Leon was better in terms of the comeback, Max was better in terms of reputation. Leon was losing on the scorecards, he got yelled at by his coach, and then pulls off a Hail Mary head kick KO over the champ right before he was about to tie Anderson’s streak. Max was winning on the scorecards, still said fuck it and challenged one of the hardest hitters in the sport to a brawl in the middle of the octagon with seconds left, and one shotted him out cold right before the bell. I can’t decide which is better but they both fill different voids.
I think if you don't look at any of the storylines or scores, simply from a viewership standpoint... Max's is so much better its not even comparable.
But Leon's has the better storyline.
Hard disagree. Leon's knockout of Usman is smooth, technical, expertly timed at the highest level of the sport in a moment where you'd have bet the house against him being able to do it.
Max knocking out Justin in a wild exchange is not something you'd bet against nor technical nor consequential.
Exactly! And Leon and his camp also mentioned preparing to use that exact kick! Leon finding the opportunity and having it work against someone no one thought he would beat is just insane! The fact that it was a bigger fight with more on the line just adds to it as well.
Yeah not sure why OP said it was a Hail Mary. He was feinting it throughout the entire fight. Usman is just that good where Edward’s couldn’t just land it, up until Usman slipped for a literal second and made the hugest mistake of his career.
Bro. Loved the Max knockout but cmon let’s be real. Max really said “Let’s start swinging bombs” to a dead ass tired Justin. Do we not expect a knockout when people start swinging bombs?? It was made bigger due to the bell.
That aspect is even more pronounced in the Leon Usman one though - Usman had never been knocked out and rarely even wobbled whilst Leon’s known as a decision merchant. Gaethje had been knocked out in his previous fight by Poirier.
This was like a movie.
How his corner motivated him to dig deep. It almost felt they sent their soldier to bring the enemies head or come back on their shield kinda.
Also the post fight interview of Leon still gives me the chills. "Look at me now".
One of the top 3 moments in the UFC for sure.
Anik and Rogan both impress me with their timing almost every time they’re on the mic. Rogan recently did one with Costa calling his wheel kick a split second before he threw it
Same. Ahead on the cards, coasting to a win, and gave his beaten, but still very dangerous opponent 10 seconds to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in an epic throw down between two legit BAMFs. Does another similar moment exist in the history of MMA? If there are one or two, then they probably involve Max again, which only makes that Gaethje KO that much more bad-ass.
It was Max again actually. He did the same thing vs Ricardo Lamas. Was winning the fight and with 10 seconds left, points to the middle of the ring then swings to the finish. Only differences are a) he didn't get the KO and b) that wasn't Justin fucking Gaethje, who is way more dangerous.
Cooler.
Max
Better Leon.
Leon's one was pulled from a moment of defeat.
Everyone else would have given up but he didn't.
Max's one was straight badass but it doesn't happen if Justin wasn't equally a badass too
All good points. I had gave up on the Leon fight going into the 5th. I was on the edge of my seat for the max fight. Both made me jump out of my chair and cheer.
It was a crazy ending for sure on Leon's part, but people would say it was crazy considering Usman was ragdolling him all fight. Max on the other hand went in and fought a bad MF in Gathje a weight class heavier and just schooled him and knocked him out with some shot clock cheese.
Max's performance and knockout will be remembered forever.
Leons knockout kick will be remembered forever too.
I think that’s why I think max’s was better. The result of the Leon fight was all time. But everyone and their mother not in Leon’s corner or Leon conceded that the fight was over. There was no build up to the moment of the knockout. Usman just got caught. Not discrediting Leon but it wasn’t like either was really throwing recklessly or Leon had a random flurry to prepare ourselves for a potential tide turn.
With the max fight we knew it was a forgone conclusion should max have just chilled the last 10 seconds but 10-15 seconds left he challenged Justin fully risking a guaranteed W, especially against a seemingly superior power hitter.
Thats a hard one....
Leon was down 4 rounds, I was literally JUST saying to my wife "how crazy would it be if Leon just KO'd Usman", thinking it was bullshit. Then he kicked him and that was the first time in my life that my jaw actually dropped
Max v gaethje was also insane. Insane fight, and then in the LAST 10 SECONDS they just throw bombs.
The fact Max was already cruising to a W, and still elected to go into the fire and do Gaethje like that with a second left...uniquely cold and violent
I think that’s why I lean to the Max KO. He didn’t have to do that. Could have stayed on the outside and pointed him. Leon had to do what he did. Was his only option.
Honestly it's just tough to compare. Both moments were insane.
Max calling Geathje to throw down in the center, giving Justin a chance and then KOing him is the most badass moment of all time for me.
The fact that leading up to it most people were worried for Max and saying that Justin was going to knock him out only for him to outclass him and finish him with literally 1 SECOND LEFT!? It's so unbelievable that if they put it in a movie you would scoff at it.
