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Edson Barboza on his spinning wheel kick vs. Joaquin Buckley’s viral finish: ‘Both are beautiful’ KOs

When it comes to spectacular knockouts, Edson Barboza knows he has stiff competition.

For years the UFC veteran held – among many fans and pundits – perhaps the best knockout in UFC history. Back in 2012 at UFC 142, Barboza (21-9 MMA, 15-9 UFC) landed a well timed, lightning quick spinning wheel-kick on Terry Etim that put the Englishman to sleep on his feet and then sent his stiff body crashing to the canvas.

There have been plenty of wild knockouts since, but Barboza’s has stood the test of time, living on for many years in UFC highlight packages.

But now, with Joaquin Buckley’s viral spinning back kick on Impa Kasanganay earlier this month at UFC on ESPN+ 37, a knew UFC knockout GOAT has emerged. And Barboza knows it’s close.

“I think that the creativity is a little bit better with my kick,” Barboza told MMA Junkie. “With my knockout, you see a couple of times other people doing it not exactly like my knockout, but you see a couple of guys doing like that.

“This kick is new, and I really don’t see this knockout much like that in MMA, especially in the UFC. First time somebody knocks someone out with that kick. That’s beautiful, I really love kicks. I love knockouts, so beautiful, but it’s close. My knockout is beautiful, too. It’s hard to pick one, but both are beautiful knockouts.”

It’s tough to decide which knockout will reign supreme moving forward, but there’s no denying both are up there among MMA’s greatest finishes.

For Barboza, who’s had 12 knockout wins in his professional career, the spinning wheel-kick on Etim is still his favorite followed by his flying knee knockout over Beneil Dariush.

“The spinning hook kick, definitely,” Barboza said regarding his favorite career KO in MMA. “Like I said, I’m a very creative fighter. I drop people with body shots. I drop people with a body kicks. I drop people with a punch in the face. I drop people with a low kick.

“I have a lot of variation with knockouts and knockdowns, but I feel like the heel kick and knee in Dariush are the best ones in MMA for sure.”

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