Chris Barnett Record: 23-10-0

UFC run and the viral knockout

Barnett arrived in the UFC in 2021 and immediately ran into trouble, getting submitted by veteran Ben Rothwell via guillotine in his debut. He answered in unforgettable fashion at UFC 268 inside Madison Square Garden later that year, landing a stunning spinning wheel kick on Gian Villante and following up with ground strikes for a second-round TKO — a knockout that went viral and remains one of the most memorable heavyweight finishes in recent memory. He dropped a 2022 decision to Martin Buday, then rebounded by stopping Jake Collier with punches at UFC 279. His most recent stretch has been difficult, with a 2024 TKO loss to Kennedy Nzechukwu at UFC 308 and a 2025 decision loss to Hamdy Abdelwahab at UFC 321.

Fighting style

Barnett is a finisher, plain and simple: 18 of his 23 wins have come by KO or TKO, a finishing rate near 80 percent that reflects his taekwondo-bred power and willingness to throw spinning and jumping techniques most heavyweights would never attempt. His compact frame gives him surprising speed and agility for the division, and his hands carry knockout pop in either glove. The flip side is the obvious physical disadvantage — at 5'9" against towering heavyweights, reach and grappling have repeatedly been his undoing, with several of his losses coming by submission or against rangier, more technical opponents.

Career highlights

• Viral spinning wheel kick KO — flattened Gian Villante at UFC 268 in Madison Square Garden with one of the most spectacular heavyweight finishes in recent UFC history.
• Knockout machine — 18 of his 23 wins by KO/TKO, a finishing rate near 80 percent built on an unorthodox, taekwondo-rooted striking arsenal.
• Globe-trotting veteran — competed across the U.S., Japan and South Korea for over a decade before reaching the UFC, with a notable win over 70-fight veteran Travis Wiuff.