It is typically stated that blended martial arts is still behind the proverbial curve when it comes to striking.
Whether we’re talking about fighters doingnothave jabs in open-stance affairs or the method in which striking is both adjudicated and tracked in this sport, there’s still a good quantity to be preferred for those who value fisticuffs on the finest level.
Moreover, whether we’re talking about MMA’s top authorities and judges or Gen Pop who takesin this item, there appears to be a criminal underappreciation for strikes to the body.
Despite body shots showing to be efficient giventhat the presence of arranged martial arts and battle sports alike, it’s still not unusual to see fighters enabled to take unneeded damage en path to defeat or be granted doubtful rounds for makingitthrough frames due to MMA’s evident blind area for bodywork.
This, of course, is especially paradoxical thinkingabout that fighters themselves (whether they’re speaking openly on a broadcast or are answering independently in individual) revere bodywork to the point where most of them would choose a tidy headshot over a ruthless body blow.
Say what you will about the striking advancement in MMA, however the fighters haveactually been supplying us with some amazing highlights in the body shot department for some time now.
So, with that in mind, I idea it would be enjoyable to pay tribute to all kinds of body strikes by reviewing my leading 10 most remarkable body shot interruptions in MMA.
As normal, these lists show my individual tastes and predispositions and are not suggested to serve as some supreme authority. That stated, I feel really highly about not just my list however likewise my respectable pointsout at the end – which are more than strong sufficient to serve as their own leading 10.
10
Bas Rutten def. Jason DeLucia at Pancrase 30: Truth 6 (June 28, 1996)
Considering there might be no larger body-shot fan than Bas Rutten, I’d be remiss if I left “El Guapo” off this list.
Perhaps it was his background in standard martial arts like Kyokushin karate or his time invested training with fellow Dutch kickboxers, however Rutten endedupbeing popular for the open-hand striking success he had throughout his run in Pancrase in the 1990s.
Whether he was pulling his fingers back to provide stealthily effective palm strikes or penalizing his challenger’s liver with punches and kicks alike, Rutten – who infact askedforgiveness a lot throughout his matches – was totally unapologetic when it came to squashing the body.
You can see best examples of Rutten’s chosen weapons of option in his 3rd conference with Jason DeLucia at Pancrase 30.
Interessez vous à Bas Rutten la legende de pancrace c’etait un specialist des Palm Strikes (coup avec la paume) on le voit ici detruire le foie de Jason Delucia avec ce coup https://t.co/qqd8J1AJ3Z pic.twitter.com/wSrYVQ15Er
— Jean Positivité (@Grimmermag) August 27, 2023
9
Melvin Guillard def. Gabe Ruediger at UFC 63 (Sept. 23, 2006)
This was a remarkable efficiency from Melvin Guillard that includes the under-utilized right cross to the body.
Despite not requiring to sell your lead hand too hard in order to draw out a high guard, extremely coupleof fighters choose to take the opening of a level-changing cross to the body.
As Guillard reveals in the clip, this strike is not a liver-dependent body shot and is offered in basically every position pairing.
Melvin Guillard endedup weight cut professional, Gabe Ruediger, 14 years ago today #UFC
pic.twitter.com/XqwZZrwfVG— JReal (@BloodyCanvasJon) September 23, 2020
Poor Gabe Ruediger should’ve had flashbacks to the enema he got on his season of “The Ultimate Fighter” after this one.
8
David Loiseau def. Charles McCarthy at UFC 53 (June 11, 2005)
Considering that spinning back kicks are one of my preferred types of body shots, I had to put fellow taekwondo black belt David Loiseau on this list.
Although a young Georges St-Pierre and Firas Zahabi can be identified in the corner for this battle, Loiseau was the understood item who was Canada’s next huge hope at the time.
What I love most about this knockout is the reality that Loiseau was actively looking to time and counter Charles McCarthy’s right hand.
David Loiseau completed Charles McCarthy with a spinning back kick and a flying knee, 15 years ago today at UFC 53#UFC
pic.twitter.com/3k6eHK7yFr— JReal (@BloodyCanvasJon) June 4, 2020
As you’ll see (or maybe have felt yourself), some of the most painful-looking body shot blockages occur when the recipient is completely extended and/or when they’re captured in inbetween breathes.
7
Shane Campbell def. Derek Boyle at WSOF 18 (Feb. 12, 2015)
Here is this list’s self-admitted hipster choice, Shane Campbell’s “Hadouken” off a liver kick.
I’m clearly a fan of all types of liver shots, however front kicks – especially stabbing shots with the toes – are a silently reliable strike that you wear’t requirement to put a load behind to be efficient.
Remember when Shane Campbell landed a liver kick-hadouken combination on Derek Boyle at WSOF 18? pic.twitter.com/hHYPkUuM1e
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) April 20, 2020
Add in the natural Street Fighter tribute that Campbell completely pulls off in combination with the traditional postponed response (that typically comes with effective liver shots) from Derek Boyle, and there’s no method that I leave “Shaolin” off this list.
6
Anderson Silva def. Stephan Bonnar at UFC 153 (Oct. 13, 2012)
Representing body-knee knockouts on this list is the famous Anderson Silva.
Even though body knees can be efficient from viewed unfavorable positions (such as having your back to the fence), you couldn’t ask for a more favorable position to land what is one of the cleanest knee knockouts in UFC history.
The violent imagination of Anderson Silva pic.twitter.com/IGjCo0re7b
— Miguel Class (@MigClass) November 16, 2023
As Miguel Class points out in the clip, Silva wisely utilizes the momentum he developed to bounce Stephan Bonnar off the cage and right into a completely put knee to the solar plexus.
Not just was this yet another time where Silva stepped up on semi-short notification to conserve a UFC program up a weight class, however this was perhaps the last time we saw “The Spider” carryingout at his wonderful finest.