Welcome to the latest edition of Missed Fists where we shine a light on fights from across the globe that may have been overlooked in these hectic times where it seems like there’s an MMA show every other day.
Last weeks we showcased some incredible submissions, which seemed to have come out of nowhere. However, these types of amazing things are rare in combat sports. This theme is continuing this week, as submission defense is something we enjoy the most in low-level MMA.
Though in this first instance, that kind of defense proves to be just right.
(Big thanks as always to @Barrelelapierna for their weekly lists of the best KOs and submissions, and to @Grabaka_Hitman for uploading many of the clips you see here. Give them a follow and chip in on Patreon if you can. )
Dominique Simon vs. Luke Brinkworth
We’re told time and time again what a fundamentally poor idea it is to attempt to slam your way out of submissions. In most instances, you’re only going to sink yourself in deeper, assuming your opponent knows what they’re doing.
Amateur featherweight Dominique Simon stated that you could take conventional fighter wisdom and push it.
Increible azote de Dominique Simon ayer en XFC 58! pic.twitter.com/8dWsyjrf3y
— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) September 4, 2022
Credit his opponent Luke Brinkworth for clinging on there even as Simon set him up for what would turn out to be a willing slam. Really though, how could he have seen this coming? This is essentially an incidental headbutt knockout.
Here is another view, thanks to RIZIN and UFC veteran Damien Brown.
The reverse @Rampage4real slam from last nights @xfc_australia card
All part of the game plan no doubt pic.twitter.com/tpE04vrcwh
— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) September 4, 2022
I mean, that is OUT out.
If you want to see more from Xtreme Fighting Champions 58, you can catch a pay-per-view replay here.
Giorgi Kotorashvili vs. Puriya Nemati
Mariam Torchinava vs. Arab Mozghan
Shermurat Kalilov vs. Khvicha Koridze
Zipping over to Batumi, Georgia, we have more questionable defense and decision making, starting with Giorgi Kotorashvili catching a kimura from a rare angle.
Giorgi Kotorashvili subs Puriya Nemati just over 1 minute into the first. There aren’t many kimuras that end there. #GFC17 pic.twitter.com/nSTexlKyMZ
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 2, 2022
Poor Puriya Nemati, the commentary was just merciless. Look how badly that arm is getting bent! Let’s see any of you remember your step-by-step jiu-jitsu lessons in that situation.
The same could be said for Arab Mozghan, who didn’t offer much resistance when Mariam Torchinava peeled her off the fence and put on a – to put it nicely – deliberately paced standing rear-naked choke.
Mariam Torchinava chokes Arab Mozghan unconscious after snatching her neck with a literal standing RNC #GFC17 pic.twitter.com/cWdEo2raXH
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 2, 2022
This was Mozghan’s first pro fight, so it can only go up from here.
When it comes to going up, Khvicha Kordze won’t think twice about what he will do in the future when he gets off the ground.
Shermurat Kalilov KO’s Khvicha Koridze with a beautifully timed right hand and GNP as Koridze tries getting to his feet. That was crazy. And new GFC Featherweight champ #GFC17 pic.twitter.com/ToD8bVVLLt
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 2, 2022
You’ve got to know that the referee isn’t actually separating you, my guy. You need to get your hands on the ball!
Excellent work by Shermurat Kalilov though to pounce on the opportunity and claim a flyweight title.
You can catch a free replay of Georgian Fighting Championship 17 on their YouTube.
Gabriella Ribeiro vs. Nina da Silva
Carlos Prates vs. Charles de Oliveira
Talisson Teixeira vs. Fernando Kato
Marcio Andrade vs. Luis Nogueira
From Standout Fighting Tournament 37 in Sao Paulo, we have Gabriella Ribeiro scoring a truly life-changing knockout in a kickboxing bout (with MMA gloves).
Man, insane KO by Gabriella Ribeiro at SFT 37 (Kickboxing rules)
All the blood was from a split lip in R1. Vicious finish pic.twitter.com/KiMOybpCD5
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 4, 2022
Seriously, that’s the kind of thumping that rearranges your priorities and has you questioning every decision you’ve made up to that point. Straight nastiness.
