Best knockout of 2011: Anderson Silva front kicks Vitor Belfort at UFC 126

by Geno Mrosko on Jan 1, 2012 5:10 PM EST in UFC Bonuses and Awards

Anderson Silva (right) lands a front kick straight to the face of Vitor Belfort (left) at UFC 126 on Feb. 5, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo via Heavy.com.

Earlier this month, we here at MMAmania.com embarked on a quest to determine the best of the best in the year 2011. Naturally, that includes knockouts because really, what's better than a good old fashion separation of man and senses?

There were plenty of worthy contenders but the ultimate winner was the man widely considered to be the pound-for-pound greatest fighter of all time, UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, and his front kick to the face knockout of Vitor Belfort back at UFC 126 on Feb. 5, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It took "The Spider" less than a round to unload one of his long limbs and feed into "The Phenom's" foot fetish with a perfectly placed kick. It was brilliant devastation to say the least.

Silva's incredible kick was nearly beat out by an unlikely contender and fellow Brazilian. See exactly who, as well as the full results of our poll for the best knockout of 2011, after the jump.

Poll results:

Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort -- 579 votes
Cairo Rocha vs. Francisco Neves -- 533 votes
Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry -- 411 votes
Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture -- 324 votes
Marius Zaromskis vs. Bruno Carvalho -- 124 votes
John Makdessi vs. Kyle Watson -- 43 votes
Other -- 43 votes
Patricky Freire vs. Toby Imada -- 30 votes
Arthur Guseinov vs. Tyson Jeffries -- 29 votes

Remember to check out the winner for "Fight of the Year," as well, by clicking here.

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Comments

If this poll was done striaght after 141

The winner would be Johny Hendricks :)

Slappin da Bass mon.

by Rampagelangford on Jan 1, 2012 5:12 PM EST reply actions

Not so sure to be honest.

It was a great KO though and a lot of us wished for it. It may have at least got third place at the lowest.

by Cyclonejoker on Jan 1, 2012 5:14 PM EST up reply actions

I mainly say this becuase A LOT of people were happy Fitch got laid out

haha!

Slappin da Bass mon.

by Rampagelangford on Jan 1, 2012 5:16 PM EST up reply actions

Same here, I liked the Silva ko over Belfort but I was so stoked to see Fitch get put to seep.

by Cyclonejoker on Jan 1, 2012 5:24 PM EST up reply actions

It saddened me...and I don't even like Fitch

I just wanted to believe he was actually the number 2 WW…but in hindsight his biggest win was over Alves…still though!

by Starr788 on Jan 1, 2012 5:31 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I think he was the number 2 guy for sure.

No one could get past his wrestling except the number one guy. It made sense for him to be number two until he got ko’d.

by Cyclonejoker on Jan 1, 2012 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

spot on comment

You’re talking facts and he’d been able to neutralise fighters with different styles with his wrestling for a long time (plus lost once to the champ).

Who else would factually be number 2? Ellenburger or Hendrix because they may be able to KO him? Hendrix might still not be able to handle his wrestling, we didn’t see it.

Nunes DEC, Riddle KO 2, Volkmann SUB 3, DHK DEC, Castillo Sub 2, Pearson DEC, Pham KO 2, Gustaffson KO 3, Fitch DEC, Cerrone DEC, Brock TKO 2

by grapplefan on Jan 2, 2012 2:18 PM EST up reply actions

That was the right choice

It was a nasty KO

by unambig on Jan 1, 2012 5:26 PM EST reply actions

agreed

Zaromski’s was a close second for me tho

Pro Sig record:10-5
1 Month sig bet with 10th Degree Whitebelt that DJ does NOT win the FLW tournament
Sig bet with KaleJohnCox on Alves-Kamp. ALVES
Sig bet with Unambig on Sanchez-Ellenberger. SANCHEZ
Bring ABB back to Mania
Stockton Motherfuckers

by The Pride on Jan 1, 2012 5:30 PM EST up reply actions