After an eventful month filled with thrilling MMA action, MMA Junkie has compiled the top knockouts from September 2026. Below are the five contenders, presented in the order they occurred, along with the winner of MMA Junkie’s Knockout of the Month award for September.
Be sure to cast your vote at the end of the post to let us know if you agree with our selection.
Nominees:
– Losene Keita defeated Muhammad Naimov at UFC Fight Night 287
– Axel Sola defeated Fares Ziam at UFC Fight Night 287
– Sean King III defeated Jessie Rosas at Noche UFC
– Arman Tsarukyan defeated Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331
Winner:
Sean Sharaf claimed a stunning upset victory over the highly touted Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson at UFC 331. As an enormous 11-to-1 underdog, Sharaf knocked out Steveson in just 12 seconds, shattering the latter’s undefeated aura.
The tension between the fighters escalated before the bout, as Sharaf (5-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) brought up old 2019 sexual assault allegations against Steveson (4-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC). Although no criminal charges were ever filed against Steveson or another University of Minnesota wrestler involved due to lack of evidence, the comments fueled Steveson to adopt a villainous persona during the UFC 331 pre-fight events. He was met with boos from the L.A. crowd and appeared alongside Jon Jones as he entered the octagon, eventually leaving the arena before the official announcement by Bruce Buffer.
Sharaf’s 12-second knockout ranks as the third fastest finish in UFC heavyweight history, marking his first UFC win after two prior defeats. For Steveson, it was the first loss in his young MMA career that started last year.
This article was originally published on MMA Junkie: MMA Junkie’s Knockout of the Month for September: Gable gets got – in 12 seconds.
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Fan Take: This shocking upset reminds fight fans that no competitor is invincible, adding unpredictability and excitement to the sport. It also highlights how personal rivalries and mental games outside the cage can dramatically influence the outcome of high-profile matchups.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
