Ranking the Top 5 Best Kicks in MMA History

Fans love a good face-to-face brawl or even a technical wrestling or grappling match, but few techniques in the world of mixed martial arts get the crowd pumped up more than a devastating kick.

The top five kicks in MMA history all share one thing in common: they rank as the most exciting moments in the history of the sport because they seemingly came out of nowhere and either ended the fight or came close to doing so.

As athletes get better and the striking styles become more creative and refined, the world of MMA, especially in the highest levels of the UFC, will see even more highlight-reel kicks.

Here is a list of the top five in MMA history:

5. Gabriel Gonzaga against Mirko Cro Cop, UFC 70:

Gonzaga was a no-namer and seen as a sacrificial lamb in the former PRIDE star Cro Cop's quest for a UFC Heavyweight Title.

But he shocked the world with a brutal left-high kick win that ranks as perhaps the most ironic moment in UFC history. Gonzaga's signature kick was much slower and less natural-looking than Cro Cop's signature move but it was effective. Most observers of the fight expected Cro Cop to win in the exact fashion that Gonzaga did.

4. Anderson Silva against Vitor Belfort, UFC 126:

A lightning-quick front kick took care of Belfort in this one that left many fans wondering whether action movie star Steven Seagal, who spent some time with "The Spider" before the fight, really did teach him the move.

Belfort was caught completely off-guard by the move, but that unpredictablity is what makes Silva so tough to deal with and what landed him a spot on the list of the top five kicks in MMA history list.

3. Lyoto Machida against Randy Couture, UFC 129:

Seeing as though Machida and Silva train together, this one was a bit less surprising. It was also a little more slick as Machida faked with the left leg and leapt toward Couture before blasting him in the face, ending the fight just as the previous two kicks on this list did.

While some may rank this kick lower because of Couture's age (47), Couture's wrestling prowess actually factored in and made this kick more difficult to pull off than Silva's.

2. Mirko Cro Cop against Wanderlei Silva, PRIDE Final Conflict, 2006:

Cro Cop's "ultimate weapon" is the left high kick. There's an old saying that goes, "right leg hospital, left leg cemetary" in regards to him.

"The Axe Murderer" survived this one literally but not figuratively as Cro Cop scored a brutal KO with one of the best kicks of all-time considering the situation and opponent in the semi-finals of this tournament, which he went on to win, in Japan.

1. Anthony Pettis against Ben Henderson, WEC 53:

"Showtime" lived up to his nickname and then some in this title fight win over Henderson as he leapt off the side of the WEC cage and drilled Henderson in the face with his right leg.

While the fight went to decision, the wow factor of this move, which looked straight out of a video game and helped Pettis secure the win, is undeniable.

Pettis will have a hard time pulling it off again in the more spacious UFC cages but with athletes like him, Silva and Machida still active, it seems like it's only a matter of time before another move passes this one on the list of the top five best kicks in MMA history despite the amazement factor of this kick.

Sources: Sherdog.com
UFC.com