Sergey Pavlovich is tied for fourth place in UFC history with seven first-round knockouts. Vitor Belfort leads with 11, followed by Anthony Johnson with nine and Michal Oleksiejczuk with eight. Pavlovich shares fourth place with Francis Ngannou, Andrei Arlovski, Cain Velasquez, Anderson Silva, and Derrick Lewis.
Sergey Pavlovich has cemented his place among the most devastating first-round finishers in UFC history, sitting tied for fourth on the all-time list with seven first-round knockouts.
Vitor Belfort leads the record outright with 11 first-round knockouts in the UFC. The Brazilian veteran, known as "The Phenom," compiled a career record of 26 wins and 14 losses and fought out of Kill Cliff FC. Now 49, Belfort landed 1.59 significant strikes per minute across his career at a 46 percent striking accuracy rate, with his early-fight finishing ability remaining the defining hallmark of his legacy.
Sitting second on the list is Anthony Johnson with nine first-round knockouts, followed by Poland's Michal Oleksiejczuk — nicknamed "Hussar" — in third place with eight. The 31-year-old southpaw carries a record of 22-10 and trains out of Akademia Sportow Walki Wilanow. Standing six feet tall with a 74-inch reach, Oleksiejczuk lands an impressive 5.85 significant strikes per minute at 53 percent accuracy, making him one of the more active and precise strikers in the UFC's middleweight and light heavyweight ranks.
Pavlovich shares fourth place with five other fighters who have also recorded seven first-round knockouts in the promotion: Francis Ngannou, Andrei Arlovski, former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, Anderson Silva, and Derrick Lewis. Velasquez, a two-time UFC heavyweight champion now 43 years old, posted a record of 14-3 and was renowned for his relentless output, averaging 6.37 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy while also averaging an elite 5.13 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Pavlovich's place on this list underscores his standing as one of the most dangerous early finishers in the heavyweight division today
- The record highlights a rare collection of fighters across multiple weight classes defined by one-round destructive power
- Oleksiejczuk's presence at third on the list adds an often-overlooked name to elite finishing company
