MMAjunkie's 'Knockout of the Month' for December: Which sick head kick is the top pick?

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMAjunkie takes a look at the best knockouts from December. Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMAjunkie’s “Knockout of the Month” award for December.

At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting on your choice.

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The nominees

Leandro Ataides def. Mohamed Ali at ONE Championship 50

There are few things in MMA like a flying knee finish, and Leandro Ataides (9-3) landed a big one in his middleweight showdown with Mohamed Ali (10-11) for his first ONE Championship victory in more than two years.

After going on a three-fight skid with the promotion, Ataides had pressure on his shoulders to score a win. He channeled that in the second round of his fight with Ali when he jumped up the middle with a flying knee strike that caught his opponent on the chin and put him down for the stoppage.

Gerald Harris def. Aaron Cobb at Legacy FC 63

Gerald Harris (23-5) and Aaron Cobb (6-4) were supposed to face off at welterweight. Instead, after a strange series of events in the days leading up to the fight, the men stepped into the cage for a heavyweight bout.

Harris came out strong, pushing Cobb into the cage and quickly proved weight was no issue, picking the bigger man up off the canvas. Cobb wrapped his legs around Harris’ waist, but it wasn’t a good defense to what was coming. Harris leaped into the air and drove Cobb into the canvas, knocking him out with a massive slam.

Lando Vannata def. John Makdessi at UFC 206

Lando Vannata (9-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) followed up his memorable UFC debut against Tony Ferguson with a knockout that will live on UFC highlight reels for years when he stopped John Makdessi (14-6 MMA, 7-6) with an incredible spinning wheel kick finish in the first round of their lightweight bout.

Vannata peppered Makdessi with low kicks to start the fight, and it didn’t take long for Vannata to get a read on his reactions. He went low, then quickly spun and attacked high with the kick. The moment it landed, Makdessi collapsed and the fight was called.

Donald Cerrone def. Matt Brown at UFC 206

Donald Cerrone (32-7 MMA, 19-4 UFC) and Matt Brown (20-16 MMA, 13-10 UFC) were deep into a close welterweight battle that seemed like a nightmare to score, and that’s when “Cowboy” decided to make it easy on the judges.

A left high kick from Cerrone caught Brown squarely on the jaw, dropping him unconscious on the mat early in the third round. He landed the technique several times during in the fight, but didn’t stop until he connected with the perfect shot to put “The Immortal” out cold.

Alex Garcia def. Mike Pyle at UFC 207

Mike Pyle (27-13-1 MMA, 10-8 UFC) tried to use his technique to contain the threat of Alex Garcia’s (14-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) power. But just a momentary slip cost him his consciousness less than four minutes into the opening round.

After winging heavy hooks seemingly without regard in the welterweight bout, Garcia found his range and laid out Pyle with a right hook in the first round to seal a highlight-reel win.

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The Winner: Lando Vannata

As soon as Vannata’s kick landed on Makdessi’s chin, the fight was over.

All that was left was for Makdessi to pitch backward like a felled tree, and for Vannata to stroll nonchalantly away, secure in the knowledge that he’d just won a knockout victory just 100 seconds into his second UFC fight.

For Vannata, the finishing blow came as part of a picture-perfect striking sequence. After a brief feeling-out period to open the bout, Vannata walked Makdessi toward the fence, touched his lead leg with one foot, then spun into a wheel kick with the other, slamming his heel home on the unguarded chin of Makdessi.

After that, it was all over but the formalities. Makdessi tilted back and fell to the floor, seemingly unconscious before he landed. Vannata stood calmly by and watched him, as if fully aware that there was no need to rush in and finish the man off. Makdessi’s motionless form on the mat confirmed that hypothesis, and with that the fight was over at the 1:40 mark of Round 1.

“I practiced that kick about 2,000 times in camp and I knew it was going to work,” Vannata said. “I was planning on using it and I knew he couldn’t stop it. I expected it to be successful. I’m ready for whoever they want to give me next.”