Mic Drop Moments and High Stakes: A Recap of “Knockouts Part 3” on The Voice

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Female singer passionately performing on The Voice stage.


Mic Drop Moments and High Stakes: A Recap of “Knockouts Part 3†on The Voice.

Mic Drop

The third night of the Knockouts on Season 28 of The Voice (aired Nov 10, 2025) brought fierce matchups, no safety nets, and the season’s brand-new “Mic Drop†feature, raising the pressure even higher. In this episode, each coach, Michael Bublé, Reba McEntire, Niall Horan, and Snoop Dogg, paired two of their artists to perform individually head-to-head, then selected a single winner to move on. No steals and no saves were in play this time.

Four individuals posing together in a stylish indoor setting with brick walls.The first battle was on Team Reba: Conrad Khalil sang “Closer†(originally by Ne‑Yo) while his teammate Ryan Mitchell delivered “Zombie†by The Cranberries. Reba noted both were talented but ultimately believed Ryan brought a sound not often seen on the show. Ryan won and advanced, which meant Conrad was eliminated.

Team Bublé

Next, on Team Bublé, the first matchup featured Marty O’Reilly singing “The Letter†by Joe Cocker, and Rob Cole performing “Wondering Why†by The Red Clay Strays. Michael told Marty to build softly and that Rob needed to unleash more. In the end, Rob was picked to move forward, and Marty was sent home.

Four individuals posing together in a stylish indoor setting with brick walls.

Also on Team Bublé, the other face-off was between Trinity and Jack Austin. Trinity performed “I’m Your Baby Tonight†by Whitney Houston, while Jack’s full performance was largely montaged (and thus not fully shown on-air). Michael chose Trinity, meaning Jack’s journey ended even though viewers didn’t get to hear his entire performance.

Team Niall

Finally, on Team Niall, the dramatic pairing featured trio group DEK of Hearts performing “What If I Never Get Over You†by Lady A, and country-singer Kayleigh Clark singing “Blue†by LeAnn Rimes (complete with a bit of yodeling). Niall admitted how tough this decision was. In the end, he picked DEK of Hearts as the winner — and also pressed his Mic Drop button, meaning DEK becomes the first Mic Drop recipient of the season and gets the chance to perform at the Rose Parade

That Mic Drop moment is significant: for the first time, each coach can elevate one artist with a direct pathway to a special performance at the Rose Parade (on Jan 1, 2026). It’s both a boost for the artist and a statement from the coach. Niall felt DEK was a standout and wanted America to hear more of them.

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After all the results, here are the updated teams heading into the Playoffs.

Team Bublé. Trinity, Rob Cole, Jazz McKenzie, Teo Ramdel, Max Chambers.

Team Reba. Aaron Nichols, Cori Kennedy, Peyton Kyle, Aubrey Nicole, Austin Gilbert, Ryan Mitchell.

Team Niall. Ava Nat, DEK of Hearts, Aiden Ross, Kirbi, Dustin Dale Gaspard.

Team Snoop. Yoshihanaa, Carolina Rodriguez, Ralph Edwards, Toni Lorene, Lauren Anderson, Mindy Miller.

Viewers Raised Eyebrows

As for drama, viewers raised eyebrows over Jack Austin’s treatment. His performance was barely shown. He was eliminated, leaving many fans feeling he never got a fair chance. The reality of “no steals, no saves†means these Knockouts feel particularly brutal: once you’re picked for a matchup, it’s win or go home.

Episode 12 delivered strong performances, big emotional stakes, and the first-ever Mic Drop. Delivering momentum to DEK of Hearts. With the Playoffs ahead, we now have a clearer picture of who might go all the way and who’s already gone home.