Welcome to the most recent version of Missed Fists the place we shine a light-weight on fights from throughout the globe that will have been ignored in these hectic occasions the place it looks as if there’s an MMA present each different day.
Simply being actual, the highlights you’re about to see under will most likely trump no matter occurs at UFC 312, which is, on paper, one of many weakest pay-per-view lineups in latest reminiscence.
Don’t imagine me? Let’s go to the primary clip.
(Massive thanks as at all times to @Barrelelapierna for his or her weekly lists of one of the best KOs and submissions, and to @Grabaka_Hitman for importing lots of the clips you see right here. Give them a observe and chip in on Patreon should you can.)
Gabriel Ruth vs. Chika Okafor
We start within the newbie ranks at an HRMMA (as close to as I can inform, HR stands for “Exhausting Rock,” as in Brandon “Hardrock” Higdon, the promotion’s matchmaker) present in Shepherdsville, Ky., where-and there’s no good method to put this-Gabriel Ruth took Chika Okafor’s soul.
Not solely did Ruth want simply 11 seconds to finish this one, he did so with a clubbing proper to Okafor’s head that had Okafor belly-flopping (or extra precisely, head-clopping?) onto the canvas. That’s as nasty because it will get and, once more, I’d like to see the UFC prime that one on Saturday.
Jeremy Miazga-Grzybek vs. Simon Plummer
Extra newbie motion means extra protection being thrown out the window. At a Combat League Atlantic present in wonderful Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada (hey UFC, return to Moncton!), Jeremy Miazga-Grzybek determined touchdown a hammer head kick wasn’t sufficient, he needed to drive the purpose dwelling with a hammerfist as properly.
I most likely shouldn’t begrudge Miazga-Grzybek getting caught up within the second, however I’ll anyway. After he landed that kick, he ought to have allowed himself half a second to course of what was occurring. It’s not like his opponent Simon Plummer fell again into guard or one thing. His arms flew up as he fell and his head banged towards the canvas.
Learn the room, er, cage, man!
Joao Gustavo vs. Lincoln Furtado
We noticed one other soul snatched at a Combat Music Present in Parana, Brazil, the place Joao Gustavo delivered a flurry of highly effective punches to ship Lincoln Furtado crashing to the mat.
NOCAUTE RELÂMPAGO ⚡️
A quarta edição do FMS Combat Evening começou frenética.
No duelo da categoria meio-médio, João Gustavo precisou de 27 segundos pra apagar Lincoln Furtado com um cruzado de esquerda. Nocautaço!#FMSnoCombate pic.twitter.com/JzoM8d0i3F— Combate (@combate) February 2, 2025
Take a look at Furtado’s face. That man noticed spirits.
You now, possibly Gustavo can meet up with Ruth sometime and so they can commerce the souls they’ve taken. Like Pokemon.
Kazuki Arita vs. Kai Maeda
There have been simply so many horrible issues occurring this previous weekend, together with Kazuki Arita punching holes in Kai Maeda’s face at Grachan 72 in Osaka, Japan.
With little time left in Spherical 3, maybe Maeda felt he may let his guard down even with Arita hovering over him with malicious intent. No matter he was pondering, it didn’t do him any good as Arita landed punch after punch after punch on Maeda to go away him flat-out within the nook of the cage.
Bilal Hasan vs. Brian Hauser
Vincenzo Iannuzzo vs. Darwin Pena
Over on UFC Combat Cross, we had Cage Fury FC 139 coming to you from Philadelphia.
The principle occasion noticed 23-year-old flyweight prospect Bilal Hasan document the primary profitable protection of his CFFC title and enhance his document to 6-0. Oh, and the win got here by way of a reasonably candy physique shot, too.
A rib-roaster, if I’ve ever seen one.
Earlier on the cardboard, Vincenzo Iannuzzo melted Darwin Pena in 20 seconds with a proper hand that banged off the aspect of Pena’s head. It may not have been good method, however the timing was spot on as he caught Pena lunging and made him pay the value.
Hojat Khajevand vs. Kennedy Rayomba
Talking of getting punished for a nasty behavior, at an Oktagon MMA 66 present in Düsseldorf, Germany, Kennedy Rayomba simply stored ducking his head throughout exchanges towards Hojat Khajevand, and that predictability proved to be his downfall.
Khajevand timed a proper hand with Rayomba’s head dipping ever so barely and *bam* Ramboya’s chin was accomplished for. You’ll be able to see within the gradual movement replay that Khajevand waited patiently for Ramboya to go away himself uncovered and he didn’t miss his window of alternative.
Donovin Jeffcoat vs. David Austin Pierce
Braeten Jorgensen vs. Tyson Gil
We started this week with amateurs and we shut with amateurs, on this case two standouts from a Entrance Road Fights occasion in Boise, Idaho, which you’ll be able to watch at no cost on YouTube.
Donovin Jeffcoat landed a gnarly head kick knockout, blasting David Austin Pierce with such influence that his physique was too surprised to truly fall down.
Nice consciousness from the referee who noticed and heard how laborious that landed and knew to step in. Pierce didn’t know which was was up after consuming that shot.
We shut with a shout-out to Braeten Jorgensen, who completed his battle with a correct rear-naked choke.
Not probably the most spectacular end, so why is it included? As a result of Jorgensen is the son of one-time WEC bantamweight title challenger and UFC veteran Scott Jorgensen. That’s proper, “Younger Weapons” has himself a younger’n who’s following in his father’s footsteps.
That’s one proud papa.
If you realize of a latest battle or occasion that you just assume could have been ignored, or a promotion that would use some consideration, please tell us on X — @AlexanderKLee — utilizing the hashtag #MissedFists.