Welcome to the latest edition of Missed Fists, highlighting notable and unusual combat sports action from around the world that might have slipped under the radar during busy periods.
As the year progresses, one might worry that combat sports are losing their unique strangeness, potentially becoming predictable with only standard knockouts and submissions. How dull that would be!
Thankfully, recent events have shown a resurgence of bizarre incidents, including a fighter getting an expected electric shock from a water-surrounded ring and a referee executing a clean tackle on a participant.
This week brings not just one, but two particularly strange examples of combat sports.
Ultimate Tire Wrestling
Let`s start with a truly bizarre event from Friday Night Fights, which featured various strange contests including slap fighting, car-jitsu, and coffin-jitsu.
Notably, Jason “Mayhem” Miller was reportedly involved in this event.
The rules for Ultimate Tire Wrestling are straightforward: three five-minute rounds. Points are awarded for lifting an opponent (one point per second). The round winner is determined by points, but `dunking` an opponent into the tire (getting over 50% of their body in) results in an instant round win. The first fighter to win two rounds wins the match.
Commentary suggests that making a successful dunk an immediate match-ender would make sense, given the extreme difficulty and exhaustion involved in lifting and dropping an opponent into the tire, which is described as a nearly impossible task to do multiple times.
Despite the difficulty, a match between “Mallet” and “Firecracker” proved highly entertaining, with “Mallet” securing the win through two significant throws.
While grueling, the concept of Ultimate Tire Wrestling is seen as having potential, with interest expressed in watching future bouts.
Bizarre Robot Kickboxing
Shifting to another unusual concept…
A robot kickboxing match from a Kunlun Fights event in China is hard to describe, feeling simultaneously absurd and unnervingly menacing. It`s noted as being uncomfortable to watch.
While the technology is impressive, the idea of machines taking over martial arts is viewed with hesitation.
Perhaps in time, robot combat will become more accepted, but for now, it remains unsettling.
Shocking Submission
Returning to traditional human competition…
Sometimes, human competition can be just as shocking.
At Versus Fight Night 14 in Pretoria, South Africa, Joshua du Toit demonstrated his submission prowess against John Yona Mubatiza, who displayed a severe lack of awareness by not tapping out while caught in a kimura.
The result was a severe injury to Mubatiza`s arm due to his refusal to submit.
Compounding the issue, this occurred in an amateur bout.
Knockout Highlights
Switching gears to impressive finishes…
Hopefully, sophisticated machines won`t replicate such devastating techniques anytime soon.
Kamal Guseynov delivered a spectacular finish against Mavlonbek Mirkomilov just 17 seconds into their fight.
Another notable finish was a head kick knockout from Combat Fighting Championship 4 in El Paso, Texas, which came with an interesting backstory.
The winner, Isaiah Zamora, reportedly had not secured a victory in any combat sports contest prior to this fight, holding an 0-4 MMA record and having competed unsuccessfully in other disciplines.
However, facing David Flores, who also sought his first win, Zamora achieved a breakthrough moment.
As the saying goes:
Don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’
This knockout seems to perfectly embody that sentiment.
PFL Highlights
With a busy schedule in combat sports, it`s understandable if recent PFL events, including their MENA and Europe series`, were missed, despite featuring solid cards and numerous highlights.
A standout performance came from undefeated welterweight prospect Patrick Habirora at the Brussels event.
Known as “The Belgian Bomber,” Habirora delivered a stunning head kick knockout against UFC veteran Danny Roberts, signaling his potential value to the PFL roster.
