Ryan Jimmo made a loud, memorable and convincing opening statement in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s court of public opinion. The Canadian karateka introduced himself to the masses with a first-round knockout of Anothony Perosh in their UFC 149 light heavyweight prelim on July 21, 2012 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta. Operating in the shadows of the Urijah Faber-Renan Barao main event, Jimmo drew the curtain a mere seven seconds into his dazzling promotional debut. Jimmo entered the cage on a 16-fight winning streak and threw one right hand. It connected with disastrous consequences for Perosh. The concussive blow separated the Australian grappler from his senses and left him slumped and defenseless against the cage, allowing Jimmo to land one last standing-to-ground right hand for good measure. It was Perosh’s first loss in more than two years. “I just went at him,” Jimmo said afterward, “and I knew when I threw some heavy leather [that] he was going to be on the bad end of it.” Well over a decade later, Jimmo’s lightning-strike finish of Perosh still ranks as the fastest knockout in the history of the UFC light heavyweight division. The best of the rest:
UFC Fight Night 13 April 2, 2008 | Broomfield, Colorado Irvin vaporized the Nebraskan in the first round of their light heavyweight showcase at the Broomfield Event Center in suburban Denver. Alexander clocked out just eight seconds into Round 1. After a customary glove touch, Irvin stepped back, gathered his momentum and blasted his unsuspecting counterpart with a Superman punch. Alexander tumbled to the canvas in a semi-conscious state, at which point he was met with a series of fight-ending blows from “The Sandman.” It was the only sub-minute finish of Irvin’s 29-fight career.
UFC on ESPN 56 May 11, 2024 | St. Louis Ulberg dismissed the Saekson Muay Thai product in the first round of their light heavyweight feature at the Enterprise Center. Menifield packed his bags a cool 12 seconds into Round 1. Ulberg decked the Los Angeles native with a two-punch combination along the fence, allowed him to return to his feet and unleashed his hands yet again. A sweeping left hook from the burgeoning City Kickboxing star planted Menifield on the mat a second time and prompted referee Nick Berens to call for the stoppage.
UFC 202 Aug. 20, 2016 | Las Vegas Johnson blew away the venerable Brazilian in the first round of their light heavyweight co-main event at T-Mobile Arena. Finished for the first time in more than 14 years, Teixeira met his end 13 seconds into Round 1. Providing support for the Conor McGregor-Nate Diaz headliner, Johnson answered the former Shooto Brazil champion’s aggression with violent punching power. A ringing right uppercut split Teixeira’s defenses, had spit flying and sent the longtime Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt crashing to the floor. Two hammerfists on the out-cold Teixeira reaffirmed what everyone already knew: The fight was over.
UFC 163 Aug. 3, 2013 | Rio de Janeiro Perosh cast aside the former M-1 Global champion and “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 8 finalist with punches in their light heavyweight prelim at HSBC Arena. It was over in just 14 seconds. The 2011 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Fighting World Championships gold medalist ate a gorgeous right cross and retreated to the ground, but he found no safe haven there. Perosh pounced on his fallen opponent and pounded away with right hands until referee Mario Yamasaki decided he had seen enough. “The Hippo” pocketed a $50,000 “Knockout of the Night” bonus for his efforts. Magalhaes was subsequently released by the UFC.