MMAjunkie's 'Knockout of the Month' for January: You saw Paul Daley's flying-knee finish, right?

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

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

Leah Letson def. Elizabeth Phillips at Invicta FC 21

Leah Letson (4-1) started out her Invicta FC career with a bang. After eating a solid punch that had her face bruised early, Letson came back with a highlight-reel head kick that rendered UFC vet Elizabeth Phillips (5-5) defenseless. Letson even landed some additional blows for good measure, but the ref was quick to step in and call a stop to the 145-pound contest at the 1:18 mark of the opening round.

After the big debut win that added a third knockout to what is now a four-fight winning streak, Letson said she wants to get back to the cage as soon as possible – but hopes it’s after a full camp and in her natural bantamweight division.

Walt Harris def. Chase Sherman at UFC Fight Night 103

Walt Harris (9-5 MMA, 2-4 UFC) rocked Chase Sherman (9-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) in the first round, and he then finished him off in the second, all thanks to a crisp striking attack that found a dangerous rhythm early.

With a knee to the head followed by a blistering left, Harris dropped Sherman midway through the second frame, and after a follow-up hammerfist, referee Al Guinee was forced to step in and call it off at the 2:41 mark of Round 2.

Yair Rodriguez def. B.J. Penn at UFC Fight Night 103

Rising featherweight star Yair Rodriguez (9-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) made B.J. Penn’s (16-11-2 MMA, 12-10-2 UFC) comeback a short and painful one after battering the UFC Hall of Famer in a fight that wasn’t remotely competitive.

Penn survived the first round despite Rodriguez badly outclassing him, but he was saved by the referee just 24 seconds into the second round after he was flattened by a front kick and punch.

Paul Daley def. Brennan Ward at Bellator 170

Paul Daley’s (39-14-2 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) flying-knee knockout not only sent Brennan Ward (14-5 MMA, 9-5 BMMA) out on a stretcher, but it also gave him a scar that could last a lifetime.

Daley added to his long list of highlight-reel knockouts when, in the first round of his welterweight showdown with Ward, he launched a spinning-elbow attack that was followed with a perfectly timed, perfectly placed flying knee that cut Ward wide open and sent him crashing to the canvas. He was out cold upon impact, at the 2:27 mark of Round 1.

Li Jingliang def. Bobby Nash at UFC on FOX 23

Li Jingliang (12-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) wasn’t entirely unsuccessful against Bobby Nash (8-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC), but he certainly was letting Nash have his moments before capitalizing on an opening to win back-to-back fights for the first time in his UFC career.

As the clock ticked down in the second round, Jingliang shut down Nash with a knockou after catching him with a right hand, which ended the welterweight fight at the 4:45 mark of Round 2.

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The Winner: Paul Daley

Paul Daley

Daley promised to end his fight with Ward in spectacular fashion, and that’s exactly what he did when he scored the highlight-reel flying-knee knockout.

Daley connected with the fight-ending blow at the 2:27 mark of Round 1, which helped him rebound from his first loss in Bellator – Douglas Lima – this past year.

Although the two fighters vowed to stand and trade, Ward first went back on his word when he shot on Daley after the opening striking exchange.

Daley escaped Ward’s forward pressure and grappling attempts, and that’s when the setup for the finish began. Daley stumbled Ward with his trademark left hook, which forced him to retreat from the power strikes.

“Semtex” kept on the pressure, though, and he landed a combination that ended with a spinning back elbow that thumped the side of Ward’s head. Daley charged and elevated with a switch flying knee. Ward ducked into the shot and was sent backward when the knee connected. It knocked him out cold for just the second time in his MMA career.

Daley lost the title-eliminator to current Bellator welterweight champ Lima in July. But by beating Ward, he got right back near the front of the line of contenders.

“I genuinely like the guy; I hope Brennan Ward is OK after this fight,” Daley said in his post-fight interview with Jimmy Smith. “I’m looking at everybody, marquee names and champions. Rory MacDonald comes over here and thinks he can do his thing. It’s not going to happen. If he comes in this cage with me, I’m going to knock him the (expletive) out.”