In this new issue of Missed Fists, we will be highlighting some bouts from across the world that you may have missed because of the sheer volume of mixed martial arts events that seem to pop up every day.
You do not share my preference for human faces, but I find them fascinating. You name it, I like it: pretty faces, gorgeous faces, ugly faces, fat faces, thin faces, joyful faces, sad faces, etc.
It is disheartening that so many of the fighters in this week’s highlights appear intent on kicking their opponents in the face. But we choose this path for ourselves.
Merab Mamporia vs Patryk Ozog – Pawel Podkanski vs Lukasz Klos
Starting off the week, we have footage from a Carpathian Warriors show in Rzeszow, Poland. The name of the promotion sounds like the name of the villain from Ghostbusters 2, Vigo the Carpathian. As in, Vigo the Cruel, Vigo the Torturer, Vigo the Despised, and Vigo the Unholy. Following his actions over the weekend against Merab Mamporia, Patryk Ozog may be called anything from those listed.
Everything in the video is negative for Mamporia. After giving him a good jolt with a jab, Ozog empties his Super Meter to unleash a wonderfully placed Flying Switch Kick from Hell on his opponent from across the cage. He throws down one more left hand for good measure.
As an alternative, if you stop it at the appropriate time, it resembles a Jumpman logo, which is very cool (see feature image above). Ozog earned major kudos for his impressive presentation, going from 0-1 to 1-0 on his professional debut. But considering his jumping skills, I think he will make it over that hurdle.
It took Lukasz Klos just seconds to deliver a head kick on Pawel Podkanski so devastating that not even the NFL would have allowed him to continue playing after that.
Belek Aliev vs Gusein Khalikhov – Jonas Boeno vs Daniil Prikaza
If you are not like KO kicks to the back of the skull, how about a front kick to the face? Without wasting a second, Gusein Khalikhov threw out his foot and connected with the side of Belek Aliev’s jaw during their bout at Open Fighting Championship 24 in Barnaul, Russia. That did not occur by chance. He timed it well, and then he delivered.
Daniil Prikaza successfully defended his welterweight championship with an uppercut bomb and follow-up punches 25 seconds in and out of the main event. While this is the first non-kick KO footage of the week, it is no less violent than the others. Prikaza (16-4-2) is currently unbeaten in his last six bouts, all of which he has won through knockout in the first round.
Aleksander Kurshinsky vs Andrey Pulyaev
It took just a moment for Andrey Pulyaev’s kick to Aleksander Kurshinsky’s liver to register, even though it was not only Aleksander’s face that is now being hit. Andrey was also kicking other people’s faces. Hmm. That did not end up being that painful. Permit me to bring these hands back up to this position. OK, I will just hurl, but no, my internal organ is most certainly disintegrating right now. Yes. Down I go.
When you convince yourself that you should always still fight, but your body is making it abundantly clear that you cannot, you had to be experiencing many of the most hopeless sensations in the world.
Pavel Masalski vs Pavel Pahomenko
Permit us to take a little break from all the smashing about to offer you the most impressive submission of the week, which was performed by Pavel Pahomenko and took place in the Belarusian Fight Championship 69 in Minsk, Belarus. It was a beautiful buggy choke.
Pahomenko was not playing around when there was a world championship belt at stake in the light heavyweight division. He reached down and gently caressed Pavel Masalski on the feet before inviting Masalski into his web.
Pahomenko did not give his opponent a chance to become comfortable in the side control position before attacking with the unusual submission. Side control is often a very advantageous position to be in. Masalksi did not even realize he was in danger until it was too late to do anything about it, which is how a lot of new fighters respond to the Von Flue.
Ashley Calvert vs Vince Bembe
This week’s bout was particularly vicious, as Vince Bembe figuratively punched Ashley Calvert to the ground before leaving him sprawled against the cage. There was just no way to avoid the violence this time around.
Calvert did not have many alternatives available to him to impede Bembe’s onslaught. You can see that he is only partially committed to protecting himself and partially committed to counterattacking, and the combination of these two actions did not result in success.
Leo Espino vs Miguel Martinez
In the following film, which comes from Jasaji Fighting League 34 in Atizapan de Zaragoza, Mexico, Leo Espino had indeed benefited more from falling on his face (or in any other way) than he did from landing in the manner that he did.
Because Miguel Martinez’s body language conveys worry, you can tell that this situation was a poor one. That is hardly a staredown; rather, it is more like “Holy s***, are you okay, my guy?”
Given how Espino got himself into that position in the first place, the fact that he really begins attempting to assist Espino in straightening up his physique is a little rich. However, Martinez’s intentions were good, and his heart was situated in the correct place.
Jair Jesuino vs Jose Delano
This week’s discussion ends with what is the most offensive insult against one’s facial characteristics. Because Jose Delano was not happy to only leave a knee mark on Jair Jesuino’s head, he decided to go for the kill.
In addition to that, he followed it up with hammer fists that seemed as if they may irreversibly change Jesuino’s face.
