Although fighters love to head hunt, the bodies of their opponents are often exposed ready to be pummeled. So here are the Top 5 examples of MMA fighters working the body to finish their bouts.
5) UFC 141: Brock Lesnar vs Overeem
After Brock Lesnar underwent surgery in May of 2011 to remove 12 inches of his colon due to his spell of diverticulitis, he was adamant on making a return to the Octagon claiming he felt like a new man post-surgery.
The man to welcome him however would be none other than Dutch striker Alistair Overeem who had a reputation for punishing body strikes which raised a few eyebrows in terms of the matchmaking. Throughout the round Overeem punished Lesnar’s recently operated midsection with a barrage of knees before closing the contest with a brutal kick to the liver which crumbled the former UFC champ and sent him into a four-year retirement.
4) UFC 53: David Loiseau vs Charles McCarthy
After unleashing a spinning back at the start of round one, David Loiseau would find himself grounded by Charles McCarthy who wanted nothing to do with ‘The Crow’s’ striking pedigree. After surviving McCarthy’s choke attempts, Loiseau managed to scramble to top position and also get back to his feet to resume his flashy striking onslaught.
Come round two Loiseau continued to punish McCarthy on the feet and on the ground until he landed a perfectly timed spinning back kick to McCarthy’s body which caused the grappler to wince in pain and was followed up a flying knee giving the Canadian fighter the sensational victory.
3) UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Dodson: Anthony Pettis vs Donald Cerrone
Penned as a number one contender bout, fan favorite strikers Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis were matched up in a bout that on paper could only result in fireworks.
The second the round started Pettis unleashed his offense on Cerrone’s head with a series of punches and flashy capoeira inspired kicks while Cerrone continued to stalk him at range. Nearing the halfway point Pettis switched his attacks to the body before sealing the deal with one last liver kick at 2:35 which crumbled Cowboy to the mat earning himself a title shot.
2) Pancrase Truth 6: Bas Rutten Jason Delucia III
When you think of liver shot one of the first names to pop into your head is UFC Hall of Famer Bas Rutten. Already holding a 2-0 record over Kung Fu stylist Jason Delucia, Bas would find himself in a trilogy fight with him at Pancrase Truth 6 in 1996.
Due to the rules of Pancrase not allowing punches to the head, Rutten made a name for himself with his punishing body attacks and this bout was no different.
Although Delucia kept managing to get up after being dropped several times by Rutten’s punches and kicks to the body, Rutten finally sealed the deal with a vicious left hook at 8:48 of round one which according to Rutten actually broke his liver.
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1) Pride 26: Cro Cop vs Heath Herring
Although best known for his amazing high kicks, Mirko Cro Cop could also deliver crushing kicks to his opponent’s body as seen in this seventh MMA fight against The Texas Crazy Horse Heath Herring.
Despite charging at the Croation like a mad bull, Heath Herring was swiftly outmaneuvered by the kickboxing specialist in his mad attempts to get the bout to the mat.
Clearly tired of playing this cat and mouse game, Mirko Cro Cop unleashed a vicious left kick to the liver Heath Herring which dropped him immediately to the mat adding to the long and impressive highlight reel of Cro Cop.