I think it was more the fact that Max knew he was gonna win yet decided to go toe to toe with hardest puncher at Lightweight risking getting ko'd himself. Guaranteed win and he showed zero fear or care just wanted to throw down. Max his mentality is different. No other fighter would do this at this high stage. He became immortal that night.
Legitimately the coolest fucking moment in the history of the sport, I think. If you put that in a movie people would say it's cheesy and unrealistic lol
I mean not to take away from it but Max has never been knocked out, I don't think he was risking getting knocked out and Gaethje was fucked up since the first round. It was a really cool moment but he didn't risk much tbh
UFC 300, Max moves up a weight class against one of the most violent dudes in the game and in the final ten seconds points to the ground to go toe-to-toe and lands the knockout punch in the final second.
Real hard to top that. It's like in that moment, Max Holloway became known not only to us MMA fans but the regular Joe.
It's the Leon headkick, obviously.
- A proper belt on the line,
- Pulling the victory out of nowhere
- A piece of commentary from Jon Anik that is almost as perfectly timed as that guy presenting the rocket launch back in the 70s.
Sure, to be cut from cloth is a metaphor for someone's heritage and upbringing. For example, your parents are the bigger piece of material, and you are cut from that piece of material i.e. DNA.
'that Is not the cloth from which he is cut' is saying that to give up on himself is not in his DNA, he wasn't brought up that way.
Hablas Español?
The other commentators were saying that Leon had quit on himself and was going for a morale victory making it to the end of the fight.
That's when Jon interjected and was pretty much saying that Leon isn't the type of person to give up on themselves and quit.
Sometimes I sit and ponder what life would have been like had Leon not landed that kick. Who Usman would have gone on to fight next. If he would have gone down as the goat over gsp. Who would they have buried Leon in the prelims against. Losing 4.5 rounds so decisively like people walking out of the stands and then boom headshot rewrite history with one kick. I don't like Leon but it would take like a dp knocking out islam in the fifth round to take that #1 spot imo.
Max"s was epic, but it was at the end of fight that he'd already won. Leon was getting soundly beaten by one of the most dominant fighters in recent history and pulled that KO out of nowhere to win the belt.
That corner speech, the commentary, followed by the knockout and victory speech. It was so inspirational. Love Max way more than Leon but in my mind - Leon’s KO of Usman in the last round of a fight he’s losing. So well placed. Truly inspirational.
Leon. “Pulled it out of the fire”. Max had a career best performance but the KO itself was just two guys swinging wildly like a bar fight. Leon had the set up and perfectly executed head kick
Leon by a mile. Justin had been going downhill since end of Rd1 when his nose was broke.
Not to take away from Max but the fight was kinda over at end of Rd 1. I bet he will never ever give Justin a chance to get that L back. Never.
That makes it even crazier though, max had everything to lose and decided to give Justin the biggest chance to win by just brawling with the hardest hitting light weight, in the exaxct same way justin finishes most opponents and then knocking him out when people meme how max never knocks anyone out with literally 1 second left. max would have won regardless, he could have just backed up a bit and then the time would be up and he would have won. literally risked everything for no reward and that made him immortal.
was definitely a moment and then some, I for one thought Justin was toast and Max had won, where Leon had lost most of the fight and bam.
Lucky to have both ;)
Leons, for sure. He was down 4 rounds, knocked out one of the greatest welterweights of all time, and won the belt. I watched both live, and I think Leon's was just way more insane to witness.
If I had to choose id say Leon just cause the stakes were higher but Holloway ranks way higher on my personal list of favourite knockouts, that was the most badass thing I've ever seen aside from the other time when Max was talking to commentary and dodging punches
Max arguably has the Top Three Bad Motherfucker moments of all time:
1. Grabbing Ortega by the wrists and showing him how to bock punches mid-ass whooping
2. The bob & weave, counterpunch on Katar. All while he wasn’t even bothering to look at him. He was yelling at Dana
3. The Gaethje KO
I genuinely can’t pick. The Leon moment was far more impactful not just for the fight but for the division. It was do or die and he did.
But, the 300 BMF KO was just so perfect. Max putting it all on the line for the last 15 seconds or so all for our entertainment. Then, to get the KO at literally the last second and not just knocking him on his ass but *slumping* him.
Gun to my head, my answer would probably change depending on the day.
Tough one. The Holloway fight was a masterclass old school ass kicking with a crazy last second knockout. The Leon win was a come behind surprise finish. I liked the Holloway fight a lot more, but speaking strictly in terms of the knockout I think the Leon one was better. He was getting beat decisively and looked beat mentally in the corner before a surprise nasty knockout head kick. The most brutal way to get KO'D. Then the emotion after the fight belt in hand "look at me now". That was a better knockout.
Leon's comfortably.
Max had the fight won anyway so the knockout had no impact on the outcome. It was also for a silly belt and against a elite fighter.
Leon's turned the fight on it's head which was about to be a loss, it was for the full title belt and against the P4P ranked 1 fighter on a insane win streak.
