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.
I hate to be that guy, but someone has to say it… I think these multi-fighter gimmick matches might be going a tad overboard. Case in point, let’s check in on the latest from Poland, which has proudly become the world leader in MMA madness.
The Devils vs. The Bad Girls
From The War 2 event this past Saturday, was this the first 3-on-3 women’s MMA fight ever? Hard to say for sure, but it definitely won’t be forgotten anytime soon. Props to both the winning team of The Devils and their opponents The Bad Girls, but my goodness this was a sloppy mess.
The Bad Girls vs. The Devils pic.twitter.com/Qyor9toCPq
— Streetfight Banned-cho (@streetfitebncho) August 14, 2021
On the other hand, if the fans and fighters are having a good time, then who am I to judge? Go on with your bad (or in this case, devilish) selves.
And can we show some love to the referees who have to oversee this chaos? We’ve seen in-cage officials struggle managing two fighters (more on this later) and even though they maintain a 1:2 referee:fighter ratio here, it still looks like a lot to handle.
Anyway, here’s more of this absurd format that’s sweeping the nation, including one fight featuring a guy who I’m pretty sure is trying to hide his identity:
Team Demony vs. Team Gladiatorzy pic.twitter.com/36VBp7ljm6
— Streetfight Banned-cho (@streetfitebncho) August 14, 2021
— Streetfight Banned-cho (@streetfitebncho) August 14, 2021
Yersultan Shakenbay vs. Mukhammadamin Mukumov
Ayan Tursyn vs. Martina Corradi
Salauat Kabi vs. Max Hynninen
Were it not for the freakishness above, Kazakhstan’s excellence at the 2021 IMMAF Junior and Senior European Open Championships in Kazan, Russia (available via paid subscription at immaf.tv) would have led this feature off. The Central Asian country has become one of MMA’s proverbial hotbeds and that was fully on display at this four-day amateur tournament in Kazan, Russia, that concludes Friday.
On Thursday, Yersultan Shakenbay scored a win with a mind-bending kneebar of Russia’s Mukhammadamin Mukumov.
Have you seen a kneebar like this?
— IMMAF (@IMMAFed) August 19, 2021
Kazakhstan's Yersultan Shakenbay moves onto the Jr Strawweight final after defeating Russia's Mukumov. #2021MMAEuros pic.twitter.com/y6dt1Ilb9u
Shakenbay’s countrywoman Ayan Tursyn (who you can read more about here) arguably topped that, blasting Italy’s Martina Corradi with a spinning backfist that would make Carlos Condit proud.
— IMMAF (@IMMAFed) August 19, 2021
Kazakhstan's Ayan Tursyn stakes a claim for KO of the tournament! #2021MMAEuros are LIVE on https://t.co/d80NHH86sM. pic.twitter.com/nsfn7lBdat
And Salauat Kabi had his own highlight to bring back to Kazakhstan a day prior as he smoked Finland’s Max Hynninen with a blistering right hand.
Salauat Kabi, that is incredible!
— IMMAF (@IMMAFed) August 18, 2021
The Junior Bantamweight delivered a stunning right hand on Day 3 of #2021MMAEuros. pic.twitter.com/lBAV8mgMMd
The IMMAF is an amateur organization, but these fighters seem destined to pop up on a pro card in the future.
Teymur Zhaparov vs. Zhasur Karimov
Bayaman Zholdubekov vs. Erzhan Shapauov
Back in Kazakhstan at an Alash Pride show on Wednesday, Teymur Zhaparov defended home court with this kneebar of Uzbekistan’s Zhasur Karimov.
Slick rolling kneebar by Teymur Zhaparov. Submits Zhasur Karimov in under 30 seconds. #AlashPride67 pic.twitter.com/ACHVZ4txrc
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) August 18, 2021
Just gorgeous work here and quick too.
But fear not, the Kazakhstanis are not invincible—just damn near—and thanks to Kyrgyzstan’s Bayaman Zholdubekov we know that they can be stopped.
Bayaman Joldubekov chokes Erzhan Shapauov unconscious with a bulldog choke at Alash Pride this morning. #AlashPride67 pic.twitter.com/arNrOFwKFv
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) August 18, 2021
It took everything Zholdubekov had though as he literally had to squeeze every last ounce of fight out of Erzhan Shapauov.
