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.
Unsurprisingly, UFC’s return to business did not bring MMA back to normal. But you could argue it did. MMA is naturally as f ****** bizarre as can be. This is good news for Missed Fists, as it signifies that there’s still chaos in both the international and regional scenes.
On that note, let’s check out an armbar variation that I, for one, have never seen before.
(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. )
Daniel Boehle vs. Dallas Manspile
Preston Leonard vs. Shinya Nakamura
We’re looking at inexperienced pros and amateurs at a recent Showcase MMA event in Kingsport, Tenn., which means finishes that you’d rarely see in higher level competition. Case in point, Daniel Boehle somehow managed to lock in an armbar by just throwing his legs out, pulling his opponent’s arm through, and bending it across his thigh until he secured a verbal submission.
It’s a done deal, Dan Boehle with the arm bar submission!! #ShowcaseMMA29 #MMA pic.twitter.com/qF97DCp8fB
— Spectation Sports (@SpectationNet) January 15, 2023
I can’t blame him, the stunningly monikered Dallas Manspile. It looked awful! Manspile’s seemingly innocent position might have been worse because he may not have known he was at risk until too late.
While we’re on the subject of awkward finishes, how about amateur Preston Leonard just tackling Shinya Nakamura and ending up in full mount before battering him for the stoppage?
Preston Leonard with a huge TKO in Round One! #TKO #ShowcaseMMA29 pic.twitter.com/pcy4CI7QaK
— Spectation Sports (@SpectationNet) January 14, 2023
Leonard wrestling like an honorary Nurmagomedov out here.
Walel Watson vs. Marvin Garcia
Not only do we have a cool choke-out to look at, this next clip also serves as a “Hey, remember that guy?” as former UFC fighter Walel Watson scored his first win in five and a half years at a Lights Out Xtreme Fighting show in Commerce, Calif.
Walel Watson just strangled a man unconscious at LXF 8. No escaping that guillotine. This ref paid attention. pic.twitter.com/MZfaqnZoeD
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) January 15, 2023
Watson knows from experience that a choke should not be released until the referee intervenes. Fortunately, this official in the cage was there to help. It’s nice to see Watson get a win as he was part of the formative years of the UFC’s bantamweight division, a time that included going the distance in a loss to future champion T.J. Dillashaw.
Tesshin Isobe vs. Yoshitomo Inoue
Shoji Saito vs. Yasuyuki Nojiri
Ayaka Watanabe vs. Mina Kurobe
We love low-level MMA in these areas, and we could not leave Tesshin Isobe’s inverted triangle out our submission roundup.
sugeeeeeeeeeeeeeee @ABEMA deShi Ting Zhong https://t.co/5khnae75bB #shooto pic.twitter.com/A9H5m3FPvv
— urutoraShao Nian boi (@coromame_bane) January 15, 2023
Isobe’s record is now a sterling 2-3, while Inoue drops to 1-4.
Shoot’s first event of 2023 also delivered on the knockout front with not one, but two fighters getting face-planted.
Shoji Santio made Yasuyuki Naojiri suffer for his inept takedown attempts by taking him out with a sniper elbow.
atsupa @ABEMA deShi Ting Zhong https://t.co/Mhb2Pczq6l #shooto pic.twitter.com/WcASkn71mb
— KakeruX (@KakeruX2Faced) January 15, 2023
The fight ended on the mat but not as Nojiri had hoped.
Mina Kurobe was given a similar treatment by Ayaka Watanabe, who rifled an uppercut at the jaw to flatten Kurobe.
wa @ABEMA deShi Ting Zhong https://t.co/Y1emt6jzh7 #shooto pic.twitter.com/zWNhtTXrJE
— Sheng kiruXiao Hao Pin Xing chiyan (@anchan0504) January 15, 2023
Not a bad win for Watanabe, who improved to 2-1 by beating the now 18-6 (a record earned against auspicious competition) Kurobe.
Jalin Fuller vs. Scott Writz
Ganbat Bayasgalan vs. Adamu Isah
We mentioned earlier the importance of holding onto a submission until the fight is definitely over, so there’s no ill will aimed at Jalin Fuller, who choked Scott Writz completely unconscious at LFA 150.
Jalin Fuller locks up a lights-out ninja choke, putting Scott Writz to sleep in R1. To me he was sleeping at the 4:30 mark. #LFA150 pic.twitter.com/a28dQMIseG
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) January 14, 2023
Travis Metteer is the referee. We may need to have a conversation. It’s impossible for us to pinpoint exactly where Writz went out, but it’s super easy to see that he was done long before the bout was officially waved off. Metteer was way too passive here for my liking and should have checked Writz for signs of struggle way earlier.
Writz regained consciousness within a short time, which was great for him and because it enabled us to enjoy Fuller’s celebration guilt-free.
He entered to I Want It That Way and you best believe he exited to it.
Let’s award some style points to Ganbat Bayasgalan too for this wonderful 35-second knockout and equally wonderful pulling back of an unnecessary hammerfist.
Mongolia’s Ganbat Bayasgalan knocks out Adamu Isah CLEAN with massive left hook to the jaw. HOLY SHIT. Big upset for LFA. #LFA150 pic.twitter.com/iWP8gtK8ZY
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) January 14, 2023
This sequence is even more remarkable because Bayasgalan appears to have used the ancient art of bangin’ and swangin’, which isn’t well-known for showing restraint. Perhaps the teachings have evolved.
LFA 150 is available for replay on UFC Fight Pass.
Ozzie Alvarez def. Tyson Miller
Paul Garza vs. Soloman Amadeo
Shawn Tillman vs. Rodrigo Barrera
Let’s wrap with some more Fight Pass content as Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat and Fury Fighting Championship both held events this past weekend.
At A1 Combat, Ozzie Alvarez threw a wrench in the promotion’s plans with a wild right hand and Donkey Kong smash combo that took out Tyson Miller and made Alvarez the new A1 welterweight champion.
“The dirty white belt has done it!!! “
Your new welterweight champ!! #A1Combat7 pic.twitter.com/zI0xBE4D3x
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) January 14, 2023
Given that Alvarez is 37, was 9-9 heading into the contest, and had just recently snapped a five-fight losing streak, you have to think that the previously undefeated Miller was favored to walk out with his first MMA belt. Alvarez was clearly not bothered by any of this and showed it when he clobbered Miller.
The Fury Fighting Championship featured an event that was split between amateur and pro fighters. This meant more unusual finishes and submissions from Shawn Tillman and Paul Garza.
The tap to start the card!!! #FCS2 pic.twitter.com/df2UUHdiH5
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) January 15, 2023
Garza’s rear-naked choke tickled me because it’s not often that you see someone get a tap while hanging off the side of their opponent like a chimpanzee. Soloman Amadeo was not saved by a flagrant fence grab.
Shawn Tillman created a stunning Peruvian necktie for Rodrigo Barrera on the amateur side of the event.
Corbata peruana de Shawn Tillman! #FuryAmateurSeries41 pic.twitter.com/rUT1H5BgMo
— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) January 15, 2023
When last we saw Tillman, he was on the wrong end of a 20-second knockout courtesy of Byron Wells. But the Missed Fist wheel is constantly turning, and if you hang around long enough, the loser now will be later to win, as they say.
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.
Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/1/20/23563735/missed-fists-daniel-boehle-locks-in-unorthodox-armbar-for-submission-win?rand=96749