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 led last week’s Missed Fists with an unfortunate—and entirely avoidable!—injury, and while we don’t want to make it a habit of putting undue focus on the more calamitous combat sports moments, sometimes we just can’t look away.
That said, I strongly, strongly, STRONGLY urge you to look away from this first clip and just move on with the rest of the feature.
But, if you must.
(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.)
Galina Maltseva vs. Ekaterina Demina
An MMA World amateur bout in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, between Galina Maltseva and Ekaterina Demina turned into a horror show early in the third round as Demina made the fatal mistake of attempting to post with her arm while being taken down.
Seriously, you don’t even need to watch this clip to know what happened.
Gruesome arm break as Deminova was trying to land at MMA World: World Champinship pic.twitter.com/67cPozYoKv
— Fedor’s nephew (@FdrNphw) November 26, 2024
Instant snap, instant pain, instant stoppage. Instant regret.
Moving on.
Wael Kambouche vs. Axel Sormain
Wael Kambouche just got the quick KO in the 100% Fight Featherweight tournament semi-final to move onto the final in January where he'll face 7-1 Wassim Chaine.
— Victor (@frontkicked) November 23, 2024
7-0 at amateur now with all by finish, one of the best prospects in the talent hotbed that is France. pic.twitter.com/WeWcIxHowv
Ah, that’s much better. A wholesome knockout punch and some wholesome follow-up strikes.
Featherweight Wael Kambouche continues to shine on the amateur scene, keeping his undefeated record and 100 percent finish rate intact. His hands were just way too fast for Axel Sormain, and once he had Sormain in danger, he didn’t hesitate to ground-and-pound him out.
A replay of 100% Fight 57 is free to watch on YouTube.
Ginji Arai vs. Yuichi Nakamura
Kambouche has some competition for the most precise knockout of the week as Ginji Arai timed this left hand beautifully to flatten Yuichi Nakamura at a DEEP event in Tokyo.
Ginji Arai KO1 Yuichi Nakamura - DEEP Tokyo Impact 2024 5th Round pic.twitter.com/AVVLClCWI7
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 24, 2024
That is just exquisite understanding of range, rhythm, and execution. Big moment for the 20-year-old.
Szymon Herrmann vs. Kamil Korzeniewski
Not so precise but no less effective was Szymon Herrmann, who missed literally every part of this combo except for the one that mattered.
From Babilon MMA 49:
Szymon Hermann ciężko nokautuje Kamila Korzeniewskiego na gali Babilon MMA 49 #BabilonMMA49 pic.twitter.com/oCu10qH2Ok
— Adrian Szymański (@adrians_mma) November 22, 2024
Correction, Hermann landed a couple of solid punches, then caught nothing but air with three windmilling strikes, and then fired off a head kick that was right on the money. Just like online dating, it’s a numbers game.
Marko Bojkovic vs. Sahil Siraj
A philosophical question: What happens when a fighter nicknamed “The Skull Crusher” does not want to crush skulls?
This is the dilemma that played out at Fight Nation Championship 20 in Zagreb, Croatia, where Marko Bojkovic (he of the menacing nom de guerre) appeared to have sealed a win with a popping left hand.
Marko Bojković (8-0) acaba de destrozar al sueco Sahil Siraj (9-4) en poco más de un minuto de combate, ya son 7 finalizaciones y 5 de ellas en el primer asalto, este chico es un verdadero problema #FNC20 pic.twitter.com/4wifkqMTM5
— Pelunaton (@pelunaton) November 23, 2024
Unfortunately for Bojkovic and opponent Sahil Siraj, referee Franko Kliman did not feel that Siraj going completely limp and showing zero signs of intelligent defense was enough to call the contest. And so the skull-crushing commenced.
Bojkovic didn’t seem all that torn up about it as he celebrated with a jaunty jig, but he probably would have been happy not to have delivered those extra punches. Awful officiating.
Alexandre Williams vs. Miguel Angel Prado
At Furious FC 5 (free replay available on YouTube), Alexandre Williams did his best Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida impression with this suffocating guillotine choke.
Alexandre Williams got his first career win with this wonderful standing guillotine choke in Furious FC!! pic.twitter.com/HdJjmgaEf1
— Haduucken (@Haduuuucken) November 23, 2024
That is out cold out cold.
Goga Kistauri vs. Sane Nithiya
In Graz, Austria, a fight between Goga Kistauri and Sane Nithiya lasted just 25 seconds…
Kistauri KO!! ⏱️ #CFS16 pic.twitter.com/O9uxono76x
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) November 22, 2024
… due to an inSANE knockout punch by Kistauri.
Hehehehehehehehehe… eh.
Cage Fight Series 16 is available for replay on UFC Fight Pass.
Beybulat Isaev vs. Damir Russinov
Over in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Beybulat Isaev reminded Damir Russinov that they’re mixing the martial arts up in here, not just boxing.
Heavyweight head kick KO by Beybulat Isaev in his pro debut earlier at NAIZA FC #NAIZA69 pic.twitter.com/YqO2Wl0Rld
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 23, 2024
Isaev looks amused by Russinov’s sparring strikes and then he decides to end him with a kick upside the head.
Free full fights from Naiza FC are available on their YouTube channel.
Vambert Robby vs. Roberto Oliveira
BRUTAL knockout by Vambert Robby over at Soldado Combat in Brasilia. That head snap was rough. #SoldadoCombat4 pic.twitter.com/o5Xgvw4z3J
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 24, 2024
For a guy who just felt his soul temporarily leave his body, Roberto Oliveira actually looked pretty chill afterwards.
At Soldado Combat 4 in Brasilia, Brazil, Vambert Robby absolutely clobbered Roberto Oliveira with a right hand, causing Oliveira’s head to THUD against the mat. At least Oliveira appeared to immediately regain consciousness, but his whole brain situation can’t have been good there. Let’s hope he gets plenty of rest and recovery.
Nildo Nascimento vs. Fernando Laurenco
Hopping over to Sao Paulo, Nildo Nascimento became Standout Fighting Tournament’s champ-champ with this unbelievable knockout of Fernando Laurenco.
Holy SHIT. SFT flyweight champ Nildo Katchau just absolutely iced the SFT BW champ Fernando Laurenço. Sent him flying. Katchau now SFT double champ. #SFT pic.twitter.com/sr0hazEb4F
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 24, 2024
Nascimento was the one coming up to 135 pounds here—I mean, just look at that size difference—and his speed proved to be the difference as he stepped in with a gorgeous left hook that sent Laurenco off of his feet. And it was a big drop. The mat probably did half the work there.
Even if Nascimento has to share his titles with an inanimate object, his double champion status stands. Not a bad achievement for the 35-year-old Brazilian.
Poll
What was the most memorable Missed Fists moment this week?
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Ekaterina Demina breaks her arm
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Szymon Herrmann’s crazy combo
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0%
Alexandre Williams’ Jon Jones homage
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0%
Nildo Nascimento sends Fernando Laurenco airborne
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0%
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 X — @AlexanderKLee — using the hashtag #MissedFists.