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\u2019s an MMA show every other day.<\/p>\n
We all know how difficult it is to find or create stars in MMA, especially with the modern business suffering from a dangerous combination of oversaturation and stylistic homogeneity, but every now and then a magnetic personality organically emerges out of nowhere.<\/p>\n
I speak of Germany\u2019s Frederic Vosgrone, who went viral in April after a memorable Oktagon debut:<\/p>\n
Check the numbers: 1.2 million views in five months. And the clip of Vosgrone latching onto his opponent\u2019s leg like a Rottweiler and literally being dragged around the cage was seen by millions more.<\/p>\n
This past weekend, \u201cThe Neanderthal\u201d scored another impressive submission win, but by the end of the night there was trouble in paradise between Oktagon MMA and its homegrown star.<\/p>\n
(Big thanks as always to @Barrelelapierna<\/a> for their weekly lists of the best KOs and submissions, and to @Grabaka_Hitman<\/a> for uploading many of the clips you see here. Give them a follow and chip in on Patreon<\/a> if you can.)<\/p>\n Frederic Vosgrone vs. Fabio Moraes<\/p>\n Vosgrone was even more impressive in his sophomore outing at Oktagon 76 (check out events on Oktagon.tv<\/a>), needing less than a round to score a submission of Fabio Moraes. The hype train looked to be chugging along nicely.<\/p>\n However, at the post-fight press conference, Vosgrone alluded to some sort of backstage disagreement, pointing a finger directly at the promotion.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if I\u2019m going to fight at Oktagon again,\u201d Vosgrone said. \u201cI don\u2019t know if I want to fight in an organization that treats me like shit every time I fight or I\u2019m attending an event.\u201d<\/p>\n Oktagon promoter Ondrej Novotny couldn\u2019t provide much clarification, saying, \u201cHonestly, I don\u2019t know. I heard some problems because of Freddy\u2019s girlfriend, but I don\u2019t know exactly what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n The situation has only escalated since, with Oktagon releasing a statement Thursday:<\/p>\n In summary, Oktagon officials claim Vosgrone misunderstood the organization\u2019s security protocol when the fighter\u2019s girlfriend wasn\u2019t allowed backstage. They added they went \u201cabove and beyond to accommodate\u201d Vosgrone and that they \u201cunderstand the enormous pressure Frederic is under as his life has changed dramatically in the past six months, and we regret that this situation occurred.\u201d<\/p>\n Understandably, they\u2019d like to continue working with the popular Vosgrone, but it doesn\u2019t sound like he feels the same.<\/p>\n On his Instagram Stories, Vosgrone wrote the following:<\/p>\n Oktagon MMA, if you feel disrespected by me then we should just part ways. I have many organizations that are much bigger wanting me to fight. So [Novotny] if you feel like you can\u2019t treat me right then just cancel my contract. But obviously you won\u2019t do it and use it as leverage to pressure me.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, enjoy this sweet spinning back elbow from Alina Dalaslan.<\/p>\n Look at how her opponent Clara Ricignuolo reacted to that hit. She wasn\u2019t knocked out, she was hurt bad and wanted out.<\/p>\n Whoo, that was quite a bit more behind-the-scenes drama than we typically deal with in Missed Fists. Let\u2019s get back to the inside-the-cage action and I\u2019ll do my best to let the highlights speak for themselves this week.<\/p>\n Luiz Henrique da Silva vs. Frank Bispo<\/p>\n Speaking of getting hit and wanting out, here\u2019s Luiz Henrique da Silva blasting Frank Bispo with a head kick at a Jungle Fight event in Vila Velha, Brazil.<\/p>\n Bising still resembled a conscious human being, but there was no way he could be expected to continue after that.<\/p>\n Bruno Buarque vs. Victor Martins<\/p>\n Khalil Rountree fights next weekend and if there\u2019s anyone who knows his way around a hammerfist, it\u2019s him, but even Big Khal would appreciate Bruno Buarque\u2019s execution of the technique.<\/p>\n \u201cExecution\u201d being a fitting word here.<\/p>\n You can watch a free replay of Future MMA 15 on YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n Billy Adams vs. Gavin Lofts<\/p>\n At Full Contact Contender 43 (available on UFC Fight Pass<\/a>), Billy Adams showed off a perfect feint before connecting with a KO blow.<\/p>\n Look at Lofts bite on that fake. He was destined to eat a left hook.<\/p>\n Go Todoroki vs. Yoshitomo InoueMarcel De Souza vs. Minato Rokugo<\/p>\n Go Todoroki and Marcel De Souza were throwing pure filth at a Shooto event in Tokyo.<\/p>\n This embedded content failed to load.<\/p>\n Todoroki waited for Yoshitomo Inoue to get one step too close before shutting him down with a right, while De Souza was the one doing all the advancing to set up a pinpoint KO strike of his own.<\/p>\n Sora Fujita vs. Motonori TakiguchiHaruto Sunada vs. Riku Furuichi<\/p>\n Taking a quick flight to Osaka, we had a DEEP event that was primarily composed of two-round fights. Judging by the results, that was way more time than some fighters needed.<\/p>\n Sora Fujita popped Motonori Takiguchi with a sneaky left that ended their fight in just 25 seconds.<\/p>\n Haruto Sunada vs. Riku Furuichi lasted longer, but once both men bit down on their mouthpieces and started throwing down, it was guaranteed they wouldn\u2019t see the second round.<\/p>\n Ryan Burgos vs. Hector IglesiasBilly Alexander vs. Kyle HammelDJ Tirelli vs. Jalen Willis<\/p>\n We go from Japan to a fighter honoring a PRIDE legend at a Ring of Combat event in Atlantic City, N.J.<\/p>\n Ryan Burgos walked out to Mirko Cro Cop\u2019s signature theme, Wild Boys by Duran Duran, and then doubled up on the homage by rocking Hector Iglesias with a head kick.<\/p>\n There really wasn\u2019t much poetic about Billy Alexander\u2019s win as he landed a right hand that could have torn his opponent\u2019s face off and then clobbered him with two more punches for good measure.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s amateur featherweight DJ Tirelli, who gave his opponent almost no time to tap and, as it turns out, zero room to breathe with a ninja choke that induced a nap in just 34 seconds.<\/p>\n Fabio Henrique vs. Nyldean Paes<\/p>\n The best submission of the week has to go to Fabio Henrique, though.<\/p>\n We\u2019re used to seeing people get slept in the standup, but to snag a choke-out like this out of nowhere on the feet. That\u2019s just ridiculous.<\/p>\n Shooto Brasil 132 is available for replay on UFC Fight Pass<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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 \u2014 @AlexanderKLee<\/a> \u2014 using the hashtag #MissedFists.<\/p>\n