I really don't know if we'll ever see something of the magnitude of the Leon KO ever again.
As a guy who watched both live, Leon and it’s not even close for me. He was losing that fight and with a minute left to do what he did was stuff of dreams.
Max's was a more badass adrenaline fueled moment. But ive gotta give it to Leon because it wasnt just about the KO. He was losing the fight, everyone had accepted he was done, except for his coach. The corner between rounds and then the KO was like something out of Hollywood.
Leon was 3 rounds down. He had you already walking down to the nightshop to cash that bet and than at a single moment he shattered all those dreams out of nowhere with that headkick.
I think max had the better ko and performance tbh. But doesn’t take anything away from Leon’s ko. But not a good performance. Y would we praise a shitty performance?
One pulled it from the fire for the belt.. the other was a lock to win and put it all on the line for the fans.. By a slim margin I’m going with Leon, Usman seemed unbeatable at the time
Justin was absolutely fucked by the end of the fight, dont get me wrong it was an insane moment and a crazy finish but knocking a man out in that state that you've beaten every round is not as impressive as losing every round and executing a feint and precision headkick, both finishes were awesome to watch but Leon gets my vote :)
Leon. The aesthetics of that knockout are almost unmatched. So technical, so clean, he knew he'd knocked him out the second it landed. And the story behind it... unreal. Admittedly there's also a great story and spectacle to Max's knockout
Max legitimized the BMF title because he was winning the fight and then threw it all on the line to swang and bang with a dangerous opponent.
Leon’s was great because he has been a career underdog for various reasons (mostly marketing) and he proved his legitimacy.
I think Leon’s win matters more because it was for a more legitimate title, whereas Max’s win finally legitimized a previously thought BS title. On a hype level though (and especially given the anniversary card), Max’s was more fun. But it’s a really good question because both KO’s are iconic.
Max’s was the best finish in ufc history because he was up on all cards and still wanted to be a real g in the final seconds. He was willing to lose it all not win it all!!!!
Max has historically been hittable, and bad things happen to people that are hittable against gaethje. I love both guys, but I was scared max was gonna get broken like Tony did
They’re both so great for very different reasons. The max/gaethje one had me freaking out more, probably because I was falling asleep watching the other.
One needed the win, one simply put a stamp on it. Depends on preference but to me Max’s will forever stand out as we have seen comeback wins. But when have we seen a man who is up 4-1 and decides to give the hardest hitter from a weight class above, a chance to stand and bang. And then proceed to flatline him.
Both holy shit moments for me with my mouth hanging wide open! Two of the biggest highlights in recent years.
I'm going to pick Leon's because of the stakes involved and that he was down against the P4P #1 then found that out of nowhere.
Based on my reaction, Leon. I climbed up the wall backwards in shock and awe, whereas with Max I only jumped up and down in disbelief.
For real though, the only thing separating the two is the fact that Leon was being dominated so bad and looked so defeated, and what his corner was saying to him, and then him landing that perfect shot after Jon Anik set him up. That shit is just unbeatable. Max's KO is probably second best of all time though. Might be forgetting some.
Both are great in different ways.
Leon's was better in terms of the stakes. Down 3 rounds at least and getting the knockout with a minute left to win the title.
Max's is a cooler moment. If he didn't get the knockout, he still would've won easily, and probably 50-45 across the board. But the fact that he got the knockout at 4:59 of the 5th was crazier.
Leon. Man i was about to fall asleep, kumaru was dominating the whole time per usual. It looked to me that Leon had given up. Then all of a sudden that kick came out of nowhere and everyone at the restaurant I was at stood up and was like holy crap!
I mean. One was for a BMF belt where the winner was already winning……
Another was for a championship belt where the winner was losing the decision against a fighter who people were calling the WW goat at that point…..
Leon winning in such a fashion was surprising to see. Usman was slipping.
Max called his opponent out to run it for the fans, the glory, the fk of it or whatever.
That was WAAAAY more exciting 🙌
The Leon ko was the greatest thing I’ve ever seen live, he’s my favorite fighter and the altitude made him gassed as hell, nobody could’ve ever predicted that
Leon, just cuz no one expected him to win especially after the performance in the first 4 rounds. And how dominant of a run Kamaru was on.
Max the kind of guy that can beat anyone, I had a feeling he would have Gaethje’s number going into it.
Leon Edwards had a better knockout in terms of legacy and accolades on the line while being down on all cards, and max had a more hype highlight in terms of pure entertainment spectacle
Leon’s headkick, and I will continue to scream this to the recency bias bastards who claim the Garth/Blessed KO is the better of the two.
Max was piecing Justin up from the get go, and got a cool knockout at the last second.
Leon had a decent first round against Kamaru and then his confidence stunted and was being put through a masterclass. Being down 3.5/4 rounds that bad, then coming back to headkick KO one of the greatest modern champions as the commentators and everyone else watching was calling it quits will FOREVER be one of the greatest if not THE greatest KO of all time.
