5. Dan Henderson
Henderson is the first fighter here from a wrestling rather than kickboxing background, though he won't be the last. Henderson is a unique entry for reasons than simply being a former Olympic wrestler. He has 17 knockouts in 32 victories, for a 56% knockout rate, or 36% when also factoring in his 15 losses. Very good marks to be sure, but the lowest of anyone on this list. While he recorded a nice late-career knockout of similarly aging Hector Lombard with a head kick, few feared Henderson's kicks, which he rarely deployed. Nor were his knees much to bother with. And even among his fists, the left could be largely discounted, with nowhere close to knockout power. However, Henderson's right hand, nicknamed the “H-Bomb,” was one of the biggest, most iconic strikes in MMA history. Opponents knew it was coming, they knew it was the big money shot Henderson relied upon, yet they still ended up being hit by the blow, often to the point of unconsciousness. Moreover, the H-Bomb was responsible for some of the greatest, most thrilling knockouts in MMA history. Deadening Wanderlei Silva in the main event of Pride 33, the promotion's second foray into the US. Starching future UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping at UFC 100 in perhaps the most brutal, violent finish ever. Knocking out Mauricio Rua in a rematch of one of the greatest fights ever. And of course, leaving the greatest heavyweight ever, Fedor Emelianenko, limp and senseless at the end of the first round, the first time the legend, who back then had a very tough chin and fantastic recuperative powers, was knocked out cold. There were other great highlights; I loved Henderson's brutal beatdown of Renato Sobral in under two minutes, his 53 second annihilation of the tremendous, underrated Brazilian champion Murilo Bustamante in their first fight, and a 22-second brutalization of Ryo Chonan. When it comes to sheer devastation and slaying legendary foes, Henderson's knockout highlight reel is as impressive as they come.
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