Even with the world shutting down this year, MMA found a way, and I’m not just talking about the UFC. Three weeks before Dana White “saved 2020” by holding a pay-per-view event in Jacksonville, Fla., there were fights happening in Belarus. The decision to run shows during the early stages of the pandemic was as questionable as the level of competition that was being booked to compete, but it was clear that humanity’s fighting spirit would not be easily extinguished.
For better or worse, dozens of international and regional promotions followed suit, which means there was plenty of incredible action that was missed this year. So it’s time for the third annual Fisty Awards, with your hosts, the esteemed Jed K. Meshew and Alexander K. Lee!
(hold for applause)
AL: Thank you, thank you, whoever wrote that lovely introduction (me), too kind! So Jed, were you satisfied with what the Fight Gods had to offer outside of the major promotions this year?
JM: Are you kidding me? This is the year that saw CamSoda return to MMA with not one, but two events. I’ve been thrilled with the non-UFC MMA world.
In all seriousness though, probably in large part because MMA is a sport of hooligans, even with COVID-19, we still didn’t see that much drop-off in quality or volume. All around the world, people are willing to suffer head trauma for our amusement, and for that, we salute them.
AL: One thing regular readers know is that as much as I love rules, we also enjoy a good circumvention of the rules so that’s how we’re going to start this show as we discuss our favorite Missed Fists Fight of the Year.
I call this a cheat because I’m picking a fight from a well-known American promotion that I still didn’t feel got enough love, and the fight you’re picking is from a little-known promotion (which may as well have its home base listed as international waters) that we’ve covered plenty on MMA Fighting.
So with apologies to some of the minor league outings that deserved more shine, I have to pick Julija Stoliarenko vs. Lisa Verzosa as my Missed Fists Fight of the Year.
Watch the full fight on UFC Fight Pass and also check out the brilliant All Angles video that was just released.
This fight happened the same weekend as our 2020 Fight of the Year winner Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk, so it was understandably overshadowed, but the fact that it didn’t crack our top-5 is a travesty. If people want to view Zhang-Jedrzejczyk through the lens of it being maybe the greatest women’s MMA fight of all-time, then Stoliarenko-Verzosa is a close second.
This was just an unholy 25-minute bloodbath.
Before and after: Stoliarenko vs Verzosa. #PhoenixSeries3 pic.twitter.com/yWvemYZmBd
— Invicta FC (@InvictaFights) March 9, 2020
JM: Zhang-Jedrzejczyk is undoubtedly the greatest women’s fight of all time, but I think we can safely say Stoliarenko-Verzosa is the bloodiest women’s fight of all time, and possibly just the bloodiest fight ever, period. I’m astonished the doctor allowed this fight to continue with the size of that gash but certainly glad he did. Feel bad for Invicta though, because there’s no way they could re-use that canvas after this horror show.— Invicta FC (@InvictaFights) March 9, 2020
Bloodiest @InvictaFights ever. #PhoenixSeries3 pic.twitter.com/vkYP8XKP93
— Cynthia Vance (@cynthiavance) March 7, 2020
— Cynthia Vance (@cynthiavance) March 7, 2020
Is this the bloodiest fight in Invicta? This is ridiculous #PhoenixSeries3 pic.twitter.com/pc0iO7nsRL
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) March 7, 2020
AL: Seriously, these two showed the same wills you’d see in a UFC championship fight and I’m not just talking Zhang-Jedrzejczyk. Think Lawler-Condit. Adesanya-Gastelum. Jones-Gustafsson 1. It’s that good.— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) March 7, 2020
just casually capturing SLOW-MO VIOLENCE. #PhoenixSeries3 pic.twitter.com/x0minW7lcZ
— Cynthia Vance (@cynthiavance) March 7, 2020
Now let’s talk about your pick, which will go down in history for its own reasons.— Cynthia Vance (@cynthiavance) March 7, 2020
JM: I want to be clear, I had every intention of putting Panda Banks (AKA The Baddest Man in Phuket) vs. three men as one of my top-5 fights year for MMA Fighting’s end-of-year awards but was talked out of it by somebody *cough cough*.
AL: Only because I knew our philistine co-workers would never support it enough to get it into the No. 1 spot where it truly belongs.
JM: I legitimately love this fight because before it, we’ve seen multiple two-on-one fights in the Fight Circus ring and none have gone well for the lone wolf. But that’s because what you need in that scenario isn’t a wolf, it’s a Panda:
Panda Banks was a tornado of testosterone at Fight Circus 2 as he took on not 1 but 3 men!#FightCircus2 pic.twitter.com/MvKmdSseXs
— Full Metal Dojo - Bare Knuckle Kingdom (@FullMetalDojo) November 23, 2020
Just look at him go! That right there is elite storytelling. Inverting the classic David vs. Goliath tale by stacking the odds against Panda. But Big Daddy Banks is made of sterner stuff than most men (and not averse to some specious tactics like taking a swipe at the guy on the ring apron, a la pro wrestling).— Full Metal Dojo - Bare Knuckle Kingdom (@FullMetalDojo) November 23, 2020
AL: Panda had to be sneaky because these guys were not playing around. They didn’t just try and dogpile on him, they were throwing all kinds of wild techniques (of questionable effectiveness) to try and win a fight in which they already had a two-man advantage.
