KO of the Year? Mauricio Ruffy’s Spinning Kick at UFC 313 Has Fans Going Wild [WATCH]

Brazilian lightweight Mauricio Ruffy made a statement at UFC 313 with a highlight-reel spinning wheel kick that knocked out King Green in the first round.

The electrifying finish came less than two minutes into their fight at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, setting the tone for the evening’s main event between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev.

With Green positioned near the fence and his hands lowered, Ruffy seized the moment.

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He feinted a left hook, drawing a reaction from Green, before unleashing a spinning wheel kick that landed flush.

The impact sent Green crashing to the canvas, unconscious, as Ruffy stood over him in celebration.

THIS SPINNING WHEEL KICK K.O. FROM MAURICIO RUFFY #UFC313 pic.twitter.com/4RuQqu4BOV

— ESPN (@espn) March 9, 2025

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The knockout immediately went viral, with fans on social media reacting to Ruffy’s precision and execution.

“That’s nasty! Green went to the shadow realm again,” one fan posted on X.

Another fan called it an early candidate for knockout of the year, writing, “KO of the year contender in March!!! What a spinning kick!! Mauricio Ruffy is a superstar.”

Some pointed to Green’s defensive approach as a key factor in the finish. “I guess it’s time to understand that you’re not to fight with your hands down,” one user commented.

Others praised the setup of the strike rather than just the kick itself. “Forget the kick… the setup for that kick was [fire emoji]. With that kick he sent Green back to prelims,” another fan wrote.

Ruffy’s performance also drew comparisons to former UFC champion Conor McGregor, with one fan noting, “People want to see Old Conor back with the Karate stance/elusive style… We have Mauricio Ruffy now, we’re good.”

Following the fight, Ruffy shared insight into his preparation for the matchup.

“I was preparing that strike and 30 more,” Ruffy said in his post-fight interview. “What I wanted to do was surprise everyone, the crowd, the UFC, and that’s what happened.”

He added, “I wanted to dominate and control him. Once I dominated and I got control, I just waited for the right moment.”

The victory extended Ruffy’s professional record to 12-1, marking his seventh consecutive win.

Of his 12 victories, 11 have come by knockout. His only decision win came against James Llontop in November.

Meanwhile, Green suffered his second consecutive loss, dropping his record to 32-17-1.

The veteran fighter has now been finished in back-to-back outings, raising questions about his future in the division.

Ruffy’s performance at UFC 313 has solidified his status as one of the most exciting rising contenders in the lightweight division, with fans and analysts already speculating about his next fight.

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