makdessi) UFC 206
KO of the year has to be given to Lando Vannata who’s spinning kick sent John Makdessi straight to the canvas. Set up with a low kick before landing the finishing blow, the Canadian could not have seen the strike coming. Topped off with a walk off KO there is no doubt this knockout tops the lot for the year.