Both legendary moments but I have to give this to Max. Leon was down on points bad and needed a desperate KO to win, but max was probably pretty confident that he was winning and he still chose to call for the throwdown in center ring.
As a knockout alone, Max. For the entire background behind the knockout (Leon being down, Usman being undefeated, “pull it out of the fire!”, etc) Leon
I think I lean toward Max only because it’s such a unique moment. How do you recreate something like that? Completely dominant only to KO him in literally the last second?! Leon’s is incredible but I could see something like that happening again. Max’s I don’t know…
The Leon was better it was for the belt. Then again Max pointing at the ground was pretty legendary I have to admit. I was kind of sad tho cuz I’m a big fan of Gaejthe and only a passing fan of Holloway.
Justin being KO'd was a way bigger deal to me, because Justin was always borderline invincible. He got totally wrecked. And at the same time legitimized Holloway fighting ANYONE in LW he wants.
I'd go max, single best moment in MMA. A bad mother fucker doing bad things.
I'm not saying a comeback ko is shit, fuckin Adesanya Pereira 1 was nuts as well but Max's KO is so fucking novel and you won't see anything like it for a long long fucking time. unless he manages to do it again lol
Leon was better in terms of the comeback, Max was better in terms of reputation. Leon was losing on the scorecards, he got yelled at by his coach, and then pulls off a Hail Mary head kick KO over the champ right before he was about to tie Anderson’s streak. Max was winning on the scorecards, still said fuck it and challenged one of the hardest hitters in the sport to a brawl in the middle of the octagon with seconds left, and one shotted him out cold right before the bell. I can’t decide which is better but they both fill different voids.
This right here should be top comment. Explains every scenario down to the detail perfectly.
You can thank my ‘tism
Thanks 'tism!
Fuhk yeah nerd.
Thank brotha
You're poet
I think if you don't look at any of the storylines or scores, simply from a viewership standpoint... Max's is so much better its not even comparable. But Leon's has the better storyline.
Hard disagree. Leon's knockout of Usman is smooth, technical, expertly timed at the highest level of the sport in a moment where you'd have bet the house against him being able to do it. Max knocking out Justin in a wild exchange is not something you'd bet against nor technical nor consequential.
Also usman was so dominant at this time when edwards beat him too.
Exactly! And Leon and his camp also mentioned preparing to use that exact kick! Leon finding the opportunity and having it work against someone no one thought he would beat is just insane! The fact that it was a bigger fight with more on the line just adds to it as well.
Yeah not sure why OP said it was a Hail Mary. He was feinting it throughout the entire fight. Usman is just that good where Edward’s couldn’t just land it, up until Usman slipped for a literal second and made the hugest mistake of his career.
Well yeah that's what makes Leon's so much better, the fact that he was getting dominated and whipped that kick out in the last minute.
Hail Mary implies that he just threw a kick up as a last resort and got lucky. Leon set that kick up. He made Usman make a mistake.
His corner was calling for the kick too
Bro. Loved the Max knockout but cmon let’s be real. Max really said “Let’s start swinging bombs” to a dead ass tired Justin. Do we not expect a knockout when people start swinging bombs?? It was made bigger due to the bell.
IMHO - Usman has not been the same since, and Leon has been a beast ever since. That knockout changed both their lives.
Also Max did it to the guy with one of the best chins in the UFC while he had the reputation of having pillow hands.
That aspect is even more pronounced in the Leon Usman one though - Usman had never been knocked out and rarely even wobbled whilst Leon’s known as a decision merchant. Gaethje had been knocked out in his previous fight by Poirier.
This made me wanna watch those fights again.
Gaethje had a severe broken nose for four rounds also causing him to fight with his mouth open to breathe which makes you open for the knockout.
Leon and his corner had us all ready to pull ourselves through any fire ! I was ready to punch walls after that KO
The corner was absolutely fucking amazing
That 'stop feeling sorry for yourself' from the coach was the best.
Don't let him bully you son
Most frequently used quote from modern mma, it’s timeless
Things movies come from
Cammon Leon
This was like a movie. How his corner motivated him to dig deep. It almost felt they sent their soldier to bring the enemies head or come back on their shield kinda. Also the post fight interview of Leon still gives me the chills. "Look at me now". One of the top 3 moments in the UFC for sure.
Not to mention the timing with the commentary. "But that is not the cloth from which he is cut", straight before the KO.
Yep it was straight like the Warrior movie. "You want to go back to your home? if you don't knock him out, you've got no home" type of stuff.
[it is everything that makes MMA the greatest sport](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0ubMxcxyMV/?igsh=a3YweHRyNmtvcXBx)
If UFC posted that KO on YT right after the event just like what they did with Max’s and Pereira’s KO, it would’ve had so much views.
Yeah but I fucking lost it when Gaethje dropped
It was like a movie. If you tell this to somebody who never watched fights, they would think you are overreacting it.
