The best UFC knockouts of 2016 (so far)

If the UFC's second half of the year is anything like the first half, there will be plenty to look forward to.

Six months and 15 fight cards into 2016, fans have been treated to a bevy of sensational knockouts. Some are notable for their sheer spectacle while others for the story behind the brutality.

With UFC 200 just around the corner, now is a good time to assess the damage that we've seen in the Octagon so far.

Related: The best UFC submissions of 2016 (so far)

Yair Rodriguez def. Andre Fili (UFC 197, April 23)

The featherweight winner of the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America", Yair Rodriguez is being pegged as the next big thing at 145 pounds.

The 23-year-old did not disappoint against Andre Fili. He stunned him with a leaping kick to the head that was preceded by what looked like "El Pantera" stepping on Fili's leg to add elevation to the strike.

Just insane.

Michael Bisping def. Luke Rockhold (UFC 199, June 4)

Going into UFC 199, Michael Bisping was known for two things: never winning the big one and wearing down foes over the course of three rounds to earn his victories.

Both those narratives were obliterated when he left Luke Rockhold completely limp against the Octagon fence in under four minutes to become the new UFC middleweight champion.

Dan Henderson def. Hector Lombard (UFC 199, June 4)

19 years into his MMA career, "Hendo" is still finding new ways to thrill us.

Smart money had Hector Lombard putting the UFC's oldest fighter down early, but Dan Henderson survived getting dropped in the first round and responded with a never-before-seen KO that involved him throwing a wild elbow while hopping on one leg.

Diego Rivas def. Noad Lahat (UFC Fight Night 82, Feb.6)

Sometimes the best defense is a good offense.

Diego Rivas had enough of Noad Lahat's submission skills after being dominated in the first round, so he stopped the next grappling attempt in the second by crushing a charging Lahat with a flying knee.

Stipe Miocic def. Fabricio Werdum (UFC 198, May 14)

Stipe Miocic took advantage of an uncharacteristically reckless Fabricio Werdum to capture heavweight gold.

The opening minutes of their UFC 199 title clash were going well for Miocic, which may explain why Werdum desperately rushed in to try and close the distance.

Werdum is a durable fighter who had only been knocked out once in his career; unfortunately, he ran face first into a blistering counter right from Miocic that put him face down on the canvas.

Mark Hunt def. Frank Mir (UFC Fight Night 85, Mar. 20)

All you need to know about Mark Hunt's one-punch KO of Frank Mir is the way he walks off without waiting for the referee to jump in, and the sheepish look on his face that says, "Even I'm embarrassed by this power."

Stephen Thompson def. Johny Hendricks (UFC Fight Night 82, Feb. 6)

Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson put to rest any doubt that he is the next big thing at 170 pounds when he blitzed Johny Hendricks for a 1st-round TKO. The kickboxer's pinpoint striking was too much for Hendricks, who was finished for the first time in his career.

Steve Bosse def. James Te Huna (UFC Fight Night 85, Mar. 20)

In his days as a minor league hockey enforcer, Steve Bosse never had a knockout like this one.

Standing and trading with James Te Huna, Bosse landed a right hand that crumpled Te Huna and probably played a part in his decision to retire shortly after.

Oluwale Bamgbose def. Daniel Sarafian (UFC Fight Night 83, Feb. 21)

We're still trying to figure out what Oluwale Bamgbose did to Daniel Sarafian.

Employing some combination of interpretive jazz and sleight-of-hand wizardry, "The Holy War Angel" set Sarafian up for a fight-ending head kick from out of nowhere.

Scott Askham def. Chris Dempsey (UFC Fight Night 84, Feb. 27)

At 6-foot-3, Britain's Scott Askham has legs for days. And they were bad news for Chris Dempsey as an enormous head kick from Askham sent him crashing to the mat like a rag doll.