Fabiola Esquivel vs. Ana Villanueva
Speaking of highlights that easily could have led this feature, it’s a shame to have Fabiola Esquivel’s stunning head kick finish of Ana Villanueva this low.
HOLY HIGH KICK!! Esquivel shuts off Villanueva in the third round!! Tune in to CBS Sports immediately! #KarateCombat pic.twitter.com/uTCYkLOFH3
— Karate Combat (@KarateCombat) August 20, 2021
This strike came late in the third round of their fight and was the perfect capper to Esquivel’s performance. Villanueva just stepped forward and ate all of that one.
Watch the full replay of Karate Combat Season 3: Event 8 here:
Evgeny Kharabet vs. Mikhail Ulyanov
El combo de Street Fighter que metio Evgeny Kharabet en Golden Beach Cup! pic.twitter.com/cfooIdQFVM
— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) August 15, 2021
Say it with me again: how was this not this week’s Missed Fists headliner?
At the Golden Beach Cup in Berdyansk, Ukraine, Evgeny Kharabet fully charged his Super meter and then put it all into this ridiculous combination that puts the mixed in mixed martial arts. Seriously, the next time someone asks you what MMA is, show them this combo. It’s essentially a 15-second proof of concept.
Luo Tianlong vs. Liu Yang
At the second PFL Playoffs event last night, we saw Bruno Cappelozza cap off a dominant performance with a stiff jab that led to a TKO finish; this past weekend, Luo Tianlong also showed how dangerous the most fundamental of boxing techniques can be.
From a JCK Night Cage Series event in Haikou, China:
KO'd by a jab? It can happen. Luotian Long knocks out Liu Yang yesterday at JCK Cage Series in China pic.twitter.com/tbdKicfyph
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) August 15, 2021
Big time boop. Also, what a great name for an event.
Are you prepared to enter… THE NIGHT CAGE???
Deandre Anderson vs. Jose Perez
Ben Coyle vs. Joe Tran
Prospect watch!
Whoa! Deandre Anderson. Welcome to @CFFCMMA#CFFC99 pic.twitter.com/jSTa05E8y4
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) August 15, 2021
That’s 24-year-old featherweight Deandre Anderson scoring an 11-second knockout in the main event of CFFC 99 (available on UFC Fight Pass) last Saturday. Now 5-0, the Alabama native is a lock for a Contender Series spot any day now.
In the co-main event, we saw the return of Khetag Pliev in his first fight since he nearly lost his damn finger. It was interrupted by a gigantic moth and he later got knocked out, which you can read about here. Guy is a weirdness magnet.
There was also this controversial stoppage in Ben Coyle’s win over Joe Tran:
Crowd is not happy with the stoppage! What say you? #CFFC99 pic.twitter.com/ucjtfTTzd6
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) August 15, 2021
Definitely early. But that was nothing compared to what went down at EFC Worldwide 88 (available for replay through paid subscription at https://efcworldwide.tv) in Johannesburg, South Africa, that same day.
Julio Plaatjies vs. Teboho Ntene
Congrats to Julio Plaatjies on winning his pro debut, it’s just unfortunate that what we’re most likely to remember about it is the disturbingly late stoppage.
Julio Plaatjies chokes out Teboho Ntene #EFC88 pic.twitter.com/j6UdATIVQz
— Streetfight Banned-cho (@streetfitebncho) August 14, 2021
That choke is locked in for way too long and while Teboho Ntene was showing signs of upper body movement, you can see his legs are completely stiff and he’s not actually showing any signs of intelligent defense. Everyone could see this except for referee Natasha Brits somehow.
So finger of shame to you this week Ms. Brits. Hopefully she learns from this and let’s also hope that Ntene isn’t too much the worse for wear after this scary incident.
Poll
What was the most memorable Missed Fists moment this week?
This poll is closed
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37%
The Devils vs. The Bad Girls
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10%
Ayan Tursyn’s spinning backfist
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0%
Bayaman Zholdubekov’s bulldog choke
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18%
Fabiola Esquivel’s high kick to the face
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29%
Evgeny Kharabet’s SUPER C-C-C-COMBO
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3%
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.