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 there’s an MMA show every other day.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from watching fights on the regional and international scene, it’s that there aren’t enough mascots in MMA.
Gloria de Paula vs. Rafaela Rodrigues
Jair Farias vs. Luan Oliveira
Before we get to business, let’s talk about this:
Meanwhile, in Brazil #SFT pic.twitter.com/9bbeWxUCev
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 22, 2019
When @Grabaka_Hitman put this monstrous mascot out there on social media, the reaction of most was likely, “Why is this Brazilian promotion trotting a mutated Bruce Buffer out there? Are they trying to frighten children? Can they get sued for this?”
With those questions in hand, MMA Fighting put its best man on the job to get the answers, and after reviewing the footage from Standout Fighting Tournament 16 (you can too for free on YouTube), Guilherme Cruz informed us that the mascot was “Super David” – a character named after SFT president David Hudson.
When Super David entered the cage, here’s what the real deal had to say:
“There he is, my twin brother, the ugly one, the mascot who doesn’t have a name yet,” Hudson said. “We need help finding a name for my brother.”
You heard the man. Fans, send your suggestions to @sftmma on Twitter!
There was some fighting too.
long and brutal finish by Gorinha de Paula
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda1) September 22, 2019
(only HL) – SFT pic.twitter.com/0DBOvacJKJ
Usually, we’re all about the quick hits here, but there’s something mesmerizing about one fighter putting it on another for a prolonged period of time. Based on these Gloria de Paula highlights, the official maybe could have jumped in sooner, though it’s hard to argue with the amount of heart Rafaela Rodrigues showed. There are at least two or three occasions where she could have – and maybe should have – just gone fetal. So credit to her for hanging in there, and to de Paula for not letting up.
Much less enjoyable to watch was Luan Oliveira’s freak injury against Jair Farias.
what an unfortunate kick by Luan Oliveira!
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda1) September 22, 2019
TKO win for Jair Farias (SFT) pic.twitter.com/bqyQxXn6Uv
Oliveira throws a high kick. It misses in such a way that it throws him completely off-balance. Seconds later, he’s clutching his leg in pain.
Good for Farias for improving his record to 8-0, but I’m sure he’d rather it have happened under different circumstances.
Chris Colbert vs. Miguel Beltran, Jr.
Jesus Ramos vs. Rickey Edwards
CHRIS. COLBERT. OH MY GOODNESS. pic.twitter.com/l4NHq3UlX8
— FOX Sports: PBC (@PBConFOX) September 22, 2019
My goodness... you could FEEL this knockout coming.
From Saturday’s PBC on Fox show in Bakersfield, Calif., that’s 22-year-old lightweight Chris Colbert putting the big kibosh on Miguel Beltran, Jr. to improve his pro record to 13-0. Like a young Anderson Silva, you can see Colbert locking the lasers on Beltran, walking him down until the opening presented itself, and rifling in that finishing blow.
One straight blast to the side of the head, and that was it for Beltran.
On the same card, Jesus Ramos (11-0, 10 KOs) scored a spectacular knockout against Rickey Edwards and that may have involved karmic payback.
While our buddies over at Bloody Elbow describe Edwards’ reaction as a taunt, it looks more like the classic, “I got hit clean but I’m going to act like I didn’t get hit” move. Some could perceive that as taunting. Seeing Edwards make like Taylor Swift, well, it didn’t seem to rattle Ramos one iota as he uncorked the haymaker that Edwards definitely didn’t shake off.
Eliezer Ortega vs. LJ Torres
Speaking of faking it until you make it, LJ Torres seemed to do just that against Eliezer Ortega at Combate Americas 44 in Mexicali, Mexico, last Friday.
Eliezer Ortega!!! #CombateMexicali pic.twitter.com/VgicaCb1sv
— ShayMyName (@ImShannonTho) September 21, 2019
Ortega is all over that arm, and maybe it’s because this was Torres’ first pro bout, but for whatever reason, he wouldn’t accept that he was a dead duck. Then again, if he’d worked on using his free hand to get out of the submission rather than communicate with the ref that he was fine (he wasn’t fine), perhaps this would have ended differently.
Yutaka Saito vs. Hiroyuki Takaya
Over in Tokyo, Shooto’s 30th anniversary tour continues, and the most impressive finish at the latest show was authored by Yutaka Saito, who blew through Japanese vet Hiroyuki Takaya in just 77 seconds.
