- Conor McGregor holds the record for the fastest finish in UFC title fights with 13 seconds.
- Ronda Rousey has two UFC title fights under 20 seconds.
- All finishes on the list are under 35 seconds.
Winning a UFC title fight is already a gigantic achievement for any professional MMA fighter, but securing a fast finish is even more impressive. Five fighters have etched their names in the history books for recording the fastest wins in UFC title fights.
Fastest knockouts in @UFC championship history:
0:13 – Conor McGregor at UFC 194
0:15 – Andrei Arlovski at UFC 55
0:16 – Ronda Rousey at UFC 175
0:22 – Frank Shamrock at UFC 16
0:32 – @HenryCejudo at #UFCBrooklyn
0:32 – Tito Ortiz at UFC 30 pic.twitter.com/AZP42T1AYU— UFC News (@UFCNews) January 20, 2019
These athletes also became superstars, and fans often favour them whenever they look at MMA odds to place their online bets. See the list of the top five UFC fighters with the fastest finishes in title fights, led by Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey.
Fastest Finishes in UFC Title Fights
| Fight | Result | UFC title | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conor McGregor defeated José Aldo | McGregor via first-round knockout in 13 seconds | UFC featherweight title | 12/13/2015 |
| Ronda Rousey defeated Cat Zingano | Rousey via first-round submission in 14 seconds | UFC women’s bantamweight title | 03/01/2015 |
| Andrei Arlovski defeated Paul Buentello | Arlovski via first-round knockout in 15 seconds | UFC heavyweight title | 10/08/2005 |
| Ronda Rousey defeated Alexis Davis | Rousey via first-round knockout in 16 seconds | UFC women’s bantamweight title | 07/06/2014 |
| Frank Shamrock defeated Igor Zinoviev | Shamrock via first-round knockout in 22 seconds | UFC middleweight title | 04/14/1998 |
Frank Shamrock vs. Igor Zinoviev – 22 Seconds
In March 1998, Frank Shamrock became the first fighter in UFC history to finish a title fight in under 30 seconds after he picked up Igor Zinoviev and slammed him down the mat headfirst to knock him out cold. This win by Shamrock secured him the UFC middleweight title.
Ronda Rousey vs. Alexis Davis – 16 Seconds
In the mid-2010s, Rousey was one of the biggest stars in the UFC. She dominated her opponents and title challengers to reign as the undisputed queen of the women’s bantamweight division.
In her third defence in July 2014, she made quick work of Alexis Davis by beating her in just 16 seconds. Rousey used her judo background to pick her up and transition to a ground-and-pound finish.
Andrei Arlovski vs. Paul Buentello – 15 Seconds
Andrei Arlovski successfully defended his UFC heavyweight title against Paul Buentello in October 2005 by timing a perfect right-hand punch straight to his chin. The punch immediately knocked him unconscious and ended the fight instantly. The fight only lasted 15 seconds.
Ronda Rousey vs. Cat Zingano – 14 Seconds
Rousey followed up her victory over Davis with another swift finish of Cat Zingano in March 2015 with a faster 14-second finish, but this time, it was an armbar submission. Rousey again used her superior judo skills to secure a takedown before maneuvering into the submission technique.
Conor McGregor vs. Jose Aldo – 13 Seconds
McGregor shattered Rousey’s record in December 2015 after he stopped his heated rival José Aldo in just 13 seconds of their UFC featherweight title fight. “The Notorious” set up a perfect left hook counter that sent Aldo to another realm before pounding more punches on the ground to finish the fight officially.