MMAMania’s 2026 mid-year awards: Knockout of the year

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 28: Alexa Grasso (L) raises her arm in victory as Maycee Barber lays on the ground after their UFC women’s flyweight bout during UFC Fight Night at Climate Pledge Arena on March 28, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images) | Getty Images Welcome to MMAmania’s 2026 Mid-Year Awards! Can you believe 2026 is already half done?

With six months of jaw-dropping action behind us, it’s time to celebrate the fighters, fights, and moments that have lit up the MMA world. From stunning upsets and bone-crunching knockouts to rising stars and masterful submissions, 2026 has delivered some good highlights.Let’s dive into the best knockout of the year so far.

(Note: For knockouts and submissions, I’m all about style over substance.)Knockout of the year: Alexa Grasso vs. Maycee BarberUFC Seattle – March 28, 2026Technically, former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Flyweight champion Alexa Grasso could have landed on both the “Submission of the Year” and “Knockout of the Year” lists for the exact same finish.

That is how nasty it was.The finish took place in the co-main event of UFC Seattle, where Grasso cracked Maycee Barber with a filthy left cross that dropped Barber and spun her around, essentially knocking her out on impact.Then Grasso jumped on Barber’s back and locked up a rear-naked choke on an already unconscious opponent.

Brutal.It was violent, unique and instantly memorable. More importantly, it was the kind of finish that fight fans will still be talking about years from now.

Not just one of the best finishes of 2026.One of the wildest finishes in UFC history.OH MY GOODNESSALEXA GRASSO FINISHES MAYCEE BARBER!!

📺 @paramountpluspic.twitter.com/dMNRIKuLEt— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) March 29, 2026Here are a few honorable mentions: Medic vs.

NealUros Medic sparked Geoff Neal in just 69 seconds in the co-main event of UFC Houston.OH MY GOODNESSMEDIĆ DELIVERS A KNOCKOUT!!📺 @paramountpluspic.

twitter.com/hqws79dl08— UFC on