Best Body Strikers In UFC History

Nothing gets a crowd roaring like a perfectly-landed body shot. The body shot has become one of the most well-known and effective weapons in combat sports today. Although its inception originally came via boxing, "going to the body" has gradually become an effective weapon to add to the arsenal of mixed martial artists. Fans have been treated to numerous memorable body shots that have crippled opponents and led to highlight-reel knockouts. As MMA continues to grow in popularity and gain a worldwide following, the body strike will continue to become a weapon that combatants aim to enhance and use in their offensive attack.

RELATED: 5 Celebrities Who Are Fans Of MMA (& 5 Who Hate It)

10 Mark Hominick

Despite a relatively short career in the UFC, Mark Hominick was one of the first to put body strikes to good use when he defeated Leonard Garcia by successfully working powerful head-body combinations. He continued to use them during his time in the UFC, especially in his five-round war against Jose Aldo. Hominick finished his mixed martial arts career in 2012 and compiled a 20-12 professional record.

9 Fabio Maldonado

© Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports\n"">

If there is one thing Fabio Maldonado was known for, it was his prolific boxing combinations that would cripple his opponents and slowly but surely wear out their gas tank. His knockout of Hans Stringer was one of the most significant moments of his career as he jumped onto the top of the cage and celebrated with fellow Brazilian, Anderson Silva.

Maldonado would consistently attack the body of his opponents, throwing powerful yet accurate hooks in an effort to tire them out and drag them into the later rounds. He took part in one of the most entertaining fights of 2016 when he faced the legendary Fedor Emelianenko in a three-round war. Maldonado compiled an impressive 19 wins via knockout and his use of body strikes was certainly one of his most frequently used weapons.

8 Stipe Miocic

Stipe Miocic is definitely not the biggest or strongest heavyweight in UFC history. However, his patience and use of a tactical game plan would exploit his opponent's weaknesses. The former champion pulled off one of the most prolific finishes in UFC heavyweight history when he faced Daniel Cormier at UFC 241.

RELATED: Nick Diaz Vs Anderson Silva (& 9 Other Shockingly Bad UFC Fights)

After losing the first three rounds, Miocic started ripping to the body of Cormier with powerful left hooks that would eventually lead to a masterful finishing sequence. He is one of the better boxers on the UFC roster and continues to employ body strikes in his wide array of offensive attacks.

7 Edson Barboza

© Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports\n"">

Edson Barboza makes striking look effortless, plain and simple. The Brazil native is one of the most dynamic strikers in UFC history, recording numerous highlight-reel knockouts which include a jaw-dropping spinning back kick KO at the expense of Terry Etim. His body strike knockouts over Dan Hooker and Evan Dunham are some of the best to date as he continously looks to throw powerful hooks and lightning-quick body kicks to the midsection of his opponents.

6 Jon Jones

Jon Jones's dynamic reach and height advantage over the majority of his opponents allows him to effortlessly dictate the range of his strikes. This has led to the former champion consistently using knees, kicks, crosses, and hooks in his offensive, while he looks to break his opponents and make them quit.

The thunderous body knee he landed on Shogun Rua is one of his most famous knockouts, and to this day is a highly-viewed UFC highlight. Jones has consistently made body strikes a significant part of his game plan throughout his MMA career.

5 Max Holloway

There are not many fighters in the running for best boxing in MMA. But Max Holloway has consistently been one of those names as the former featherweight kingpin continues to impress using his volume striking.

RELATED: Jon Jones Vs Daniel Cormier (& 9 Other Trilogies We'll Never Get)

The Hawaii native notoriously attacked the bodies of Justin Lawrence and Anthony Pettis in the finishing sequences before scoring impressive TKO victories. Holloway has the utmost confidence in his striking and continues to dominate opponents on his feet while infamously attacking the body as he presses forward.

4 Junior dos Santos

© Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports\n"">

Junior dos Santos is considered one of the best boxers in UFC history. A true legend of the sport who has particpated in many top-level, highly-promoted fights.

One of his most notable wins came at the expense of Shane Carwin when dos Santos utterly dominated his stronger foe with superior boxing and footwork. Despite no longer being with the UFC, dos Santos will be remembered as one of the best strikers of all time.

3 John Lineker

© Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports\n"">

It takes a special kind of striker to earn the name "Hands of Stone." John Lineker did just that by compiling sixteen professional wins by way of knockout. Despite not being the fastest fighter during his time with the UFC, Lineker would rip the body of his opponents with powerful looping hooks that would eventually lead to a knockout victory.

His victory over Phil Harris was especially devastating as Lineker repeatedly threw to the body before landing a thunderous right hook that sent him crashing to the canvas. Lineker now competes in ONE Championship where he continues to make exceptional use of his powerful hands.

2 Jose Aldo

It is impossible to imagine a UFC fighter who throws a left hook/cross/leg-kick combination as gracefully as Jose Aldo. His striking will be remembered after he retires due to his masterful Muay Thai, vicious legs kicks, and of course, that left hook to the body. He has consistently been of the best to do it, which has led to 17 professional victories via knockout.

After losing to Max Holloway twice in a row, Aldo bounced back swiftly when he took on fellow power striker, Jeremy Stephens. He landed his signature left hook to the body that set up a devastating finishing sequence. He quickly reminded UFC and fans that he was more than capable of competing with the top of the division and to this day, he continues to compete at the highest level.

1 Nick Diaz

© Jayne Kamin-Oncea - USA Today Sports"">

Of all the body strikers in UFC history, nobody did it quite like Nick Diaz. He was notorious for head/body combinations that would quite literally crumble his opponents as they leaned on the cage in an effort to continue standing. Diaz's right hook to the body knockout of Frank Shamrock still remains one of the most legendary finishing sequences in MMA history.

Although he was never able to realize his goal of becoming a UFC Champion, Nick Diaz will certainly go down as one of the most popular MMA fighters in history.