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
Thank you as always to the great Jed Meshew for dishing out the Missed Fists goodness<\/a> last week in my absence. I\u2019m back from vacation and while I can\u2019t match my colleague\u2019s acerbic wit, I can tilt the spotlight towards a few fighters deserving of recognition\u2014and, yes, a little friendly trolling.<\/p>\n (Big thanks as always to @Barrelelapierna<\/a> for their weekly lists of the best KOs,<\/a> 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 Carlos Anaya vs. Diego Huanca<\/p>\n This is why there\u2019s a line between amateur and professional MMA, folks.<\/p>\n Laugh at Diego Huanca if you want. Call his costly spin move \u201cfoolish.\u201d \u201cClumsy.\u201d \u201cDownright irresponsible.\u201d You know what I call it? Heroic.<\/p>\n Here at Missed Fists headquarters, we\u2019ll never knock a fighter for their ambition; nay, for their attempt to capture our imaginations. That\u2019s what Huanca did in this amateur bout at an Inka MMA show in Lima, Peru, on Wednesday, throwing a spin kick that came nowhere near landing and then doubling down on his error with a backfist that left his chin completely exposed.<\/p>\n If you watch closely, you\u2019ll notice just before a Carlos Anaya right hand ended his night that Huanca was actually attempting to throw his own right, indicating that all caution had truly been thrown to the wind. All in, baby!<\/p>\n Afterwards, it was nice to see Anaya attend to Huanca, who had a look on his face that said, \u201cWow, I can\u2019t believe none of that worked.\u201d Neither can we, Diego. Regardless, we salute you.<\/p>\n Inka 59 is available for replay on UFC Fight Pass.<\/a><\/p>\n Brendan Farnsworth vs. Rafayel Ktikyan<\/p>\n Seriously, the best thing about amateur MMA is that offense is usually at a far higher level than defense, meaning you get some sweet finishes like what Brendan Farnsworth did to Rafayel Ktikyan at Up Next Fighting 34.<\/p>\n I can\u2019t tell you if this is the textbook way to deal with an opponent working from side control, but whatever Farnsworth did it was damn effective and a (Mike) heck of a visual. Tapology<\/a> lists this one as a buggy choke, which sounds about right, though Farnsworth still deserves credit for his innovation because I certainly hadn\u2019t seen this variation before.<\/p>\n Farnsworth captured a lightweight title with the win and you have to imagine a pro move is coming soon.<\/p>\n Angelina Calpito vs. Charyl Rush One more amateur highlight? OK, fine!<\/p>\n From Front Street Fights 36 (free replay available on YouTube<\/a>) in Boise, Idaho:<\/p>\n We saw reverse nominative determinism at play here, as Angelina Calpito rushed Charyl Rush en route to a painful-looking body kick knockout. Watching the clip, it looked like Calpito was in danger of emptying that tank too early as she launched punch after punch at Rush\u2019s defenses, but enough shots made it through, especially those body shots, and Rush eventually crumbled.<\/p>\n Later on the card, welterweight pro Raymond Lawley displayed a more patient approach, working his way out of a grinding position along the fence and then exploding with a no-doubt 1-2 knockout.<\/p>\n Asaf Chopurov vs. Reece McLaren Hey Asaf Chopurov, I think you might be ready for the UFC, young man.<\/p>\n Yup, that\u2019s longtime ONE bantamweight contender Reece McLaren falling at the hands of Chopurov in the main event of UAE Warriors 72 (available for replay on UFC Fight Pass). The 24-year-old Chopurov was going for his second defence of his UAE Warriors title on Thursday and he made it look easy, dusting McLaren with a ridiculously well-timed counter right that ended the fight in 63 seconds.<\/p>\n UFC Abu Dhabi goes down on Saturday, but I\u2019m not betting on any of that card\u2019s fighters to top Chopurov\u2019s finish.<\/p>\n And he wasn\u2019t the only undefeated bantamweight making waves this week.<\/p>\n Pavel Andrusca improved to 8-0 with this sniper right hand knockout over Gexipengchu.<\/p>\n Two power shots thrown, one man goes down. Them\u2019s the breaks sometimes.<\/p>\n Gabriel dos Anjos vs. Alexandre Guerra<\/p>\n Sticking with Fight Pass, at Shooto Brasil 138, we had Alexandre Guerra walk right into a woodchipper that goes by the name of Gabriel dos Anjos.<\/p>\n We had a lot of praise for Huanca above, and Guerra deserves some love as well for marching forward with zero game plan and daring dos Anjos to outslug him. Suffice to say, dos Anjos dared.<\/p>\n Muhammadziz Abdurashidov vs. Seidakhmet Khudaiberenov<\/p>\n Let\u2019s wrap with arguably the most picturesque knockout of the week, Muhammadziz Abdurashidov\u2019s unreal flying switch knee against Seidakhmet Khudaiberenov.<\/p>\n Abdurashidov looks to be about twice Khudaiberenov\u2019s size, so when he brings that knee up, it pretty much sends Khudaiberenov\u2019s chin into space and his mouthpiece plummeting down to Earth.<\/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
Raymond Lawley vs. Devon Jackson<\/p>\n
Pavel Andrusca vs. Gexipengchu<\/p>\n