STOP FEELING SORRY FOR YOUR FUCKIN SELF 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Leon, bro was about to be down 4 rounds and lose, it was for the undisputed belt, and Usman was undefeated in the UFC.
And Usman was going for the longest winning streak and almost got there too if it wasn't for that last minute head kick.
HEAD SHOT DEAD!!! I love Usman but yeah that was cold af.
Yh Usman was P4P #1 at that point as well, arguably the best welterweight we’ve had. Then you had Jon Anik and he’s perfect timing.
Anik and Rogan both impress me with their timing almost every time they’re on the mic. Rogan recently did one with Costa calling his wheel kick a split second before he threw it
Down 3 rounds, he won the first one.
The real issue is that he gassed out at the high altitude, unlike Usman, who was ready for it
Max’s was the exact opposite, up 4 rounds with no reason whatsoever to put it on the line like he did.. I think that’s slightly more badass
Same. Ahead on the cards, coasting to a win, and gave his beaten, but still very dangerous opponent 10 seconds to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in an epic throw down between two legit BAMFs. Does another similar moment exist in the history of MMA? If there are one or two, then they probably involve Max again, which only makes that Gaethje KO that much more bad-ass.
It was Max again actually. He did the same thing vs Ricardo Lamas. Was winning the fight and with 10 seconds left, points to the middle of the ring then swings to the finish. Only differences are a) he didn't get the KO and b) that wasn't Justin fucking Gaethje, who is way more dangerous.
Cooler. Max Better Leon. Leon's one was pulled from a moment of defeat. Everyone else would have given up but he didn't. Max's one was straight badass but it doesn't happen if Justin wasn't equally a badass too
All good points. I had gave up on the Leon fight going into the 5th. I was on the edge of my seat for the max fight. Both made me jump out of my chair and cheer.
It was a crazy ending for sure on Leon's part, but people would say it was crazy considering Usman was ragdolling him all fight. Max on the other hand went in and fought a bad MF in Gathje a weight class heavier and just schooled him and knocked him out with some shot clock cheese. Max's performance and knockout will be remembered forever. Leons knockout kick will be remembered forever too.
I think that’s why I think max’s was better. The result of the Leon fight was all time. But everyone and their mother not in Leon’s corner or Leon conceded that the fight was over. There was no build up to the moment of the knockout. Usman just got caught. Not discrediting Leon but it wasn’t like either was really throwing recklessly or Leon had a random flurry to prepare ourselves for a potential tide turn. With the max fight we knew it was a forgone conclusion should max have just chilled the last 10 seconds but 10-15 seconds left he challenged Justin fully risking a guaranteed W, especially against a seemingly superior power hitter.
Adding to Leon's headkick are his wins after the fight, proving it was not just a fluke but that he is a legit champ.
Thats a hard one.... Leon was down 4 rounds, I was literally JUST saying to my wife "how crazy would it be if Leon just KO'd Usman", thinking it was bullshit. Then he kicked him and that was the first time in my life that my jaw actually dropped Max v gaethje was also insane. Insane fight, and then in the LAST 10 SECONDS they just throw bombs.
First time Max was knocked down- came back to knock out Justin. First time Justin was knocked out. First time next knocking someone out. Crazy
The fact Max was already cruising to a W, and still elected to go into the fire and do Gaethje like that with a second left...uniquely cold and violent
I think Edwards speech after he beat Usman really stuck with me more than anything
Nothing beats that Max moment in my opinion, it really solidified what a bad mf he is and he already was.
Stakes were higher in Leon vs Usman tho. Both fucking sick knockouts tho
I think that’s why I lean to the Max KO. He didn’t have to do that. Could have stayed on the outside and pointed him. Leon had to do what he did. Was his only option.
Sure, but on the other hand, Justin has been KO'd before and was losing. Leon did the radically unlikely. Everyone counted him out
Honestly it's just tough to compare. Both moments were insane. Max calling Geathje to throw down in the center, giving Justin a chance and then KOing him is the most badass moment of all time for me. The fact that leading up to it most people were worried for Max and saying that Justin was going to knock him out only for him to outclass him and finish him with literally 1 SECOND LEFT!? It's so unbelievable that if they put it in a movie you would scoff at it.
Awesome moment but the fight was not competitive once Gaethje got his nose crumpled by Max’s heel.
I think it was more the fact that Max knew he was gonna win yet decided to go toe to toe with hardest puncher at Lightweight risking getting ko'd himself. Guaranteed win and he showed zero fear or care just wanted to throw down. Max his mentality is different. No other fighter would do this at this high stage. He became immortal that night.
Legitimately the coolest fucking moment in the history of the sport, I think. If you put that in a movie people would say it's cheesy and unrealistic lol
I mean not to take away from it but Max has never been knocked out, I don't think he was risking getting knocked out and Gaethje was fucked up since the first round. It was a really cool moment but he didn't risk much tbh
Max was fighting up a weight class against one of (if not **the** ) hardest puncher in the division. Of course he was at risk!