In the main event, Carlos Prates won a vacant welterweight title with the best jab I’ve seen since Georges St-Pierre invented MMA jabbing at UFC 124.
Carlos Prates KO1 Charles de Oliveira. That was crazy, a single jab completely scrambled him. New SFT welterweight champ. #SFT37 pic.twitter.com/mdmyFZB8sd
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 4, 2022
Speaking of great one-shot knockouts, here’s Talisson Teixeira biding his time until he landed the perfect counter punch and picked up a win in just 24 seconds.
24 second uppercut KO by Talison Teixeira (3-0)#SFT37 pic.twitter.com/R7Fzft4WwZ
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 4, 2022
And we can’t leave Brazil without talking about Marcio Andrade’s excellent finish of Bellator vet Luis Nogueira and the even better post-fight antics.
Marcio Andrade KO1 Luis Nogueira. Plus an interesting celebration. Rough one for Betao #SFT37 pic.twitter.com/GKgjkIhWSM
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 4, 2022
This is one of those parties where everyone at home goes, “I can do that…if I want to .”
Ivana Petrovic vs. Alexandra Tekenah
Slim Trabelsi vs. Azamat Nuftillaev
The UFC’s debut in France was this weekend. But, let’s not forget Fernand Lopez’s promotion of Ares FC has kept it down for some time now.
At Ares FC 8 in Paris (available for replay on UFC Fight Pass), they crowned two new champions as Ivana Petrovic won a vacant flyweight belt with a submission of Alexandra Tekenah, and Slim Trabelsi put away an exhausted Azamat Nuftillaev to claim a vacant heavyweight title.
Ivana Siric is the @ARES_Fighting flyweight champion!
[ #ARES8 | | on #UFCFIGHTPASS ] pic.twitter.com/bz0d5VQw9Q
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) September 2, 2022
Slim Trabelsi is the @ARES_Fighting heavyweight champion!
[ #ARES8 | | on #UFCFIGHTPASS ] pic.twitter.com/QhMIE0S4X4
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) September 2, 2022
French MMA is en feu!
Abraham Nava vs. Guillermo Torres
Luis Guerrero vs. Fredy Villegas
At Lux Fight League 26 in Mexico City, Abraham Nava is our runner-up for most brutal knockout of the week as he caught a kick and absolutely HAMMERED opponent Guillermo Torres while he was still on one leg.
OUT COLD
[ #LUX026 | | on #UFCFIGHTPASS ] pic.twitter.com/mMtYejevvE
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) September 3, 2022
In the co-main event, Luis Guerrero gives us our Humpty Dumpty Fall of the Week as he ran through Fredy Villegas for a knockout with seconds remaining in Round 1.
LUIS “PANTERA” GUERRERO!!!
[ #LUX026 | | on #UFCFIGHTPASS ] pic.twitter.com/QgvqHaPSkS
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) September 3, 2022
Kenan Bayramov vs. Dmitry Yambikov
And we can’t depart without mentioning Kenan Bayramov’s spectacular falling wheel kick from Rage Arena 4.
That strike didn’t quite put away Dmitry Yambikov, but it was the beginning of the end, and the flurry that actually ended the fight was just as fun.
HOLY SHIT Kenan Bayramov! #RageArena4 pic.twitter.com/Wr1N0jzCBn
— Matysek (@Matysek88) September 2, 2022
ICYMI, make sure to check out Guilherme Cruz’s follow-up with Zuluzinho on the knockout loss he suffered this past weekend in Russia after being the victim of an unconventional standup rule. Because there’s always room for another bizarre Zuluzinho episode.
Until next time, remember: The primary goal of martial arts is to teach self defense.
Gun and knife disarm demonstration at this event in Brazil. Seems legit pic.twitter.com/adua0hx80P
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 4, 2022
If you know of a recent fight or event that you think may have been overlooked, or a promotion that could use some attention, please let us know on Twitter – @AlexanderKLee – using the hashtag #MissedFists.