Strip away the skill, the big names, and, at its very simplest, combat sports fans just love seeing knockouts.
Whether you enjoy the beautiful grappling exchanges between two elite jiu-jitsu practitioners, the gritty battle two wrestlers endure to enforce their game, the sweet science behind boxing, or anything in between, nothing quite compares to watching one fighter render another unconscious.
That’s exactly what Dwjuan White did. Slam finishes are a rare commodity in MMA. There are some memorable ones from the past that stand above all, with Rampage Jackson‘s arguably the most iconic. But there’s a new contender in town.
During his 15th amateur bout, White found himself in a precarious position. Opponent Tyler Sample had his back, threatening to lock in the rear naked choke. To combat the submission attempt, White jumped in the air and slammed Sample backward. After an initial failed try, White ended the fight with a sickening slam, leaving Sample lifeless.
Watch Dwjuan White push himself into the knockout of the year discussion with his slam win over Tyler Sample in the video below.
Wow 🤯
— Spectation Sports (@SpectationNet) October 17, 2026
Dwjuan White KOs Tyler Sample pic.twitter.com/buPHVLBUyq
Mixed martial arts finds itself at a crossroads.
With the UFC at the forefront, there has been a shift from wanting the best fighters in the world to collide, something promotions once prided themselves on. In recent years, being the best isn’t automatically what is being sought. Companies, starting with the UFC, are looking for fighters who get fans out of their seats without necessarily having to be at the pinnacle of their careers. And while there has been much pushback from fans, the sentiment remains the same: viewers want to see knockouts.
However, no matter how the sport evolves i, or where it is decades in the future, there will always be room for spectacular, bizarre, and unusual knockouts.