Every once in a while combat sports deliver some of the most exciting moments in all of sports history. From Conor McGregor‘s 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo to Demetrious Johnson‘s flying armbar, the examples are many. If you stray away from the mainstream channels, there are still relatively unknown fighters giving highlight reel-worthy moments. The internet is littered with many such moments. However, there are some moves that are a notch above the rest, including the rolling-thunder kick finish.
The elusive rolling-thunder kick stands out as one of the most impressive forms of knockout. A video on Twitter showed two fighters in a clinch, with one trying to pin his opponent to the ropes. His opponent broke free and stepped forward and to the left, creating space between the two, and threw a right hook, which missed its mark. The first fighter countered as his opponent ducked out of his way.
ROLLING THUNDER KICK????? pic.twitter.com/SP4J9iK6ZL
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) July 10, 2023
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As the first fighter turned in an attempt to square up to his opponent, he lowered his guard with his hands at waist level. What followed was one of the most glorious and flamboyant knockouts in the history of combat sports.
The second fighter performed a forward side roll in the air, rotating his body and striking his opponent with his left heel, successfully executing a rolling-thunder kick. The strike knocked his opponent out cold onto his back. Unsurprisingly, fans had a variety of reactions to this once-in-a-blue-moon knockout.
Fans react to the spectacular knockout
Fight fans were impressed with the stunning knockout:
One Twitter user compared the fighter to john Wick:
john wick
— bulletproofboulevard (@Wolf_369) July 11, 2023
Another referenced Justin Gaethje‘s famous rolling thunder kick on Dustin Poirier:
Gaethje approves
— Waveman (@Wavem4nn) July 10, 2023
One user used it to fire shots at the UFC:
Probs still wouldn’t get a performance bonus if he did it in the UFC
— Noah Linskey (@NLH2003) July 10, 2023
One user simply wrote:
Lethal🔥🔥
— Sam Firby (@SamFirbyy) July 11, 2023
Another thought it was humiliating:
Finna retire if I ever got styled on this hard whilst getting KO’d
— Failsafe🦇❄️ (@JustRodney_) July 10, 2023
One user thought it was the best kick they had ever seen:
the best kick i have ever seen
— Xes (@XSocialMedium) July 10, 2023
One fan found it magnificent.
Magnificent
— ACS🍀 (@FUCK_THE_CROWN) July 11, 2023
Another was astounded.
Duuude
— pro hater (@HijoDel7) July 10, 2023
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One user commented on the lethality of Japanese fighters.
These Japanese fighter are actual killers💀💀💀💀
— Modelo negro🇭🇳🐉 (@wedork1234) July 10, 2023
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Fans were impressed with the skill and confidence of the young fighter. He was calm despite his opponent trying to impose his size and lean on him in an attempt to tire him out. He used his agility to knock his opponent out in a spectacular fashion. What are your thoughts on the KO? Do you have any other recommendations like this? Let us know in the comments section below.
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