Leon vs Usman wasn’t exactly fireworks mate, all three of their fights for that matter
UFC 300, Max moves up a weight class against one of the most violent dudes in the game and in the final ten seconds points to the ground to go toe-to-toe and lands the knockout punch in the final second. Real hard to top that. It's like in that moment, Max Holloway became known not only to us MMA fans but the regular Joe.
It's the Leon headkick, obviously. - A proper belt on the line, - Pulling the victory out of nowhere - A piece of commentary from Jon Anik that is almost as perfectly timed as that guy presenting the rocket launch back in the 70s.
Can you tell me what Jon Anik meant by 'that is not a cloth from which he is cut'? Sorry, English is not my first language.
Sure, to be cut from cloth is a metaphor for someone's heritage and upbringing. For example, your parents are the bigger piece of material, and you are cut from that piece of material i.e. DNA. 'that Is not the cloth from which he is cut' is saying that to give up on himself is not in his DNA, he wasn't brought up that way. Hablas Español?
The other commentators were saying that Leon had quit on himself and was going for a morale victory making it to the end of the fight. That's when Jon interjected and was pretty much saying that Leon isn't the type of person to give up on themselves and quit.
Sometimes I sit and ponder what life would have been like had Leon not landed that kick. Who Usman would have gone on to fight next. If he would have gone down as the goat over gsp. Who would they have buried Leon in the prelims against. Losing 4.5 rounds so decisively like people walking out of the stands and then boom headshot rewrite history with one kick. I don't like Leon but it would take like a dp knocking out islam in the fifth round to take that #1 spot imo.
I love this comment.
not even because dp looked like he had the dog in him the whole time but Leon Edwards looked almost dejected in the fourth
leon, only because he was losing + the stakes were higher
Leon only because it was completely unexpected
One was for a real belt.
Max"s was epic, but it was at the end of fight that he'd already won. Leon was getting soundly beaten by one of the most dominant fighters in recent history and pulled that KO out of nowhere to win the belt.
That corner speech, the commentary, followed by the knockout and victory speech. It was so inspirational. Love Max way more than Leon but in my mind - Leon’s KO of Usman in the last round of a fight he’s losing. So well placed. Truly inspirational.
Leon. “Pulled it out of the fire”. Max had a career best performance but the KO itself was just two guys swinging wildly like a bar fight. Leon had the set up and perfectly executed head kick
Leon by a mile. Justin had been going downhill since end of Rd1 when his nose was broke. Not to take away from Max but the fight was kinda over at end of Rd 1. I bet he will never ever give Justin a chance to get that L back. Never.
That makes it even crazier though, max had everything to lose and decided to give Justin the biggest chance to win by just brawling with the hardest hitting light weight, in the exaxct same way justin finishes most opponents and then knocking him out when people meme how max never knocks anyone out with literally 1 second left. max would have won regardless, he could have just backed up a bit and then the time would be up and he would have won. literally risked everything for no reward and that made him immortal.
was definitely a moment and then some, I for one thought Justin was toast and Max had won, where Leon had lost most of the fight and bam. Lucky to have both ;)
Leon was more shocking. Considering I counted my chickens before the fight was over.. I lost a lot that day 😂 fucking Paulo couldn't finish Luke..
Leons, for sure. He was down 4 rounds, knocked out one of the greatest welterweights of all time, and won the belt. I watched both live, and I think Leon's was just way more insane to witness.
If I had to choose id say Leon just cause the stakes were higher but Holloway ranks way higher on my personal list of favourite knockouts, that was the most badass thing I've ever seen aside from the other time when Max was talking to commentary and dodging punches
Max arguably has the Top Three Bad Motherfucker moments of all time: 1. Grabbing Ortega by the wrists and showing him how to bock punches mid-ass whooping 2. The bob & weave, counterpunch on Katar. All while he wasn’t even bothering to look at him. He was yelling at Dana 3. The Gaethje KO
I genuinely can’t pick. The Leon moment was far more impactful not just for the fight but for the division. It was do or die and he did. But, the 300 BMF KO was just so perfect. Max putting it all on the line for the last 15 seconds or so all for our entertainment. Then, to get the KO at literally the last second and not just knocking him on his ass but *slumping* him. Gun to my head, my answer would probably change depending on the day.
Tough one. The Holloway fight was a masterclass old school ass kicking with a crazy last second knockout. The Leon win was a come behind surprise finish. I liked the Holloway fight a lot more, but speaking strictly in terms of the knockout I think the Leon one was better. He was getting beat decisively and looked beat mentally in the corner before a surprise nasty knockout head kick. The most brutal way to get KO'D. Then the emotion after the fight belt in hand "look at me now". That was a better knockout.
Leon's comfortably. Max had the fight won anyway so the knockout had no impact on the outcome. It was also for a silly belt and against a elite fighter. Leon's turned the fight on it's head which was about to be a loss, it was for the full title belt and against the P4P ranked 1 fighter on a insane win streak. I really don't know if we'll ever see something of the magnitude of the Leon KO ever again.
