Top 5: Fastest UFC Finishes of 2025

Quick-strike capabilities being part of the Benoit St. Denis experience should come as no surprise to anyone.

The former French Special Forces operator once again asserted his dominance in the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight division when he dismissed an overweight Beneil Dariush with punches in the first round of their UFC 322 showcase on Nov. 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Dariush missed weight for the match by 1.2 pounds, forfeited a percentage of his purse and proceeded to bow out a mere 16 seconds into Round 1.

St. Denis did not require anything that resembled a feeling-out process. Dariush greeted him with a pair of jarring low kicks, one of which dropped him to a knee. An undeterred St. Denis moved back to his feet, engaged the Rafael Cordeiro disciple at close range and floored him with a crushing overhand left behind the ear. Dariush faceplanted where he stood and ate one final right hand before referee Herb Dean could rescue him.


It was the first sub-minute stoppage of St. Denis’ career and went into the books as the fastest UFC finish of 2025. The best of the rest:

Quillan Salkilld vs. Anshul Jubli

UFC 312
Feb. 8 | Sydney
Salkilld made a major splash in his promotional debut, as he punched out the Tiger Muay Thai export in the first round of their lightweight prelim at Qudos Bank Arena. Jubli folded 19 seconds into Round 1. Salkilld jabbed at the body and uncorked a few leg kicks while his adversary bounced on the balls of his feet. He then stepped forward and connected with a devastating overhand right that deposited Jubli on the canvas. The “Road to UFC” Season 1 winner immediately covered up to shield himself from further punishment—a move that prompted referee Jim Perdios to intervene on his behalf.

Qileng Aori vs. Cody Gibson

UFC Fight Night 262
Oct. 18 | Vancouver, British Columbia
Aori put away “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 31 finalist with punches in the first round of their bantamweight prelim at Rogers Arena. Gibson packed his bags 21 seconds into Round 1. Operating in the shadows of the Renier de Ridder-Brendan Allen main event, Aori bided his time, hunted the counter and walked the onetime Tachi Palace Fights titleholder into a brutal overhand right. The impact zapped Gibson where he stood and sent him crashing to the mat in a dazed state. Aori offered the American no refuge and followed up with hammerfists to seal his fate.

Jose Delgado vs. Hyder Amil

UFC 317
June 28 | Las Vegas
Delgado dispatched the Gilbert Melendez protégé with a knee strike and follow-up elbows in the first round of their featherweight prelim at T-Mobile Arena. No longer undefeated, Amil succumbed to blows 26 seconds into Round 1. Delgado answered his opponent’s aggression with violent precision. The MMA Lab prospect backed up a multi-punch volley with a crushing knee from the collar tie that set the stoppage in motion. An off-kilter Amil crashed to the canvas, where he was met with a pair of elbows before referee Marc Goddard could arrive on the scene.

Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja

UFC 323
Dec. 6 | Las Vegas
Van laid claim to the undisputed flyweight championship, albeit in anticlimactic fashion, when “The Cannibal” suffered a fight-ending arm injury in their co-main event at T-Mobile Arena. Pantoja saw his 882-day reign atop the 125-pound weight class grind to an unceremonious halt 26 seconds into Round 1. Van withstood the initial barrage from the American Top Team-trained Brazilian and maintained his composure under heavy fire. Pantoja threw himself off-balance with a head kick, collapsed backward and attempted to brace his fall with his left arm. The weight proved too much for the appendage to handle and resulted in a graphic snap-crackle-pop injury that resulted in an immediate stoppage.