Spinning attacks are a danger that carries high risk and high reward, as a fighter can benefit from an incredible highlight reel.
The Spinning Back Elbow is a strike which very rarely succeeds; however, fighters are gradually knocking their opponents out with this very move.
Particularly this year, we have seen some stunning elbow knockouts which have made spectators and viewers go completely mental.
After the last episode of Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 9, here are five mixed martial artists who have made this strike a common finishing move.
Juan Diaz – DWCS S9 E10
Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) always brings out the best future potential and prospects in the UFC.
Especially when a fighter delivers a showstopping performance which impresses the UFC President.
Former UFC Champions like Jamahal Hill and Sean O’Malley have made a name for themselves through the TV show.
But, one particular fighter has very recently put himself as a one-to-watch in the organisation after a jaw-dropping moment.
Juan Diaz fought on the show after reigning dominance in the Lux Fight League, despite only having five KO/TKO wins from 15 professional victories.
The Peruvian’s opponent was Kwon Won Il, who came from ONE Championship and earned a total of 12 knockouts in his career.
Right at the end of round two, Diaz perfectly timed a spinning elbow, sending Won Il to his back and knocking him out cold.
The UFC APEX went into frenzy after this fascinating finish, making the debut even more anticipated for ‘Pegajoso’.
Sergio Pettis – PFL Champions Series Dubai
At the beginning of October, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) was preparing for its biggest event of the year.
The main focus was on the rematch between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes for the Lightweight title.
Eleven bouts took place in Dubai, and only two of those battles ended with a stoppage win.
The second finish of the night was the most emphatic one, which may have produced the best highlight reel on the card.
Former UFC fighter and Bellator Champion, Sergio Pettis, was aiming to revive his incredible form with a second consecutive win.
‘The Phenom’ faced Magomed Magomedov, who had previously challenged for the Bellator Bantamweight title.
The Russian had never been knocked out in his 25-fight career, making it a hard task for the 32-year-old.
With 30 seconds left of the second round, Pettis landed a wicked spinning back elbow before finishing Magomedov with one punch to produce a stunning knockout.
Diego Lopes – Noche UFC
In the last Noche UFC event, UFC 306, only two finishes were produced, despite showcasing some entertaining battles.
In this particular fight night in San Antonio, Texas, plenty more stoppage victories were witnessed.
But the headliner attracted the most attention with former title challenger, Diego Lopes, trying to return to the win column.
The #2 Featherweight contender faced fellow Brazilian and quick-rising prospect, Jean Silva, in a guaranteed war.
Lopes is a well-balanced mixed martial artist, posing a threat with his striking and submissions, hence why he fought for the title.
However, unlike the 30-year-old, Silva was predominantly a knockout artist and had never been stopped in his MMA career.
The Manaus-born fighter dominated the first round, but struggled against the Brazilian prospect during the second round.
That’s when Lopes pulled out the miracle shot to land a spinning elbow, knocking down Silva before eventually stopping the fight by TKO.
Carlos Prates – UFC 319
The UFC made its return to Chicago for the first time in six years, hoping to give the city an unforgettable fight night.
While Du Plessis vs Chimaev for the Middleweight belt was the main attraction, there were plenty of exciting fights to watch at UFC 319.
One included a Welterweight matchup between Carlos Prates and Geoff Neal, both recognised as elite strikers.
This would be an interesting battle, which saw ‘The Nightmare’ try to redeem his first UFC loss.
Before his first defeat, the Brazilian was on a KO run in the UFC, stopping every opponent he had faced.
Neal was a similar fighter in terms of stopping his enemies when victorious, winning his previous fight by first-round TKO at UFC 308.
When the two strikers squared off in the Octagon, both were landing heavy punches to send a stunning message.
At the last moments of round one, Prates perfectly clipped ‘Handz of Steel’ with a spinning back elbow, leaving Neal flat on his back.
Lerone Murphy – UFC 319
Having one spinning elbow knockout in an event is bizarre enough, but having two in a row is even crazier.
After the significant moment from Prates vs Neal, the co-main event was prepared for three possible rounds of non-stop action.
The unbeaten English fighter, Lerone Murphy, had won his last five bouts by decision, not being considered the finishing type.
Compare that to his opponent, Aaron Pico, who was making his UFC debut after becoming a star in Bellator.
‘The Miracle’ had seven KO/TKO triumphs in his MMA career from 16 professional victories.
Therefore, the Manchester mixed martial artist had to fight aggressively since the 29-year-old earned nine knockouts from 13 wins.
While having some wild highlight reels in Bellator, the American did suffer some brutal knockout losses, potentially giving the #6 contender a chance to claim a stoppage win.
In a high-paced battle, Murphy timed a spinning elbow with excellence as Pico was left to the ground unconscious in the first round.