This fight had everything, sweeps, 12-6 elbows, a ROLLING THUNDER by the Heavyweight #FightCircus2 pic.twitter.com/1HSQrelUD8
— Downward Elbow (@DownwardElbow) November 22, 2020
Part of me still can’t believe that this happened and yet here we are.— Downward Elbow (@DownwardElbow) November 22, 2020
JM: You show me another fight that could be inserted into John Wick 4 and be totally at home, and then I’ll consider that there might have been a better fight in MMA this year, but until then, Panda Banks forever.
AL: We’re going to put a moratorium on the Fight Circus talk for now, because otherwise the events would probably sweep the Fistys, but if you want to read more or watch the events for free yourself you can find all the pertinent info and links here and here and Jed’s explanation for why Fight Circus Vol. 2 was the best MMA event of 2020 here.
[h=3]The Krazy Horse Award (Best Knockouts)[/h]AL: My first pick for best KO goes to amateur lightweight Emon Baker who executed one of the most insane slams I’ve ever seen.
Frightening slam KO last night at Spar Star Promotions: FN 46 (Amateur show). Emon Baker def. Richard Trieu.
Fortunately he was back to his feet a couple mins later. pic.twitter.com/RYctfh3eOk
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) January 12, 2020
JM: I’m going to do something I rarely do here, and that’s agree with you. That’s probably the best KO this year, if only by the metric of it being the one I would least like to have happen to me. Fortunately he was back to his feet a couple mins later. pic.twitter.com/RYctfh3eOk
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) January 12, 2020
AL: Here’s another view of it from Baker’s coach, MMA and Bellator vet Chad George, who thankfully also provided a positive update on the health of Baker’s opponent.
JM: But despite agreeing with you, for the sake of argument I will proffer a truly terrifying outcome from Jervon Beverly:
Numero
Jervon Beverly, GCMMA 6 pic.twitter.com/N5WhnpfanM
— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) September 28, 2020
Jumping directly into a huge right hand is not good tactics, but it is sensational television.Jervon Beverly, GCMMA 6 pic.twitter.com/N5WhnpfanM
— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) September 28, 2020
AL: I still don’t know what the hell Robert Taylor was thinking there.
I’m going to dip into the world of lethwei for this pick, which saw Naing Htet Lin viciously knock out some poor soul TWICE.
Not too crazy today. Highlight KO would be from the Shwegyin day 1 main event (today). Naing Htet Lin knocks out Ye Marn Sein twice in round 1. pic.twitter.com/5Vpl5GDKdC
— inxxane (@inxxane) March 6, 2020
Literally something that could only happen in lethwei.— inxxane (@inxxane) March 6, 2020
JM: That’s why Lethwei is the sport of kings. Well, that and the headbutting.
But my other winner of a Krazy Horse is Genison Lima sending Jose Filho to the land of wind and ghosts and violent fashion.
My god. Absolutely brutal KO just now at Shooto Brasil 104
Genison Lima just decimates Jose Filho pic.twitter.com/gQpBWlLKGg
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 14, 2020
That fall looks almost exactly like the one Terry Etim had when Edson Barboza wheel-kicked him in the face and if you can ever call back to that KO with your own, you’re doing something right.Genison Lima just decimates Jose Filho pic.twitter.com/gQpBWlLKGg
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 14, 2020
Honorable Mention
Punished for styling.
"Melk Caut" Melquizael Costa noquea a Anderson Buzica en el 1R #SFT21 pic.twitter.com/keDXmiEliL
— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) March 1, 2020
Cleveland McLean’s walk-off knee.— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) March 1, 2020
Whoa!! Walk of knee! #TitanFC59 pic.twitter.com/xUk5i9DnQ4
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) February 29, 2020
Michael Lilly splatters Kendly St. Louis.— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) February 29, 2020
BIG RIGHT!!! #TitanFC60
It's over! pic.twitter.com/Q2K0iXFRLM
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) May 30, 2020
Pre-UFC Joaquin Buckley.It's over! pic.twitter.com/Q2K0iXFRLM
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) May 30, 2020
The fish don't fry in the kitchen! Joaquin Buckley puts him down and out! #LFA87 pic.twitter.com/pIoDkYilTz
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) August 1, 2020
Kim Jae Young’s insane comeback.— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) August 1, 2020
Kim Jae Young decimates Cha In Ho in the first round. Wait for it. REFEREE STOP #AFC14 pic.twitter.com/Gh8yOJ4wi3
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) August 17, 2020
Mo Miller takes a man to Suplex City.— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) August 17, 2020
3 slams and you're out! Mo Miller! #LFA96 pic.twitter.com/j1PoyyZL9a
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) December 5, 2020
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) December 5, 2020
[h=3]The Cro Cop Award (Best Head Kicks)[/h]AL: I regret leaving this first choice off of my KO of the Year list, so it’s getting its more-than-deserved props as my favorite head kick of 2020: Mamed Khalidov winning the KSW middleweight title with an absolute braining of Scott Askham.
