Sherdog’s Top 10Sherdog’s Top 10: One-Punch Knockouts
No. 10
Bellator 139
June 26, 2015 | Mulvane, Kansas
The Superman punch is an often-used attack that rarely generates a spectacular knockout. It can look awkward and sloppy, and the majority of the time it lands without doing much, if any, damage. Do not tell that to Hisaki Kato.
American muay Thai star Joe Schilling had decided to try his luck with mixed martial arts again after losing three of his first four fights. “Stitch ’Em Up” arrived in Bellator MMA in November 2014 and flattened Melvin Manhoef in the second round of their Bellator 131 encounter. He lost a split decision to Rafael Carvalho five months later but nevertheless seemed poised to make a name for himself.
Kato was a relative known entering his promotional debut opposite Schilling at Bellator 139 and was believed to be nothing more than cannon fodder for the former Glory tournament winner. As it turned out, Kato proved to be a far stiffer test than most expected. Though he battled Schilling throughout the first round, it was thought that the American would eventually zero in on his target and send Kato back to the “Land of the Rising Sun.”
However, just 34 seconds into round two, Kato met Schilling coming in and detonated a perfectly timed left-handed Superman punch. Once it landed, Schilling flew backward, stiffened and bounced off the canvas completely unconscious.
Number 9 » Vovchanchyn vs. Bueno
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