2025 offered no shortage of highlight finishes, but only a handful carried lasting significance. Titles, momentum, and rankings were often decided by a single exchange.
Beyond Kickboxing rounds up the most notable knockouts of 2025, judged on impact, timing, and context rather than flash alone.
TOP 10 KNOCKOUTS OF 2025
10. MUSASHI MATSUSHITA VS. AUTO
After three competitive rounds, Musashi Matsushita finally broke down Thai fighter Auto against the ropes, scoring a decisive knockdown in the extra round. Refusing to settle for a decision, he sealed the finish with a stylish rolling thunder kick, flying across the ring and landing clean to force the referee stoppage.
9. HIDE MEISON USAMI VS. JERALD VILLADE
Meison Usami delivered a unique knee knockout at RISE ELDORADO 2025 against Jerald Villade. With two-handed clinches prohibited, Usami used a single hand to spin the Filipino opponent a full 360 degrees before landing a perfectly timed knee to the chin, bringing the fight to an immediate conclusion.
8. THIAN TARZAN VS. MAHMOUD SATTARI
Thian de Vries has been in nonstop firefights this year, being on the receiving end of heavy knockdowns only to mount dramatic comebacks. His clash with Iranian power puncher Mahmoud Sattari at K-1 World MAX followed the same script. After eating a clean overhand right that would have left most fighters unconscious, the hurt “Tarzan” fired back seconds later with a crushing left hand, forcing the referee to step in.
7. DARRYL VERDONK VS. JOMTHONG
Darryl Verdonk has brought the action since his arrival in Japan, instantly making him a fan-favorite. A brutal spinning back fist after a missed jumping knee left the crafty Thai veteran Jomthong unable to continue.
6. DENIS JR. VS. LEANDRO MIRANDA
Undefeated Denis Jr. moved to 15-0-1, stopping Leandro Miranda with a highlight-reel flying knee knockout in the third round at Prime Kickboxing 10.
5. FABIAN LORITO VS. ALEXANDRU VELENCIUC
Fabian Lorito scored a brutal jumping front-kick knockout in the final seconds against Alexandru Velenciuc at SENSHI 29.
4. ROBERT STAN VS. SAMUEL IVAN
While this list mostly features established names, Robert Stan made waves in his professional debut, landing a picture-perfect rolling thunder kick at Dynamite Fighting Show 28. At just 20 years old, more highlights are to be expected from the Romanian prospect.
3. LEVI RIGTERS VS. JAMAL BEN SADDIK
You don’t often see spectacular kick knockouts from the heavyweights, but Levi Rigters made it happen, landing a slick spinning back kick to end Jamal Ben Saddik’s night in the third round at GLORY 103.
2. MAEDA TAISON VS. FUKUDA TAKUMI
THE KNOCKOUT on June 22 saw Maeda Taison and Fukuda Takumi face off in a rematch after their tightly contested draw just two months earlier. This time, Takumi left no doubt, finishing the fight in spectacular fashion with a flying knee knockout just 30 seconds from the final bell.
1. MORY KROMAH VS. BAHRAM RAJABZADEH
In what will likely be remembered as one of the most viral fights of 2025, Mory Kromah faced not only the heavy-hitting Bahram Rajabzadeh but also questionable officiating. Egregious fouls and baffling referee decisions allowed the fight to continue amid growing unrest around the ring. Still, Kromah remained composed, regaining control before landing a brutal flying knee that knocked Rajabzadeh out cold, just as arguments and chaos erupted in the crowd.
A clear frontrunner for Beyond Kickboxing’s Knockout of the Year 2025.
