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.
It’s been a while-not long enough if you ask me-since we’ve had to chronicle some proper Adventures in Officiating, but we just had a doozy down in Sao Paulo.
(Big thanks as always to @Barrelelapierna for their weekly lists of the best KOs, 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.)
Luciano Oliveira vs. Elismar Lima
Marcos Silva vs. Romenigue Menezes
Yuri Popeye vs. Guilherme Severo
Centurion FC, we’re gonna have to talk about these referee assignments.
In a welterweight tournament bout between Luciano Oliveira and Elismar Lima, Oliveira had the advantage late in the round as he worked to secure a guillotine choke. Not a great position for Lima to be in, but he looked calm and, at worst, just had to hang on for a minute and make it to the bell.
Referee Tobias Rodrigues wasn’t having that.
With Lima shooting him a thumbs up to indicate that he was OK, Rodrigues decided to wave off the bout anyway, making Oliveira the victor via first-round submission. Immediate confusion.
If we’re being generous, we can point to a couple of moments during the closing sequence that may have been open to interpretation. As soon as Oliveira goes for the guillotine, Lima’s hand clearly pats the mat twice. I say “pats” and not “taps” because that looked to me like his palm incidentally made contact as he changed position. Even if you believe that was a tap, Rodrigues didn’t intervene there, so it doesn’t matter.
Lima keeps adjusting his grip, and just before he gives the thumbs up, you can kind of see him open his hand and make a move towards Oliveira’s hip, but it’s far from a clear sign of submission. For some reason, it’s the thumb that causes Rodrigues to immediately spring into action and make the call.
Looked like total BS to me, but let me know in the comments what you think.
Oh, we also had this bit of officiating strangeness.
We’ll get back to Oliveira in a moment, but first I want to talk about this finish by Marcos Silva.
When I think about how scary it is to be a fighter, it’s not the flash KOs that worry me. It’s stuff like this, where you can eat a head kick, suddenly find yourself with your neck being yanked on, then end up in bottom position with elbows being driven into your face, and on top of all that your arm is nearly snapped.
Truly, respect to all who compete, from the lowliest amateur to the UFC main eventer.
On the other side of the welterweight tournament bracket, Yuri Popeye literally punched his ticket to the final with this stanky leg knockout of Guilherme Severo.
And guess what, Popeye went on to take out Oliveira in the final. So everything worked out, I guess?
Bryan McCormick vs. Justin Soroka
Now, for some referee shenanigans I approve of.
In an amateur featherweight bout at BTC 36 in scenic Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Bryan McCormick sank in a deep choke as he rode opponent Justin Soroka’s back. A flailing McCormick just double fists the cage in an attempt to escape, drawing the mildest reaction from the referee.
And you know what? I’m OK with it. Referee Brian Beauchamp saw that McCormick had Soroka dead to rights anyway and I don’t think Soroka was in any position to intelligently receive instructions anyway. Sometimes, you have to just let nature take its course.
Adriano Castro vs. Felipe Molina
Speaking of getting choked unconscious.
Adriano Castro made Felipe Molina pay for flinching, snatching a choke as Molina turned around and gave up his back (Maycee Barber, is that you?) and wrestling him down to the mat. Nowhere for Molina to go but Dreamland.
Inka 55 is available for replay on UFC Fight Pass.
Jade Jorand vs. Adriana Fusini
Also on Fight Pass, 25-year-old strawweight Jade Jorand made an impact at Ares FC 39, going straight-up “Axe Murderer” on Adriana Fusini.
Jorand has had an uneven go of things since making her pro fighting debut with Bellator Kickboxing (remember that?) in 2019, but there’s still plenty of time for her to find success whether it’s in MMA or Karate Combat, where she’s recently competed.
Starling Simmons vs. Jerrod Winston
Roland Dunlap vs. Cory Bradford
Miguel Sanson vs. Hector Iglesias
And now, Fight Pass Speed Round!
Starling Simmons narrowly edged out Roland Dunlop for the fastest knockout at Anthony Pettis FC 23, needing just 17 seconds to put away Jerrod Winston.
Beat him by a whole second.
I guess we have to mention Miguel Sanson, who won his fight in a sloth-like 48 seconds.
Charlie Cleveland vs. Nyle Bartling
LFA 230 almost ended prematurely when a tornado warning in Shawnee, Okla., caused the power to go out and the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort to be evacuated. Fortunately, no one was hurt and the show eventually resumed.
Nyle Bartling probably wishes it hadn’t.
Charlie Cleveland took Bartling off of his feet and then smashed him into the canvas with ground-and-pound. All things considered, Bartling probably would have been better fighting a tornado.
Eduardo Souza vs. Ivan Danilov
At Open Fighting Championship 63 in Samara, Russia, Eduardo Souza showed how to perfectly catch a kick and immediately counter.
Marlon Rodriguez vs. Shiokey Vargas
At KO Showtime 10 in Chiclayo, Peru, Shiokey Vargas also showed how to perfectly catch a kick… with his face.
As for Alexander Rojas, well, he might not have a face anymore after this Piero Torres spinning elbow.
Alexis De la Cerda vs. Ervin Fuller III
I admit, I’m not tuned in to this whole Zuffa Boxing thing in the slightest, but… my goodness, Alexis De la Cerda may have just blessed us with the knockout of the year.
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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