Countless knockouts occur every UFC card, but only a few will be replayed for years to come. Today, 22-year-old bantamweight prospect Elijah Smith delivered one of the most brutal knockouts of 2025, slamming Toshiomi Kazama unconscious in a highlight-reel finish at UFC Vegas 109.
UFC Knockout of the Year? Elijah Smith Pulls Off Rampage-esque Powerbomb at UFC Vegas 109 (Video) originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Countless knockouts occur every UFC card, but only a few will be replayed for years to come. Even fewer are the moments like Joaquin Buckley’s jumping spinning back kick on Impa Kasanganay, Jorge Masvidal's five-second flying knee knockout of Ben Askren, or Shara “Bullet” Magomedov’s double spinning backfist knockout of Armen Petrosyan; moments that showcase a fighter’s endless creativity and limitless expression. These KOs put the “art” in martial arts.
Today, 22-year-old bantamweight prospect Elijah Smith delivered one of the most brutal knockouts of 2025, slamming Toshiomi Kazama unconscious in a highlight-reel finish at UFC Vegas 109.
As the son of UFC veteran Gilbert Smith, Elijah channeled that old-school MMA energy in a knockout reminiscent of Quinton "Rampage" Jackson back when he scored a very similar KO in PRIDE FC’s heyday. Both slammed their opponent as a counter to a triangle choke setup.
Watch the KO here:
https://youtube.com/shorts/juBlXdMgVO4?si=zZSJG_WD8QxfEyTO
Watch Rampage’s KO here:
“I just want to pray for my opponent. Hopefully, he makes it home safe,” Smith said, showcasing his sportsmanship.
But, revealing his showmanship and confidence, the young prospect said, “I’m still just as good as they come. I knew I had to slam him correctly. Unfortunately, I had to slam him on his dome piece.”
More than likely, Dana White will make sure the rising star gets rewarded with a $50,000 bonus.
During the broadcast, Karyn Bryant corresponded with an update on his opponent Kazama, who went through CT scans and other types of assessments to test for significant acute brain damage, and all results came back negative. He will be discharged today.
The victory extended Smith’s win streak to seven fights, starting his UFC career with an impressive back-to-back win streak.
His dad may have had a legacy as a UFC fighter, but now his name will be synonymous with one of the most terrifying knockouts in UFC history.
If he keeps this up, an impressive performance against a top-15-ranked opponent will continue to help him build his star power in the UFC. It will be easier said than done in a stacked bantamweight division, but at 22 years old, this young fighter has a bright future ahead of him.
Related: Fighter Put on Stretcher and Rushed to Hospital After Horrific Knockout at UFC 315
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
