UFC's 'Top 50 Moments of 2012' (Pt. 1)

With Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) action nearly in the books for 2012, fight fans have the chance to reflect on what was a solid year inside the Octagon.

There were knockouts, submissions, triumphs, disappointments, comebacks, new champions and much, much more over the past 12 months. And there's still one more event to go -- UFC 155: "Dos Santos vs. Velasquez 2," which goes down on Dec. 29, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The past year has been unforgettable, but as mixed martial arts (MMA) fans, we're always looking forward to what's next on the agenda; we rarely take time to appreciate the great moments that have passed us by.

Before shutting the door on 2012 for good, FUEL TV's "UFC Tonight" took a moment to look back and give credit to the best of the year that was, counting down the "Top 50 Moments of 2012."

Part one of the year-end special aired Tuesday night, naming moments 50-26. Take a look:

50. Pat Barry knocks out Shane del Rosario at TUF 16 Finale
49. Issei Tamura knocks out Tiequan Zhang at UFC 144
48. Rich Franklin decisions Wanderlei Silva at UFC 147
47. Michael McDonald knocks out Miguel Torres at UFC 145
46. Jimi Manuwa destroys Kyle Kingsbury's face at UFC on FUEL TV 5
45. Dustin Poirier submits Max Holloway with a triangle-armbar at UFC 143
44. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira submits Dave Herman at UFC 153
43. Cain Velasquez bloodies up Antonio Silva at UFC 146
42. Dan Hardy knocks out Duane Ludwig at UFC 146
41. Michael Chiesa becomes the Ultimate Fighter by submitting Al Iaquinta
40. Charles Oliveira submits Eric Wisely with a calf slicer
39. Cub Swanson knocks out Charles Oliveira at UFC 152
38. Joe Lauzon's comeback victory over Jamie Varner at UFC on Fox 4
37. Rory MacDonald beats up Che Mills at UFC 145
36. Lavar Johnson knocks out Pat Barry at UFC on Fox 3
35. Jamie Varner returns, beats Edson Barboza at UFC 146
34. Mike Swick returns and knocks out DaMarques Johnson at UFC on Fox 4
33. Daron Cruickshank head kicks Henry Martinez at UFC on Fox 5
32. Roy Nelson's one-punch knockout of Dave Herman at UFC 146
31. Stefan Struve finishes Stipe Miocic at UFC on FUEL TV 5
30. Brian Stann knocks out Alessio Sakara at UFC on FUEL TV 2
29. Brad Pickett scores a one-punch knockout of Yves Jabouin at UFC on FUEL TV 5
28. Siyar Bahadurzada makes Paulo Thiago plank at UFC on FUEL TV 2
27. Stephen Thompson wonder kicks Dan Stittgen at UFC 145
26. Demetrious Johnson wins the inaugural flyweight championship at UFC 152

Part two of the UFC's "Top 50 Moments of 2012" on Tues., Dec. 25, 2012, on FUEL TV, and will name moments 25 to one.

The following week on Jan. 1, 2013, a one-hour special will air featuring all 50 moments.

Do you agree with the first half of the list? What moment do you think will be number one on next week's episode? And what has been your top UFC moment of 2012?

Let's hear it, Maniacs!