UFC 2026 Half-Year Awards: Grasso Knockout Tops Mid-Year List

Alexa Grasso landed the best knockout of 2026 so far when she dropped Maycee Barber with a sharp straight left before sinking in a choke for good measure, according to UFC's half-year awards published this week. The flyweight title eliminator finish took unanimous votes from the outlet's panel, beating out nine other knockouts that earned recognition across the first six months of the year.

Grasso controlled the early exchanges with cleaner boxing and superior hand speed before Barber pressed forward with intent. The Mexican southpaw reloaded and fired a one-two combination that sent Barber spinning to the canvas unconscious, then immediately transitioned to a choke as referee Mike Beltran charged in. UFC described the sequence as "one of the best knockouts in the last five years," praising Grasso for securing the finish without giving her opponent a chance to recover.

Medić and Ulberg Round Out Top Three Finishes

Uroš Medić's knockout of Geoff Neal in Houston claimed second place after the Serbian welterweight landed a massive left hook from Neal's blind side during a heated exchange. Neal crashed backwards and Medić walked off immediately, extending his winning streak to three straight first-round knockouts. The finish cemented his spot in the top 15 at 170 pounds following a knockout loss that started his 2025 campaign.

Carlos Ulberg's title-winning knockout of Jiri Prochazka at UFC 327 in April took third despite coming while visibly injured. Ulberg suffered an apparent knee injury early in the opening round and stumbled multiple times while Prochazka tracked him around the cage. With under 90 seconds left in the frame, the New Zealander circled out and caught the former champion clean, seizing the vacant heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight strap before doctors could wave off the fight.

Carlos Prates' knockout of Jack Della Maddalena in May finished fourth on the list. Five additional performances tied for fifth place in what UFC called "an action-packed year" for finishes. Ulberg is currently on the road to recovery following knee surgery and has not announced his first title defense.

Source: ufc.com