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MMAjunkie's 'Knockout of the Month' for April: A violent elbow or head kicks galore?

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMAjunkie looks at the best knockouts from April.

Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMAjunkie’s “Knockout of the Month” award for April.

At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting on your choice.

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The nominees

Rafael Carvalho def. Melvin Manhoef at Bellator 176

After two consecutive title matchups, Bellator middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho appears to have Melvin Manhoef’s number.

Following his highly controversial split-decision win over Manhoef (30-13-1 MMA, 2-3 BMMA) in the duo’s first meeting a year ago, Carvalho (14-1 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) again looked like he was on his way to a loss – before a vicious fourth-round head kick brought about an abrupt and violent end to the fight.

Sabina Mazo def. Jamie Thornton at LFA 9

A momentary lapse in defense gave Sabina Mazo an impressive highlight-reel finish against Jamie Thornton in their women’s flyweight matchup.

Thornton (4-3) dropped her guard against the long-legged Mazo (3-0) at exactly the wrong time in the closing seconds of the first round and took a head kick that sent her to the mat stiff as a board, her head bouncing off the canvas.

Honorio Banario def. Jaroslav Jartim at ONE Championship 54

Honorio Banario (12-6) extended his winning streak to four with a brutal one-punch knockout of Jaroslav Jartim (8-6-1), ending their lightweight fight in highlight-reel fashion.

Banario’s striking and grappling were both on point from the outset. He connected with a perfect combination of punches 91 seconds into the second round.

A.J. McKee def. Dominic Mazzotta at Bellator 178

Featherweight prospect A.J. McKee (8-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) rebounded from his toughest fight to date with a crushing knockout when he took out Dominic Mazzotta (12-2 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) to tie the record for most consecutive Bellator wins with eight.

Just past the one-minute mark of the opening frame, McKee launched a head kick that was partially blocked by Mazzotta, yet still connected cleanly. Mazzotta was out before he hit the canvas, with the referee calling a halt to the bout just 75 seconds after it began.

Mike Perry def. Jake Ellenberger at UFC Fight Night 108

Despite more than 40 fights on his resume, Jake Ellenberger (31-13 MMA, 10-9 UFC) probably didn’t even see it coming. How could he? The finish to the welterweight fight happened so fast.

Ellenberger was locked up in a clinch with Mike Perry (10-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) when, suddenly, in the second round, Perry pulled back and landed an elbow to Ellenberger’s face that put him to sleep before he hit the mat. Though the fight got off to a tentative start, the finish did not disappoint.

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The Winner: Mike Perry

With blood gushing from his nose, Perry seemed to be getting just the kind of fight he enjoys from Ellenberger.

A left hook by Perry hurt Ellenberger, but a hard right elbow in close knocked him out cold before he hit the floor, bringing a sudden end to the fight at the 1:05 mark of Round 2.

It was a violent end to a fight that got off to somewhat of a tentative start. With Perry looking to walk Ellenberger down while avoiding the threat of the takedown, the exchanges started to come hotter and heavier late in the opening round, and soon both men were bleeding from the nose.

It was early in the second when a Perry left hook briefly put Ellenberger down, and when Perry went to follow up the blood poured from his nose and onto Ellenberger’s back as he scrambled back to his feet.

But with both men in close, Perry timed a right elbow strike perfectly, hammering Ellenberger’s nose and sending him pitching back onto the canvas, his head bouncing up as his arms went stiff in front of him.

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