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 had some strange Adventures in Officiating this week at LFA 243, with one referee overseeing a comeback that truly had everything.
(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.)
Lorenzo Figueroa vs. Helton Jose
Kevin Fernandez vs. Enrique Pacheco
Joe Thurrott vs. Ricky Miller
Mason Hartshorn vs. Kelvin Martinez
Let’s just all watch this one together before commenting further:
OK, so first, we had Helton Jose rocking Lorenzo Figueroa and then latching on to a guillotine choke as Figueroa worked to recover. It didn’t look like Figueroa was in serious danger, even with Jose turning it into a lifting guillotine against the cage. Figueroa flailed and at one point, it definitely looked like he tapped Jose’s shoulder with an open hand, but really only tapped in the most literal sense. Didn’t look like he was signalling a submission, in my opinion.
Referee David Shurley stepped in to stop the fight and Figueroa immediately protested. There was a lengthy discussion with cageside officials getting involved and it was eventually decided the bout would continue. Neat!
Hilariously, Jose cracks Figueroa AGAIN, this time following up with more punches to chase the finish as opposed to snatching the neck. And AGAIN, Figueroa recovers. What is happening? Figueroa goes for broke, walking Jose down, blasting him with a left that sends his mouthpiece flying. He pours it on until Jose is on his hands and knees, just eating punches, and the fight is stopped. For real, this time.
MMA is supposed to be fun and I’ll be damned if this wasn’t one of the most enjoyable comebacks I’ve ever seen. Was everything officiated by the book? I don’t know. And you know what? I don’t particularly care.
I care a little more about the odd call in the Kevin Fernandez vs. Enrique Pacheco fight, which saw Pacheco eat a whole lot of extra punishment that could have been avoided.
Look, I get it, Pacheco somehow recovered from that head kick and actually fought back before being put down for good by a knee. But referee Kane Vandal (sick name) clearly stepped in to stop the fight, making contact with both fighters before deciding, “Oh, I guess they’re not done yet. As you were, gentlemen.” We might have avoided an early stoppage but, like, you can’t jump in like that!
Anyway, here are two awesome KOs by Joe “Cutthroat” Thurrott (that is how you nickname!) and Mason Hartshorn.
LFA shows are available to watch on VICE TV.
Vinicius Rieger vs. Danner Goncalves
Were it not for Figueroa and Jose, this next clip from Teuto Fight 8 would have taken the cake for most ridiculous scrap of the week.
They just doin’ stuff.
I’m not sure how serious this fight is supposed to be, but I like to imagine both fellows are sincerely giving the old college try here. And somehow, at the end of all that chaos, Vinicius Rieger restores order with an on-point knockout shot. Planned or a happy accident? We take it.
Joe Graydon vs. Joaquin Jackman
Speaking of on-point knockouts, amateur lightweight Joe Graydon just erased his opponent at a 51Fifty Fight Night event in Livingston, Calif.
Like, one second Joaquin Jackman was there and then *poof* gone.
Adam Soldaev vs. Mateusz Makarowski
How do I put this? Adam Soldaev just rewired this dude’s nervous system.
Soldaev isn’t KSW’s most consistent fighter, but my goodness, when he connects clean, it is a wrap and a half for his opponents. Poor Mateusz Makarowski was frozen on the mat, left in a pose you probably couldn’t replicate if you tried.
KSW should be legally obligated to play this clip as a warning to the next dude who sees Soldaev’s name on a fight contract.
Takuya Kuramoto vs. Kinji Oruben
I don’t know which fighters need to hear this, but whoever you are: You’re not King Green. Stop trying to be King Green.
At a DEEP event in Shizuoka, Japan, Kinji Oruben let his hands drop for a second in the middle of an exchange with Takuya Kuramoto and sure enough, Kuramoto immediately landed a right hand that rendered Oruben’s legs useless. Hands up, gang.
Truong vs. Huy Hoang Do
As for Huy Hoang Do, I have no advice, because how could you have seen this one coming.
From Lion Championship 36 in Vung Tau, Vietnam:
Truong battled back from a near-finish to catch Do with a knee on the button as they were both rising from the canvas. Watch Truong’s beautiful body control as he transitions from a scramble and then immediately sets his feet for the finishing blow. Straight-up outta nowhere.
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.
