Welcome to the latest edition of Missed Fists, where we shine a light on intriguing and often overlooked fights from around the globe in the busy world of mixed martial arts.
Fights involving more than two competitors have become a surprisingly frequent occurrence lately, moving beyond mere novelty. While the surprise factor might have faded, it`s interesting to see how strategies continue to evolve in these unusual matchups.
At a recent Streamers Smash event in Guadalajara, Mexico, a scheduled 2 vs. 2 match, which appeared chaotic on paper, turned into a partially messy, partially strategic encounter thanks to the participants.
Keeping track of who was doing what proved challenging, but the specific matchups weren`t the main point. The action exploded into immediate chaos, yet it wasn`t just aimless brawling or grabbing. Initially, all four fighters seemed aware of when to engage their direct opponent and when to assist a teammate or exploit a numerical advantage. For a brief moment, it almost resembled a legitimate fight.
Then, moments like this happened:
A pure, unadulterated schoolyard dogpile. Now that`s what some call MMA!
The crowd was fully invested, and the commentary team, including popular UFC fighter Ronaldo Rodriguez, added to the energy, highlighting the fun. There was no pretense of this being elite-level competition; everyone was clearly enjoying the spectacle.
How can anyone not smile at such an image?
Just four individuals grappling, ending up in a tangled pose reminiscent of certain infamous horror film scenes.
Fittingly, the bout concluded in a draw, leaving everyone without a loss and perhaps slightly bewildered but entertained by the shared experience.
On the other end of the spectrum, the brutal reality of fighting emerged at a Fighting NEXUS show in Tokyo.
Junya Murata clung tenaciously to a triangle choke, leaving his opponent, Yu Takeuchi, with only one recourse: a devastating slam.
Murata required a stretcher following the impact. Hopefully, he is recovering well.
LFA 208 lived up to the promotion`s reputation for showcasing prospects who deliver spectacular finishes. The tone was set early when Aline David landed a clean front kick knockout just 12 seconds into her fight against Stephanie Nayen.
She followed it up with a remarkably calm reaction, a composure Anderson Silva would likely approve of.
Do you prefer your welterweights on the larger side? Great, because LFA featured a remarkably tall welterweight in Luis Francischinelli.
Unsurprisingly, the 6-foot-6 Francischinelli`s reach provided a significant advantage (reportedly 10 inches) over Angelo Rivera Jr., and he battered his opponent to secure his fifth first-round finish in five professional fights.
Allan Begosso wasn`t deterred by being pressed against the cage, instead electing to snatch a neck and choke Davaajamts Batsuren with a standing guillotine.
He had his opponent leaning in a way that brought a certain pop icon`s moves to mind.
At a Yuzhniy Rubezh event in Krasnodar, Russia, it appeared the rule was that if you were going down, you were going down hard.
Vladislav Rebrikov landed a punch that connected squarely with Amir Makushev`s chin, causing him to fall and hit his head on the mat. It was a brutal, double-impact knockout, resulting in a clear stoppage.
Mustafa Bakherad experienced an even more severe finish.
Dmitriy Sirenko landed a combination and immediately followed up with relentless, vile elbows on the ground, seemingly attempting to fuse Bakherad`s head into the canvas.
From Octagon League 72 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan:
Whenever an unexpected, clean head kick like this lands without a visible setup, it suggests a significant mental victory.
The opponent was likely thinking, “He wouldn`t just throw a head kick… he wouldn`t just throw a head kick… he wouldn`t just throw a head kick…”
And then consciousness faded.
Perhaps one of the most unique finishes of the year came from a World Fighting Championships event in Tacoma, Washington.
Patrick Benson achieved an incredible knockout while fighting off his back. The technique can only be described as a fighter employing the bizarre, perhaps forbidden martial art of “Kicking Baby Having a Tantrum.”
A truly singular way to end a fight.
