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Fastest knock out ever? | 00:26
American bare-knuckled fighter Justin Watson has written himself into the history books with one of the most absurd finishes in combat sports history.
In the first fight of the BKFC 69 (bare-knuckled fighting championship) main card, the 37-year-old Watson landed a perfect punch to leave Cole Ferrell in la la land and giving referee Bryan Miner no option but to wave off the fight in their featherweight clash.
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While Phil Williams’ KO of Brandon Burke in 2007 is the fastest professional boxing knockout and Jorge Masvisdal’s five-second knee to Ben Askren’s head at UFC 239 is the fastest in UFC history, Watson has made those look positively pedestrian at the BKFC 69.
There have been a host of faster KOs than those finishes, but according to Tapology, the fastest MMA finish is tied at three seconds.
But Watson’s hellacious overhand right from the bell saw the fight stopped at just two seconds.
Watch in video player above.
That’s wild. Photo: Fox SportsSource: FOX SPORTSIn a video posted by the promotion, BKFC founder and president David Feldman was seen holding a stop watch which showed 2.9 seconds.
“Two-point-nine seconds. Fastest knockout in combat sorts,” he said. “Unbelievable.”
The promotion’s previous fastest KO was three seconds by Ulysses Diaz, when he beat Donelei Benedetto at BKFC 14 back in 2020.
Incredibly, Watson was a huge underdog, having lost both of his previous two BKFC fights, and coming up against the 32-year-old Ferrell, who came into the fight with a 11-1 record.
Speaking on X account Jais Sport Takes, Watson said: “It was exactly what we came to do, I knew what I was coming here to do and the plan worked.”
The account added: “I might’ve just saw the quickest knockout of my entire time watching combat sport. BKFC 69 Is CRAZY!!!”
Sport Illustrated’s Christopher De Santiago tweeted: “Fastest KO ever at #BKFC69. Still in disbelief.”
And there was plenty more disbelief from around the world.
Ferrell, who slumped onto his face and was clearly wobbly, stood up and protested the decision as Watson celebrated, making a throat-slashing gesture.
That’s why it was waved off. Photo: Fox SportsSource: FOX SPORTS
Ferrell wasn’t happy. Photo: Fox SportsSource: FOX SPORTSOriginally, the commentators believed it may have even been a one second KO but officially it was ruled to be two seconds.
Speaking on the official coverage, commentator Cyrus Fees was blown away by the knockout.
“And that is a world record,” he said on the coverage.
“Justin Watson, the fastest knockout in combat sports.”
The finish also stole some of the spotlight from the main event with Keith Richardson also win with a first round knockout 21 seconds into his fight with Michael Larrimore.
