MMA Fighter and Coach Discusses the Anatomy of a Knockout Punch

Editor’s Note:  This piece of expert content was contributed by longtime mixed martial arts competitor and coach certified by the International MMA Federation, Miguel Antonio Ordoñez. – GDM

Knockout!

Every fight fan out there loves to see a knockout. Any empathy towards the person put to sleep flies out the window at that moment. 

For the observer enjoying the craziness that just transpired, don’t worry. That doesn’t make you a heartless person. You’re reacting like any sensible human would upon seeing another individual practically rendered lifeless with a single shot. 

At some point, you’ve likely wondered what happens when someone lands that knockout punch. Does it hurt? What goes on in the body, and why does it shut down like that? 

Dear reader, wonder no more. Like how I did with our previous piece on choke holds, I will do my best to walk you through the anatomy of a knockout punch. If you’re a combat sports practitioner, I also have some valuable tips on avoiding and landing that finishing blow. 

Unraveling the Anatomy of a Knockout Punch

To help us understand the inner workings of a knockout punch, we’ll look at what science says. Along with that, we’re gathering information from a decorated professional fighter. 

The Input From a Pro

So how does a knockout punch feel like? Former UFC fighter and ‘baddest motherf–r’ titleholder Jorge Masvidal gives us a very informative insight. 

The man who went by the nickname ‘Gamebred’ throughout his 20-year pro career suffered his first and only knockout loss at the hands of former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. 

Masvidal recently spoke with Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill. In their conversation, he pointed out the difference between a knockdown and a knockout. 

“A knockdown is like somebody turned off the lights in the room, and then when they turn them back on, you’re sitting on your ass. You don’t really feel it; it’s just… (smack). The lights go off, they turn it back on, boom. The knockout, though. Man, you could be out for a minute. It means the lights didn’t turn back on. They hit you, and you stayed out there for a minute, stiff.” 

“Neither of them hurt because, at that moment, you don’t feel it. Maybe when you finally come through, like 20 minutes later, you’re like, ‘Damn!'” 

Masvidal brought up an interesting point. A knockout punch doesn’t hurt, but it gives you the feeling of having the lights suddenly turned off. From here, we’ll look at the scientific explanations. 

The Science

If you try reading up on literature about how a knockout punch works, you’ll find one common theme: brain circuits failing at the moment. Think of it like a momentary power failure after an earthquake. 

Here’s what the National Library of Medicine says: 

“It has been suggested that the loss of consciousness is caused by disruption of axons within the ascending reticular activating system.”

Brain.org provided a more digestible version of this explanation: 

“When the head is moved violently, the brain moves around in the skull. The heaviest part of the brain puts a lot of pressure on the brain stem, which can be twisted and pulled during the blow as the rest of the brain moves out of place. 

“That twisting and pulling can cause brain circuits to break, or lose their insulation, or get kinked up, and that shuts off parts of the brain.”

But what about a body shot knockout? It’s an equally menacing blow, especially when landed in the perfect spot: the liver. What follows is indescribable pain that shuts your body down, even if you don’t want it to. 

Venezuela-based doctor Andrés David Velasquez, MD provided some insight. In a nutshell, that single blow hijacks the connection between the brain and the liver. 

“Every time we take a liver shot, a sudden pressure change inside the liver brutally activates all these nerve connections. It then causes a chain of chemical and electrical reactions that usually manifest with a brutal fall on the ground.

“Pain, naturally, is a consequence of the over-excitation of all the nerve endings that line our liver.”

But why is a liver shot much more excruciating than a knockout punch to the head that it causes a fighter to drop like a folded-up mannequin? According to Dr. Velasquez, it has to do with the disruption of blood flow. 

“The blow to the liver causes our autonomic nervous system to react by reducing the heart rate and dilating all the veins and arteries in our body. Combining these two responses causes a sharp drop in blood pressure. It decreases blood flow and oxygen supply to the main organs that do not allow us to stay on our feet.”

How to Avoid a Knockout Punch

Now let’s get to the practical applications. First, we’ll look at some effective ways to avoid that thunderous blow that’ll shut your lights off in a snap. 

Sharpen Your Awareness

Smart defense begins with awareness and knowing where those vulnerable spots are. As we mentioned, the liver is the body’s weakest point. You’ll find it on the right-hand side of the lower rib. 

You have three off switches for the head: the jaw, the temple, and that little hidden area behind the ear. You have the highest chance of scoring a knockout when you hit spot number three since it’s the least noticeable. 

As a point of reference, we’re using the great Floyd Mayweather Jr. He may not be the strongest power puncher or the most entertaining fighter, but he is a wizard with defense. 

Boxing fans know his patented move: the shoulder roll. Pundits would likewise refer to it as the Philly Shell. In short, you keep your chin tucked behind your lead shoulder. You then move your body towards the incoming punch, allowing the shoulder to deflect it from your chin and the rest of your head. 

That shoulder defense also works well with body punches. 

Practice Head Movement

Try catching a fly with your bare hands. It’s impossible to do. Don’t believe what Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi tell you. 

Similarly, a moving head would be impossible to hit. It frustrates the opponent, causing them to tire out. In turn, it allows you to mount your attacks. 

Fortunately, head movement practice involves simple steps using items you’ll find at home. Do these enough, and you sharpen your awareness of incoming strikes. 

But if you want to add some realism to your training, a spar bar from Amazon should help. Don’t worry. They won’t cost you an arm and a leg. 

How to Land a Knockout Punch

Let’s get to the fun part. Here are a couple of ways to increase your chances of landing that knockout blow. 

Get Yourself a Free Standing Dummy

You’ve likely seen our review of the Bob Free Standing Dummy. If you haven’t yet, give it a read. It’s a pricey yet advantageous tool if you’re into combat sports or self-defense. Consider it an investment. 

A free-standing dummy like Bob gives you a clearer view of those off-switches we previously discussed because of its likened structure to an actual human body. It provides visuals that a regular heavy bag can’t. 

And while the dummy may give you the license to whale away, be clever with your attacks. Hone your fundamentals. Approach your training sessions like how you would an actual fight. 

Spar More (But Safely)

Likewise, we encourage you to read our previous piece on sparring for the first time. Whether you’re a beginner or otherwise, the article serves as a helpful reminder of how to behave during those arduous sessions. 

In this case, sparring allows you to hone your techniques in real time. You’ll get to sharpen your reactions while finding openings for that clean counter shot. 

But remember: spar safely. Practicing effective execution is the primary goal. It’s never about taking your training partner out and sending them home with a concussion.

Be Deceptive 

As we mentioned, the most lethal strikes are the ones you don’t see coming. Throwing a predictable haymaker in a street fight would only lead to undesirable consequences.

Be deceptive if you want to increase your chances of landing that knockout punch. Start with a few flicker jabs to overload the system. You can even mix it up by targeting both the head and body. 

When you see them flinch or bite into your fakes, you’ve got them. Now you have the opening for that one-hitter quitter. 

Train Yourself For that Knockout Punch

Whether you’re trying to avoid or land a knockout punch, go to the gym and train. Prepare for a prizefight and arm yourself with the proper situational awareness for a street scenario. 

Don’t forget to gear up, of course. Your essential kit should include a mouth guard, a pair of boxing gloves, and hand wraps. All of these you’ll find in an online store like Decathlon, a one-stop shop for affordable sports merchandise. A headgear is optional but train safely if you opt to ditch it. We cannot stress that enough.