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.
We like to focus on the fun and positive and weird when we bring you these clips, but sometimes you have to allow room for the sad. This is one of those times.
(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.)
K-Jee vs. Jerome Le Banner
On paper, matching 51-year-old Jerome Le Banner up with K-Jee might not have seemed like the worst idea, but it starts to look bad once you dig into the specifics of the pairing.
Yes, Le Banner, one of the most exciting strikers to ever live, hadn’t lost a kickboxing match in over 10 years prior to his appearance at this past Saturday’s K-1 World Grand Prix in Osaka, Japan, but he hasn’t exactly been facing K-1 competition, to put it kindly. He’s also competed sporadically outside of a burst of activity in 2019, and even continued to dabble in MMA, including whatever the hell this was a couple of years ago.
And yes, K-Jee hasn’t exactly been on a hot streak, coming into the Le Banner fight on five straight losses. But his quality of opponents has been notably higher and, perhaps more importantly, he’s 18 years younger than Le Banner.
All of this is to say that Le Banner’s late career win streak was finally snapped and in the most brutal manner possible.
I’d say I’m sorry you had to watch this, but I had to, so you should, too.
Now that Le Banner’s latest attempt to capture an elusive K-1 World Grand Prix title has come to an abrupt end, is it possible we’ve seen the last of the French legend? This is combat sports, so I wouldn’t bet on it.
Samuel Bunche vs. Zongo Boureima
While we’ve got the kickboxing gloves on, let’s check out what went down at the Combat at the Garden in New York.
Yikes!
That’s Canada’s Samuel Bunche separating Zongo Boureima from his senses with a left hand and temporarily turning the ring into a bouncy castle, with an out-cold Boureima being bounced off the ropes. I suppose it’s better than slamming into the mat with a thud? I’d rather not find out myself, personally.
The Ring of Combat-promoted kickboxing event is available for pay-per-view replay on TrillerTV.
Erkin Kazhymukhan vs. Zhavokhir Narzullaev
Amirkhon Alukhudzhaev vs. Nurbek Tazhibaev
Azizbek Temirov vs. Sherzod Ibodiloev
Kambarbek Shyndaulet vs. Asadbek Jorayev
I’m not entirely sure what was going on with Octagon League’s Erkin Kazhymukhan, but the man wanted to soccer kick real bad and he would not be denied.
In case you’re wondering, no, soccer kicks are not legal in Octagon League and Kazhymukhan was disqualified. He’s living his life his way though, respect.
Amirkhon Alukhudzhaev didn’t break any rules, but sometimes it feels like face-plant knockouts like this one should be illegal.
That’s four straight wins now for Alukhudzhaev, all in the first round.
If you want a textbook example of “going for it,” check out Azizbek Temirov’s lightning fast lunging right hand KO of Sherzod Ibodiloev.
He threw that lead left from a mile away with all the intention of following with a right hand from hell and somehow, it all came together for the perfect finish.
A replay of Octagon League 64 is available for free on YouTube, as is a related event that also went down this week, Octagon Selection 45.
That show featured this truly vicious knockout by Kambarbek Shyndaulet that left opponent Asadbek Jorayev with a vacant look in his eyes.
Thankfully, Jorayev was able to walk out on his own power not long after, but I assume he’ll be thinking about what he witnessed between realms for a while.
Gracjan Mis vs. Milosz Kruk
Bartosz Kwiatkowski vs. Mateusz Sosnowski
At Fight Exclusive Nights 56 in Wroclaw, Poland, Gracjan Mis landed a beautiful flying knee on Milosz Kruk to secure a first-round finish.
If you’re still bummed about Jose Aldo losing a dreary decision to Mario Bautista (I know I am!), then maybe that Aldo-esque strike will make you feel better.
If not, this Bartosz Kwiatkowski could do the trick.
Catch the kick, make your opponent do a little dance, and then WHAMMO.
Tatsuma Okada vs. Takumi Yagi
I’ve never heard of Japan’s POUNDOUT promotion, but it held its inaugural event in Chiba, Japan, this past Saturday and you can watch it for free on YouTube.
If anything, the show gave us one of the most unique arm-triangle submissions I’ve ever seen.
Who even thinks to attack with that move from that angle? Craziness.
Kai Yoshida vs. Yuki Ueda
Ryo Araki vs. Masateru Sawada
Rukiya Mukai vs. Shunsuke Kubota
We started in Osaka, so let’s close in Osaka with GLADIATOR 028 (free on YouTube), which featured a trio of must-see knockouts.
Best of all was Kai Yoshida’s unreal spinning elbow finish, which came after he survived some punishing grappling by Yuki Ueda.
Every second counts, as they say.
The next two clips come from bouts set for only two rounds, so I wonder if that encouraged the fighters to be more aggressive. That was certainly the case with Ryo Araki, who threw a punch that landed with such impact it sent his opponent and the referee flying.
Not satisfied with that shockwave, Araki followed with sledgehammer ground-and-pound before locking in a tight choke.
Lastly, tip of the cap to Rukiya Mukai and Shunsuke Kubota, who both executed the best gameplan in MMA: Throw until somebody falls.
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 X — @AlexanderKLee — using the hashtag #MissedFists.
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