Pettis' kick was phenomenal. Don't get me wrong. And when you factor in the fact that it was the main event...for the belt and all, it seems even more impressive.
But for me....
Sato's flying armar is still the most amazing thing I've seen in MMA. I've always sided with submission guys though, so I may be biased. But that's the most bad-ass thing I've ever seen.
Pettis' kick comes in at number 2.
no, jumping off the cage and kicking a dude in the face is more impressive.
It's hard to compare really. The body scissor, inverted flying heel hook Chonan pulled off was amazing. Toby Imada's upside down reverse triangle was sick. But Pettis's kick is right up there.
Sato's flying Armbar is great, but we've seen other great flying armbars before (Vinny's on Pe de Pano at ADCC 2009 comes to mind).
I've never seen what Pettis did before, add the timing factor, and its hard to fathom something cooler. Each to their own though.
Datguy - no, jumping off the cage and kicking a dude in the face is more impressive.
+1
Sagiv Lapkin - Imada reverse triangle.
This is the sub that sticks out in my mind. But I still favor the Showtime Kick over that. The timing needed to execute something of that magnitude makes the kick that much more impressive.
1'ers gonna 1!
When something amazing happens in MMA some douchebag always has to make a thread saying otherwise. 
That kick was right out of a martial arts movie. I think it's the most amazing thing I've seen in MMA.
At least until someone cage walks into a backflip onto the other guy's back right into the RNC, or something like that.
It wouldve been even more amazing if Henderson was knocked out, how did he take that kick ? He recovered well. Props to that guy. I loved Pettis' stand up, he was very confident there. He was looking passed all of the former champs strikes, and countering really well. He was the aggressor and was very active on bottom. The way he fights is just exciting, win or lose he is worth watching 60% of the time 100% of the time.
Most amazing thing I've ever seen. Literally out of a Jet Li flick.
Most Amazing thing I have ever seen. I was watching it with a group of people and all of our jaws hit the ground, it was a collective silence followed by the whole room going crazy. It was incredible.
BMKBA - It wouldve been even more amazing if Henderson was knocked out, how did he take that kick ? He recovered well. Props to that guy. I loved Pettis' stand up, he was very confident there. He was looking passed all of the former champs strikes, and countering really well. He was the aggressor and was very active on bottom. The way he fights is just exciting, win or lose he is worth watching 60% of the time 100% of the time.
i have no clue how he recovered. he took that knee, then that amazing kick, and then his head smacked the canvas hard after the kick....yet he still fought on. bendo is freaking nails! great great fight and i can't wait for pettis, aldo, and all the WEC vets to bring some exciting fights to the UFC!
It was amazing no doubt but I somewhat agree with the OP. I think he kets a clean KO on a Ben Henderson and then it's the greatest thing in MMA ever. Pettis' problem was that he kicked Ben and not someone else.
While not a KO shot, the kick did decide the fight. It was pretty much even prior to it. The drama involved made a difference. Best ever? It's at least top 3.
Plus the kick was against top competition, where as Sato's flying armbar was prolly vrs someone who didn't have any idea it was coming.
i got the Rampage slam and the Showtime kick dead even at #1. Imada, Sato and Chonan are all up there as well. Honorable mention goes to the Randleplex.
There is no doubt that Anthony Pettis pulled off one of the coolest moves ever in a sport filled with a history of cool moves.
Legendary moment!!!! We are all lucky to have witnessed it. Benson was awesome too. The kick just overshadows everything, even one of the fights of the year (which I believe that was).
RIP WEC
b0bb0 - Plus the kick was against top competition, where as Sato's flying armbar was prolly vrs someone who didn't have any idea it was coming.
You could argue NO ONE, including Ben, knew that kick was coming.
you have to take into account much more than the ridiculous technique involved in a move no one has ever seen before.
This wasn't some Capoeira guy fighting a no name on a card in the back alleys of brazil.
1-The level of competition involved in the person who ate the kick to the face. Bendo is elite and was a champion for a reason not some guy on bully beatdown who you can showcase things on.
2-The marquee of the fight and its implications, this was as someone already named the last round, of the last title fight of the last card of an amazing org of an even fight to that point. People dream of rising to the occasion on the third out bases loaded game seven of the series type situations. Now picture it being the last series ever to be played in a particular storied stadium and you have an equal moment This move was the grandslam to close out the WEC.
3. the implications - this move won the title for a challenger and a shot to fight for the title in the UFC in his next fight what other move in history has done that?
4. Opportunity, the stars truly lined up for this to occur (last show last round title fight etc) but that only adds to the magic of it all.
I challenge anyone to find a single move in MMA that was this important to not just a fighter but the organization AND spectacular at the exact same time.
KC007 - When something amazing happens in MMA some douchebag always has to make a thread saying otherwise. <img src="/images/phone/post_tag.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>
I'm pretty sure I clearly stated that it was very impressive and think it's the 2nd most impressive thing I've seen in MMA. I think that's an ample amount of credit.
It was absolutely amazing. Jumping off of a cage and kicking someone in the face is ridiculous.
However, imo, jumping up and latching your entire body onto someone's arm while their standing, completely fresh, 6 seconds into a fight is more impressive.