The UFC has seen some crazy knockouts this year - and the latest edition of Dana White's Contender Series has delivered yet another stunning finish.For those unfamiliar with the Contender Series, the show sees up and coming MMA fighters compete in the hope of impressing the UFC president. At the end of each episode, White awards UFC contracts to those who wow him with their performance.Welterweight Ignacio Bahamondes guaranteed himself one of those contracts from the moment that he landed a devastating front leg kick to the face of opponent Edson Gomez on Wednesday night.The fight marked the Chilean's second appearance on the Contender Series. His highlight reel stoppage ensured that he will be an official member of the UFC roster when he next steps into the Octagon.Bahamondes picked Gomez apart to handily win the first round of the fight. He remained in full control of proceedings at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas as the bout hit the midway point of the second round. It was at this point that the 23-year-old unleashed the massive kick that would close the show.As the video below shows, Gomez stood no chance. He was rendered unconscious instantly and fell to the mat, after which the referee quickly waved the fight off.
The stunning blow saw Bahamondes net his eighth career victory by knockout, as he advanced his overall record to 11-3. The finish is likely to be replayed countless times and will undoubtedly be a contender for MMA's "Knockout of the Year".
Front kick knockouts are a rarity in the UFC. One of the only men to successfully land such a finish is middleweight legend Anderson Silva. The Brazillian superstar famously wiped out Vitor Belfort with the same shot back at UFC 126.
With Silva announcing his retirement from the sport just days ago, it is fitting that Bahamondes should finish a fight in the same manner this week.
Bahamondes may have been a relative unknown going into the fight, but changed his career with just one single strike. Fans will now be looking forward to Bahamondes making his official UFC bow with great interest.