2022 once again delivered a plethora of amazing fights and knockouts. The kickboxing scene has been diverse as ever, with great fights happening all over the globe. But which fighters earned the top spots? Which knockouts were the most brutal, the most flashy, and the most memorable? Beyond Kickboxing has compiled this year's top knockouts throughout all the promotions.
TOP 10 KNOCKOUTS OF 2022
10. EIKI KURATA VS ERUTO
In a Super Bantamweight Championship Tournament reserve fight, Eiki Kurata clashed with Eruto. The two put on a high-pace from the start, but the apparent difference in power was immediately noticeable. Kurata kept landing big right hands, and quickly knocked Eruto down one minute into the fight. Moments after, Kurata's right hand found it's target again but this time followed up by a sneaky left high kick that send Eruto flying backwards for the first-round stoppage.
9. KOSEI YAMADA VS. JAN KAFFA
For the second time in a row, Jan Kaffa was on the receiving end of a highlight-reel stoppage. The Dutch fighter had just signed with GLORY, and took on RISE Super Lightweight champion Kosei Yamada. In a rough fight from start to finish both fighters tried to close the distance and land heavy shots. At the start of the third round, Yamada finally found his target, exploding with a massive overhand right on the chin of Kaffa. An impressive performance by Yamada, that earned him a shot at GLORY Featherweight champion Petchpanomrung at GLORY Rivals 4.
8. KARIM EL AMRI VS. KHALID EL MOUKADAM
Karim El Amri slept Khalid El Moukadam with a brutal high kick. What a knockout for the 26-year-old!
7. YUUKI KASAHARA VS. MOTOKI
Two-weight Shootboxing champion Yuuki Kasahara took on Motoki at RIZIN 34. Kasahara dictated the pace throughout the first round until he landed a left straight and right over the top that send Motoki to the canvas. Still wobbly on his legs, Kasahara pummeled Motoki back into the ropes. On his way down, the Shootboxer landed a flush flying knee, prompting the referee to immediately call off the fight.
6. SHOA ARII VS. KOYATA YAMADA
Two prospects met on the RISE WORLD SERIES / SHOOTBOXING-KING 2022 main card when Shoa Arii took on Koyata Yamada. After a frenetic first round, Yamada landed one of the cleanest cross-counters you'll ever see, sending an unconscious Arii crashing to the canvas. The only 19-year-old Shootboxer improved to 9-0, proving he has a bright future ahead of him.
5. LEONA PETTAS VS. TATSUYA OIWA
In the semi-finals of the 2022 K-1 Super Featherweight World Grand Prix, Leona Pettas send Tatsuya Oiwa out on a stretcher after landing a vicious flying knee in round two. Pettas went on to win the tournament, establishing himself as the best Super Bantamweight in the world.
4. DILLON RODRIGUES VS. MARLEY DAVIES
Marley Davies delivered one of the flashiest knockouts of the year when he took on Dillon Brown Rodrigues for the English Semi-Professional WKO title.
3. ANTONIO PLAZIBAT VS. RAUL CATINAS
In the main event of GLORY 82, Antonio Plazibat defeated Raul Catinas by knockout in the first round, solidifying his status as the top Heavyweight contender. A vicious knockout in any sense of the word. The Romanian fighter crashed unconscious to the canvas after Plazibat assaulted him with a variety of heavy hooks to the head and body. The perfect setup for a clash against Rico Verhoeven in 2023.
2. QASHAM MAMMADOV VS MAJİD SHAH
Qasham Mammadov landed a crazy spinning heel kick in the first round to brutally knock out Majid Shahriyari at Loca Fight Club.
1. MUHAMMED SIMSEK VS. MATTHEW DAALMAN
In the final of the Enfusion Bantamweight Championship Tournament Matthew Daalman took on hard-hitting Muhammed Simsek at Enfusion 106. The Turkish fighter came out super aggressive dropping Daalman twice, just for Daalman to return the favor and faceplant Simsek with a brutal head kick seconds after. A stunning comeback win for Daalman, that has earned him this year's Beyond Kickboxing's Knockout of the Year award.
