Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway – two of MMA's greatest boxers – will battle for the featherweight crown at UFC 308 this Saturday.
It goes without saying that MMA is one of the toughest sports in the world, with the various disciplines taking years to perfect.
For example, the art of boxing doesn't always come naturally to mixed martial artists, with Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway representing just two who excel in that field.
And so, since both fighters know exactly how to finish a fight in style, it only makes sense to rank the top five UFC boxers.
5. Alex Pereira
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With a fluid yet explosive kickboxing style, Alex Pereira has cemented his status as one of the UFC's most prolific knockout artists.
The 37-year-old has finished four of his last seven bouts with his fists, defeating MMA legend Israel Adesanya and top contender Khalil Rountree Jr in dramatic fashion.
However, his stoppage against Sean Strickland in 2022 was perhaps the Brazilian's most devastating.
It was a perfectly timed left hook that sent the American crashing to the canvas, with Pereira proving that even after cutting himself down to 185 pounds, he still carries dynamite in both hands.
4. Conor McGregor
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Regardless of what his future holds, Conor McGregor is undoubtedly one of the most lethal punchers to grace the UFC.
Despite being completely sidelined by Floyd Mayweather in 2017, the Irishman has built a formidable legacy for himself in the octagon, with an 80 percent knockout rate in MMA's flagship organization.
His most emphatic finish, however, came against Jose Aldo in 2015, when the martial arts star walked the Brazilian onto one of his trademark left hands, stopping proceedings within the first 13 seconds.
3. Max Holloway
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In reality, Holloway's ability to hold his ground and trade with his opponents – often outplaying them in a head-to-head exchange – can largely be explained by his remarkable durability.
With almost half of his victories ending in long distance, the American can confuse his opponents by seamlessly switching stances, allowing him to land his shots from unorthodox angles.
But even considering the compelling fights throughout his illustrious career, it would be impossible to look past Holloway's death-defying finish against Justin Gaethje, who succumbed to his opponent's brutal attack at UFC 300.
2. Dustin Poirier
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At lightweight, Dustin Poirier has become one of the sport's most hateful finishers, with a whopping 16 stoppage victories.
Known for his methodical approach to MMA, 'The Diamond' has combined his technical prowess with a ruthless killer instinct, most notably securing back-to-back knockouts against McGregor.
But perhaps his most polished performance, you could argue, came against Gaethje in 2018, when Poirier landed a sharp left hand before following the shot with a blistering combination.
1. Ilia Topuria
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Undefeated featherweight king Ilia Topuria is without a doubt one of MMA's best boxers of all time.
The Spaniard possesses perhaps the most refined kickboxing style in the UFC roster and always finds a way to create openings with his sensational footwork.
After all, he proved against legendary fighter Alexander Volkanovski – a decorated boxer himself – that, even when facing the most experienced operators, the 27-year-old has the power to turn off his opponent's lights at any moment.
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