Shooto's featherweight champ slays the legendary "Streetfight Bancho," as Yutaka Saito (@yutakasaito1008) swarms and slumps former DREAM champ Hiroyuki Takaya in round one! The non-title triumph boosts Saito to 17-4-2; he is 5-1 in his last six. #Shooto0922 pic.twitter.com/7HopqYOfKL
— Kyle Johnson (@VonPreux) September 22, 2019
If you want some idea of how long “Streetfight Bancho” has been around, Takaya made his pro debut with Shooto back in February 2003. He hadn’t fought in 19 months, and Saito did not offer a very warm welcome.
With his quick TKO, Saito adds Takaya to a list of notable JMMA conquests that include Caol Uno and Takeshi Inoue.
Jeka Asparido Saragih vs. Mhar John Manahan
Let’s check in with Indonesia’s One Pride MMA Fight Night 32 (every time I type out this promotion’s name, I feel like I’m going to get sued), where Jeka Asparido Saragih had no mercy for Mhar John Manahan in the main event.
Nice head kick and RNC finish from The LW Indonesian Champ - Jeka Saragih #AndStill
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda1) September 21, 2019
(OnePride) pic.twitter.com/KDpCN4KbdH
How that head kick didn’t end Manahan, I do not know. And then, he ends up on the business end of a vicious choke. Should have just stayed down after the kick.
Isa Dalipaj vs. Jacob Ashley
That's that. #CFFC78 pic.twitter.com/GbDxrcYPjb
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) September 21, 2019
At Missed Fists headquarters, we love us some fancy combos, and they don’t get much fancier than right hand-right hand-right hand. You can argue with that logic, but you can’t argue with the results Isa Dalipaj had on Saturday at Cage Fury FC.
Kirill Gorobets vs. Rinat Sayakbaev
Maksim Sergeev vs. Artem Matiash
Khusein Askhabov vs. Luiz Filho
Alyona Rassokhyna vs. Elaine Leal
In terms of sheer volume of impressive performances, no show could beat World Warriors Fighting Championships 15 this past weekend. Taking place in Kiev, Ukraine, there were at least four finishes worthy of outstanding praise, starting with this Peruvian necktie expertly applied – and then expertly celebrated – by Kirill Gorobets:
Kirill Gorobets (now 9-1) finishes off a dominant performance against Rinat Sayakbaev with a Peruvian Necktie in R3. Beautiful. Also won his last fight by Banana Split. - WWFC pic.twitter.com/7NKyk21umH
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 21, 2019
You pull off a Peruvian necktie, you get a shoutout in Missed Fists. Company policy. This also applies to banana split submissions, but of course, Gorobets has been there and done that already.
Also on our list? Walk-off KOs.
Oh my god.. Maksim Sergeev just STARCHES Artem Matiash with a first round head kick at WWFC 15. Brutal. pic.twitter.com/Bmsy194h4R
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 21, 2019
That was an easy call for Maksim Sergeev not to dish out any more punishment. The kick was so on point, the man had an eternity to watch his opponent fall.
In other action, unbeaten Luxembourgian bantamweight Khusein Askhabov, who’s all of 24, improved to 20-0 with this absolute dummying of Luiz Filho:
That was quick. Khusein Askhabov (now 20-0) guillotines Luiz Filho less than 90 seconds into R1 #WWFC pic.twitter.com/H4bu1ucD5M
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 21, 2019
And we’ll end with a quick shoutout to new WWFC atomweight champ Alyona Rassokhyna, who took care of business against Elaine Leal.
Alyona Rassokhyna submits Elaine Leal via first round armbar, claims vacant WWFC atomweight title - WWFC pic.twitter.com/ZFnJHuk5qn
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 21, 2019
The 29-year-old Ukrainian has been collecting arms left and right in her home country, but she has yet to find that breakthrough win. Rassokhyna has fallen short to name opponents like Seo Hee Ham and Katja Kankaanpaa. You get the sense that if she ever does beat a known veteran, she’ll end up in our Call-Up section.
WWFC 15 will be available for replay on FITE TV PPV this Saturday.
Poll
What was the most memorable Missed Fists moment this week?
This poll is closed
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31%
Super David (not "Mutant Bruce Buffer")
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12%
Chris Colbert flattens Miguel Beltran, Jr.
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0%
Isa Dalipaj spams the right hand for the KO
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16%
Kirill Gorobets’s Peruvian necktie
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36%
Maksim Sergeev’s walk-off head kick KO
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2%
Other (leave comment below)
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 – @JedKMeshew and @AlexanderKLee – using the hashtag #MissedFists.