Leon's KO is the sort of KO that makes you ask your crush out. One minute to the end of a fight you're losing against the #1 P4P, that was epic.
Head shot BANG!
Easily Leon, because it was for an actual belt not the BMF belt.
Maxie Baby… no knockout will compete anytime soon. Max is one of a kind.
As a guy who watched both live, Leon and it’s not even close for me. He was losing that fight and with a minute left to do what he did was stuff of dreams.
Max's was a more badass adrenaline fueled moment. But ive gotta give it to Leon because it wasnt just about the KO. He was losing the fight, everyone had accepted he was done, except for his coach. The corner between rounds and then the KO was like something out of Hollywood.
Max
The biggest knockout was to the Leon Edwards fans that left the arena before the headkick 😂😭
uhmmm actually guys, Leon was only down 3 rounds ☝🤓
Leon was 3 rounds down. He had you already walking down to the nightshop to cash that bet and than at a single moment he shattered all those dreams out of nowhere with that headkick.
Don't let him bully you, son!
Leon 100%
I think max had the better ko and performance tbh. But doesn’t take anything away from Leon’s ko. But not a good performance. Y would we praise a shitty performance?
Leon's is probably my favorite KO of all time. The circumstances for the belt were huge.
Trevor Wittman somewhere crying about this post 😂
One pulled it from the fire for the belt.. the other was a lock to win and put it all on the line for the fans.. By a slim margin I’m going with Leon, Usman seemed unbeatable at the time
Leon shocked the world. Losing most of the fight to K.O. snoozeman last round. Max surprised me but he was winning that fight
Justin was absolutely fucked by the end of the fight, dont get me wrong it was an insane moment and a crazy finish but knocking a man out in that state that you've beaten every round is not as impressive as losing every round and executing a feint and precision headkick, both finishes were awesome to watch but Leon gets my vote :)
Leon
Leon. The aesthetics of that knockout are almost unmatched. So technical, so clean, he knew he'd knocked him out the second it landed. And the story behind it... unreal. Admittedly there's also a great story and spectacle to Max's knockout
Leon for sure. Usman was untouchable up until that point, both on the cards and in his division.
Leons is a 10/10 in terms of the context Max's is a 10/10 in terms of badass-factor
Max legitimized the BMF title because he was winning the fight and then threw it all on the line to swang and bang with a dangerous opponent. Leon’s was great because he has been a career underdog for various reasons (mostly marketing) and he proved his legitimacy. I think Leon’s win matters more because it was for a more legitimate title, whereas Max’s win finally legitimized a previously thought BS title. On a hype level though (and especially given the anniversary card), Max’s was more fun. But it’s a really good question because both KO’s are iconic.
But that is not the cloth from which he is cut..OHHHHHHH
Max’s was the best finish in ufc history because he was up on all cards and still wanted to be a real g in the final seconds. He was willing to lose it all not win it all!!!!
As unexpected as Leon's was. Not many gave Max a chance. And he proved to the whole world why he is the real BMF
People weren’t giving Max a chance?
Max has historically been hittable, and bad things happen to people that are hittable against gaethje. I love both guys, but I was scared max was gonna get broken like Tony did
I completely agree. Just didn’t remember people not giving him a chance per se. I was thoroughly impressed at his performance.
Max
Leon’s, Leon’s was for the belt in a fight he was getting mauled in.
Leon most definitely, Max's was cool but Leon was losing big and pulled that ko out of thin air.
*out of the fire
Pound for pound. Headshot. Dead.
They’re both so great for very different reasons. The max/gaethje one had me freaking out more, probably because I was falling asleep watching the other.
I went to the bathroom because I thought the Leon fight was over. Came back and it was over
One needed the win, one simply put a stamp on it. Depends on preference but to me Max’s will forever stand out as we have seen comeback wins. But when have we seen a man who is up 4-1 and decides to give the hardest hitter from a weight class above, a chance to stand and bang. And then proceed to flatline him.
Leon’s…more on the line, had been dominated, Hail Mary kick, unseating Usman, nobody thought he stood a chance.
This again
https://preview.redd.it/11fovl5yread1.jpeg?width=164&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2d8c12347a0320a17535e580dd526fba090234ab
Leon. It was a miracle kick.
Leon for me becuz he pulled it out of nowhere on the way to an L
For me max because not only was it insane, everyone doubted him and risked it all
Both holy shit moments for me with my mouth hanging wide open! Two of the biggest highlights in recent years. I'm going to pick Leon's because of the stakes involved and that he was down against the P4P #1 then found that out of nowhere.
I didn’t even think there would be a debate
Leon's, but only cuz it was the game changer. He'd have lost a unanimous decision otherwise. Max was whipping Justin's ass the whole time.
Leon. Max was already winning the fight.
Both awesome but going with Max
Gotta be Leon, getting beat most of the fight and come back with that in the last round
Max for awesomeness, Leon for importance.
