Who has the most KOs in UFC history?

Roughly 32% of all Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bouts are decided by KO or TKO. This means that there is a real field for skilled fighters who can secure a win through this particular method to shine, but perhaps unsurprisingly, the record for most KO/TKO wins is somewhat capped.

The grueling nature of the UFC and the toll it takes on fighters means that there are seldom more than 10 KO career wins per fighter. The outlier as of the time of writing this is Matt Brown, who has 13 KO/TKO finishes, and the only other fighter to be a close second is Max Holloway with 12.

Who has secured the most UFC KO/TKOs?

Currently, Derrick Lewis is the record holder for the most UFC KO/TKOs results. Fittingly dubbed "The Black Beast," Lewis has 43 fights in total, and he has finished 24 by knockout, making him the most prolific such fighter.

In other words, Lewis is winning 55% of his fights by KO, or he closes every second fight by rendering his opponent helpless. Lewis had a rough upbringing, but he showed interest in structured combat sports from an early age.

He started training in boxing at the age of 17, but was involved in an aggravated assault shortly after graduating from high school. He was given probation and went on to play for Kilgore College on a full football scholarship, but ended up violating his probation and spent three and a half years out of a five-year sentence.

After his release, Lewis went to train under the tutelage of George Foreman, an Olympic gold medalist and two-time world heavyweight champion. Lewis, however, chose to forego boxing and focused on mixed martial arts, entering the LSAMMA in 2009 and then transitioning to Bellator in 2010.

He went on a 6-0 run in the promotion, and came close to fighting Thiago Santos at the time, but the fight had to be scrapped due to an injury on the Brazilian’s side. Lewis has been competing in the UFC since 2013 and most recently fought at UFC Freedom 250, an exclusive event held at the White House.

Even though Lewis’ track record is far from perfect (24-14-0, W-L-D), he remains one of the most capable and lethal fighters in the UFC, active to this very day despite the fact that he is now well into the prime of his fighting career at 41.

Top UFC fighters by KO/TKO record

Can anyone challenge Lewis’ UFC KO track record?

Sitting at 24 KOs, Lewis is safe in his record, and there are no close seconds for the time being. We have taken a look at the top 10 fighters in terms of overall KOs to help figure out if anyone is taking a swing at Lewis’ achievement any time soon.

Right now, Anderson Silva is the closest contender to even catch up to Lewis’ record, but this is very unlikely to happen. Silva is all but retired, and he closed his career with three losses to Israel Adesanya and Jared Cannonier in 2019, and to Uriah Hall in 2020.

He has not fought since. Matt Brown, another talented fighter with a decent record, has not fought since 2023, and he is unlikely to come back and close the gap.

In other words, Lewis is comfortably in the lead as the athlete to have achieved the most wins by KO, and his record is not going away any time soon. Even if someone manages to one-up him, a drastic change at the top is very unlikely, with Lewis remaining a fixture.

Lewis fought twice in 2026 (so far) and has no other announced bouts.

What is the difference between a KO and a TKO?

Although a minor point, it’s important to understand how KO and TKO work in the UFC. In basic terms, KO is arguably the "more satisfying" outcome to watch, as an opponent is taken down and usually rendered unconscious for a period of time.

The TKO is a judgment made by a referee or a physician who assesses the condition a fighter is in after they appear to be visibly unable to continue. Both outcomes contribute to a winning fighter’s record regardless.

Conclusion: The Black Beast makes history

Derrick Lewis is without a doubt the most prolific UFC knockout artist, having achieved a record that few other fighters are even coming close to.

His only rival is Anderson Silva, who retired more than six years ago and is unlikely to improve on his record.

Even if a successful contender emerged, Lewis will forever be praised for his long career, fighting well into his late 30s, and securing one KO after the next.

Most UFC FAQs

Who has the most knockouts in UFC history?

Derrick Lewis. With 24 KOs, Lewis is the world’s most successful UFC fighter when it comes to this metric.

Who has the second-most KOs in the UFC?

Anderson Silva is the UFC fighter with the most KOs after Lewis. He has 22 KOs in his career, but he will not be improving on this record, most likely. Silva has not fought since 2026 and is largely seen as retired from UFC fights.

Who has secured the fastest KO in the UFC?

Jorge Masvidal holds the title for the fastest KO in the history of the UFC, finishing Ben Askren in a five-second bout at UFC 239 in July 2019.

Does TKO still count as a KO?

Yes, absolutely. A TKO is the same as KO, and it is always scored and added towards the fighter’s overall KO track record.

Can Lewis KO record be surpassed?

Yes, a UFC contender may emerge at some stage and overtake Lewis, but most of the top fighters in terms of KO are either retired or still a long way off. Crucially, a fighter may be highly successful but rely on another mode of victory, such as submission or simply out-punching their opponent.

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