Top 5 MMA knockouts of 2022

Fighters across the UFC, Bellator, and beyond treated MMA fans to many knockouts throughout 2022. A few stood out from the rest.

Here are theScore's top five knockouts of the year:

5. Ilia Topuria def. Jai Herbert

Event: UFC London
Date: March 19

Topuria is known for putting everything into nearly every punch he throws. This finish against Herbert - the only knockout from a regular punch that made this year's list - is exactly why.

The undefeated Topuria struggled to find his range against Herbert in Round 1. He was making his lightweight debut - up from featherweight - and Herbert's larger frame was making things tough for him.

But once Topuria started to connect, it was over for Herbert. Early into the second round, with Herbert's back up against the fence, Topuria folded him with a brutal right hand in the most vicious knockout from a punch all year.

4. Zhang Weili def. Joanna Jedrzejczyk

Event: UFC 275
Date: June 11

In 2020, Zhang and Jedrzejczyk fought to a thrilling, razor-thin split decision that left many questions about who was the best strawweight in the world at the time. But this year, in a highly anticipated rematch, Zhang put a major stamp on their rivalry.

After dominating Jedrzejczyk in the first round, Zhang landed a spinning backfist in the second that face-planted the former champion and sent her into retirement. Statement made.

3. Molly McCann def. Luana Carolina

Event: UFC London
Date: March 19

London's O2 Arena was home to some memorable UFC moments in 2022. But none were bigger - or at least more violent - than McCann's highlight-reel finish of Carolina.

In Round 3, the Liverpool native turned into Carolina and landed a picture-perfect spinning back elbow that immediately shut her lights out and sent the raucous English crowd into a frenzy.

2. Michael Chandler def. Tony Ferguson

Event: UFC 274
Date: May 7

Chandler's front-kick knockout of Ferguson was a thing of beauty.

Ferguson was looking great in the early moments of the fight. It was a bit of a surprise - considering the longtime lightweight contender had hit a serious rough patch in recent years - but certainly welcome for fans of "El Cucuy."

All of that went out the window when Chandler caught Ferguson with a gorgeous front kick to the face in the second round, ending any hope of a Ferguson bounce-back victory in the blink of an eye.

Chandler's knockout also created one of the most brutal "punch face" - or in this case, "kick face" - photos in MMA history.

1. Leon Edwards def. Kamaru Usman

Event: UFC 278
Date: Aug. 20

Pound-for-pound. Headshot. Dead.

It was difficult to decide between this knockout and the wicked technique seen in Chandler's triumph over Ferguson. But Edwards' miraculous title victory against Usman simply checks too many boxes for it not to take the knockout of the year crown.

Usman was up 39-37 on all three judges' scorecards going into the fifth round of their rematch. The pound-for-pound king was largely in control and seemed to be en route to yet another title defense, one that would've tied him with MMA legend Anderson Silva for the longest winning streak in UFC history (16). Edwards seemed frustrated in the corner and - at least if you asked UFC color commentators Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier - already defeated.

And then the unthinkable happened.

With a little over a minute left in the fight, Edwards feinted with his right hand and then connected with a flush left high kick, crushing Usman into unconsciousness and producing easily the most shocking MMA moment in 2022. Edwards snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against the best fighter on the planet and then capped it off with one of the best and most emotional postfight speeches of the year. This magical moment will stand the test of time, no doubt about it.