Length: 57 mins

NOT even three or four deep into the long list of featured knock outs, I endeavoured to count the number of times UFC commentator, Joe Rogan would flex his expertise and proclaim 'On the button'.  Unfortunately a few KO's later, I had given up.  It was simply too much for one man to take, sometimes several repetitions per highlight.  And considering my childhood affinity with counting, I felt I had let myself down. Whether it was counting how long I could hold my breath or generally just counting for counting sake, I loved it and never before had I been beaten. Dam you Rogan.

The Knockouts

• UFC 52
  Chuck Liddell vs Randy Couture
• Ultimate Fighter Finale
  Rich Franklin vs Ken Shamrock
• UFC 53
  Nick Diaz vs Koji Oishi
  David Loiseau vs Charles McCarthy
  Nate Quarry vs Shonie Carter
• Ultimate Fight Night 1
  Mike Swick vs Gideon Ray
• UFC 54
  Tim Sylvia vs Tra Telligman
  James Irvin vs Terry Martin
• Ultimate Fight Night 2
  Brandon Vera vs Fabiano Scherner
• UFC 55
  Forrest Griffin vs Elvis Sinosic
  Andrei Arlovski vs Paul Buentello
• Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale
  Josh Burkman vs Sam Morgan
• UFC 56
  Rich Franklin vs Nate Quarry
  Thiago Alves vs Ansar Chalangov
  Gabriel Gonzaga vs Kevin Jordan
• Ultimate Fight Night 3
  Chris Leben vs Jorge Rivera
  Duane Ludwig vs Jonathan Goulet
• UFC 57
  Chuck Liddell vs Randy Couture
  Brandon Vera vs Justin Eilers
• UFC 59
  Thiago Alves vs Derrick Noble
  Tim Sylvia vs Andrei Arlovski
• UFC 60
  Spencer Fisher vs Matt Wiman
  Melvin Guillard vs Rick Davis
  Gabriel Gonzaga vs Fabiano Scherner
  Matt Hughes vs Royce Gracie
• Ultimate Fighter 3 Finale
  Michael Bisping vs Josh Haynes
  Luigi Fioravanti vs Solomon Hutchinson
• Ultimate Fight Night 5
  Jorge Santiago vs Justin Levens
  Anderson Silva vs Chris Leben
  

UFC Ultimate Knockouts 5, presented by Mike Goldberg (a colleague of my newest nemesis, therefore guilty through association) features 29 fights in total from UFC 52 - 60, Ultimate Fight Nights 1 - 5 and The Ultimate Fighter Finales 1 - 3.

As a general rule, I'm not a huge fan of highlight reel DVDs, I prefer to watch fights in their entirety (call me old-fashioned).  But surely the allure of MMA, and the reason so many people are turning to it, is that it's a combination of disciplines all working in harmony, giving each fight a multitude of outcomes and the sport its unpredictable appeal.

Besides that, the significance of a knockout often outweighs the knockout itself (I think it was Steven Seagal who first said that).  In other  words, the sheer enormity of a knockout is often in the context, which could be emphasised by extended background information on each bout, but then you risk losing the fast paced formula of the DVD, which no doubt works for many people.

The DVD starts with fan favourite, Chuck Liddell seeking revenge against the UFC's old friend, Randy Couture at UFC 52 and hurries through a long list of popular, and not-so popular, fighters in little over half an hour, which is not enough in my estimation. The short clips act as an enticing introduction for UFC newcomers though, like a free buffet it allows you to sample what's on offer without committing to just one dish from the menu before realising sweetbreads are actually the thymus glands from a calf. (Sorry, bad experience) Or perhaps it's more like getting your first bet for free and ultimately winning. But then you're hooked, and eventually you lose all your money, your house and your wife because you can't stop gambling. Now I'm not saying if you watch this DVD, you'll end up eating sweetbreads, or for that matter homeless, drinking what you hope is cider and begging for small change by the side of the road, but, you've been warned. (I'm not actually sure what would be worse) Anyway the DVD reaches its conclusion (just as you're getting settled) with middleweight archetype, Anderson Silva's first outing in the UFC, which leads me to criticise just how current the highlights are.

Many long running fans will have undoubtedly witnessed the knockouts as they happened meaning the DVD offers very little. After one watch, it becomes more or less redundant.  Plus you feel many subsequent knockouts could have made it onto the list, for example Rich Franklin's meetings with Anderson Silva, but I guess they're being saved for the inevitable release of Ultimate Knockouts 6.

Its only saving grace is that there are, as there should be, some ‘poetry in motion' style knockouts that are a joy to watch. All I'll say is James Irvin - flying knee. Enjoy.

Points: 3 / 10

Ian Allen

Buy It:

UK: DVD

USA: DVD