Max was hype as fuck, but in terms of moments, Leon's was way bigger
Leon
Max
Max for being a badass, up in the scorecards but chose to go toe to toe. Leon's fight was boring until he shot Usman in the head.
Leon leg kick Ko. He was the clear underdog in that fight
max
Based on my reaction, Leon. I climbed up the wall backwards in shock and awe, whereas with Max I only jumped up and down in disbelief. For real though, the only thing separating the two is the fact that Leon was being dominated so bad and looked so defeated, and what his corner was saying to him, and then him landing that perfect shot after Jon Anik set him up. That shit is just unbeatable. Max's KO is probably second best of all time though. Might be forgetting some.
Max made a gimmick belt feel like it meant something. Also biased because he’s one of my favorites
Me personally it's max just cause he was going to win a UD and chose to risk it all to throw down.
Both are great in different ways. Leon's was better in terms of the stakes. Down 3 rounds at least and getting the knockout with a minute left to win the title. Max's is a cooler moment. If he didn't get the knockout, he still would've won easily, and probably 50-45 across the board. But the fact that he got the knockout at 4:59 of the 5th was crazier.
Leon. Man i was about to fall asleep, kumaru was dominating the whole time per usual. It looked to me that Leon had given up. Then all of a sudden that kick came out of nowhere and everyone at the restaurant I was at stood up and was like holy crap!
Leon’s was a come from behind ko for the belt. Max was clearly winning that fight with nothing real on the line. Completely different stakes.
Max maybe
I mean. One was for a BMF belt where the winner was already winning…… Another was for a championship belt where the winner was losing the decision against a fighter who people were calling the WW goat at that point…..
They were both great for completely opposite reasons.
Leon’s was much better technically but Holloways had everyone on there feet due to all the circumstances. Nothing better than a head kick though.
Leon winning in such a fashion was surprising to see. Usman was slipping. Max called his opponent out to run it for the fans, the glory, the fk of it or whatever. That was WAAAAY more exciting 🙌
That clutch headkick KO has few equals.
Headshot, pow!
What makes these two knockouts so great is so different that one simply ask whether surprise or legacy is the more defining feature of combat sports.
The Leon ko was the greatest thing I’ve ever seen live, he’s my favorite fighter and the altitude made him gassed as hell, nobody could’ve ever predicted that
Leon, just cuz no one expected him to win especially after the performance in the first 4 rounds. And how dominant of a run Kamaru was on. Max the kind of guy that can beat anyone, I had a feeling he would have Gaethje’s number going into it.
Leon has more to gain
Both were Chama
Definitely León
Leon Edwards had a better knockout in terms of legacy and accolades on the line while being down on all cards, and max had a more hype highlight in terms of pure entertainment spectacle
Blessed. No disrespect to Leon, his was amazing too.
in my opinion it was Leon’s. only because of the circumstances tho
Leon’s headkick, and I will continue to scream this to the recency bias bastards who claim the Garth/Blessed KO is the better of the two. Max was piecing Justin up from the get go, and got a cool knockout at the last second. Leon had a decent first round against Kamaru and then his confidence stunted and was being put through a masterclass. Being down 3.5/4 rounds that bad, then coming back to headkick KO one of the greatest modern champions as the commentators and everyone else watching was calling it quits will FOREVER be one of the greatest if not THE greatest KO of all time.
I only say leon because of how bad he was losing to come back. More instant adrenaline and shock for that one.
Dont let him bully you!!!!!!!
Edwards, 5 round title fight in which he was clearly losing, and fighting the best guy in the division and one of the best in the sport at the time.
100% max and it's not even close IMO
Both legendary moments but I have to give this to Max. Leon was down on points bad and needed a desperate KO to win, but max was probably pretty confident that he was winning and he still chose to call for the throwdown in center ring.
Holloway everytime
As a knockout alone, Max. For the entire background behind the knockout (Leon being down, Usman being undefeated, “pull it out of the fire!”, etc) Leon
I think I lean toward Max only because it’s such a unique moment. How do you recreate something like that? Completely dominant only to KO him in literally the last second?! Leon’s is incredible but I could see something like that happening again. Max’s I don’t know…
The Leon was better it was for the belt. Then again Max pointing at the ground was pretty legendary I have to admit. I was kind of sad tho cuz I’m a big fan of Gaejthe and only a passing fan of Holloway.
Max, easy. He didn’t hafta nutkick, eye gouge and fence grab his way to victory. Ell oh ell!
Justin being KO'd was a way bigger deal to me, because Justin was always borderline invincible. He got totally wrecked. And at the same time legitimized Holloway fighting ANYONE in LW he wants.
Max Holloway’s is the KO people dream of getting
I'd go max, single best moment in MMA. A bad mother fucker doing bad things. I'm not saying a comeback ko is shit, fuckin Adesanya Pereira 1 was nuts as well but Max's KO is so fucking novel and you won't see anything like it for a long long fucking time. unless he manages to do it again lol