6. Rich Franklin vs. Nate Quarry
UFC 56 “Full Force”
Nov. 19, 2005 | Las Vegas
Franklin was for a time among MMA’s elite, and this brutal knockout remains a shining moment in his brilliant career. Quarry had become a known commodity through his appearance on Season 1 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” but fighting for the middleweight title was a massive task for the Team Quest rep to tackle.

As it turned out, Quarry was not in Franklin’s league, and it became evident as soon as the fight began. “Ace” blasted Quarry with punches from the outside and busted his nose roughly a minute into the match. The challenger never wavered and continued to try to take the fight to the Franklin. It did not matter.

After separating from a clinch and with blood flowing from Quarry’s damaged nose, Franklin created the perfect distance and unleashed one of the most memorable straight lefts in the sport’s history. The blow connected with Quarry’s face, and he was instantly frozen. He fell backward and struck the canvas violently, his dreams of middleweight glory at an end.

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