ICYMI: Mamed Khalidov landed one of the best knockouts ever seen in KSW tonight! #KSW55 pic.twitter.com/1bKnY9KXZm
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) October 11, 2020
JM: I’m not gonna lie, I completely forgot this thing happened until just now and I too regret not having it on my KO of the Year list. Granted, there were a lot of great KOs this year but honestly, given the ludicrosity of this and the stakes involved, I’m actually willing to believe this is the top KO of the year, full stop.— KSW (@KSW_MMA) October 11, 2020
But if you’re talking about pure aesthetics, it’s tough to top Jasurbek Sabirov’s picture-perfect head kick here.
Numero 4?
Jasurbek Sabirov, Strong Spirit Series 2 pic.twitter.com/vlgpfINslq
— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) November 9, 2020
AL: Picture-perfect and… audio-perfect? Is that a thing? If it is, that’s what that kick was.Jasurbek Sabirov, Strong Spirit Series 2 pic.twitter.com/vlgpfINslq
— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) November 9, 2020
We can’t leave off this kick from Tarek Mousa, which saw the amateur fighter catch a leg and then connect with a whopper of his own as his opponent stumbled.
Nice KO at WFL!! Terek Mousa with the headkick on Mark Twaalfhoven! #WFL #MMA #Fights #Fighting #KO #knockout pic.twitter.com/AApfF5JWTv
— wildmatt (@wildmatt) February 16, 2020
One thing I missed the first time around, it looks like Mousa might have slipped a low blow in there as he was holding Mark Twaalfhoven’s leg. So bonus points.— wildmatt (@wildmatt) February 16, 2020
JM: There’s just a lot of kicking going on there.
But you know what’s better than kicking? Going full Diaz bro and THEN kicking a dude in the face.
AL: We actually met for the first time in person before COVID hit and this is exactly how you greeted me.
JM: Considering Bayaman Nurmamat’s Babe Ruth-like abilities to call his shot, we need to get him in a kicking-only fight with the Kyokushin Kid in Fight Circus (you thought you were going to keep me from talking about it, but you were wrong).
AL: Motherf---
Honorable Mention
Pre-UFC Ludovit Klein.
nice head kick
?udovít Klein TKOd ?ukasz Sajewski in 1R (Oktagon) pic.twitter.com/VtAYgs9E73
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda1) February 15, 2020
One of the cleanest head kicks you’ll see.?udovít Klein TKOd ?ukasz Sajewski in 1R (Oktagon) pic.twitter.com/VtAYgs9E73
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda1) February 15, 2020
SHIN ON CHIN! Beautiful Head kick KO by Mihai Laurentiu Iorga! Amazing victory!#BRAVECF35 pic.twitter.com/Cqqv1VaXIg
— BRAVE Combat Federation (@bravemmaf) July 20, 2020
Bianca Atman, mercy!— BRAVE Combat Federation (@bravemmaf) July 20, 2020
THAT HEAD KICK
Watch the full fight on https://t.co/fMntiSTJQj pic.twitter.com/eNEh1CNUgl
— BRAVE Combat Federation (@bravemmaf) August 4, 2020
Little man, huge head kick.Watch the full fight on https://t.co/fMntiSTJQj pic.twitter.com/eNEh1CNUgl
— BRAVE Combat Federation (@bravemmaf) August 4, 2020
Bokang Masunyane SHELLACKS third-ranked Rene Catalan with a crazy head kick KO! @LittleGiant_Bk #ONEBigBang #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/ciW6hclIXp
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) December 4, 2020
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) December 4, 2020
[h=3]The Demolidor Award (Best Flying Moves)[/h]AL: Even though we’re seeing a kindler, gentler Michel Pereira these days...
JM: You mean, boring. Some stupid person has convinced him to fight like a sane person, and whoever it was should be straight-up slapped.
AL: ...we still give out this award in his honor and I think he’d be proud of the best high-flying efforts we saw this year, including Abdifatah Khalif fadeaway jumping knee KO of Korede Lawrence.
Abdifatah Khalif (Fin) def. Korede Lawrence (Fin) by KO R1 pic.twitter.com/6ScNcc9N9h
— Kiksie ?? (? •?_•?)? (@KiksieDB) February 29, 2020
JM: I would actually argue that Khalidov’s head kick was also the best Demolidor of the year as well but for the sake of variety, I can’t fault you for this beautiful counter flying knee (which is a phrase that doesn’t seem like it should exist, and yet does). But for me I think I prefer this double clutch flying knee from Rodrigo Lidio, perhaps if only because he starches a guy named Jack Godzilla with it.— Kiksie ?? (? •?_•?)? (@KiksieDB) February 29, 2020
Brutal flying knee KO by Rodrigo Lídio at Future MMA 12.
Came out in R5 and starched "Jack Godzilla." And NEW Future FC LW champ. #FutureMMA12 pic.twitter.com/PpzZWiJwX4
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 17, 2020
Honorable MentionCame out in R5 and starched "Jack Godzilla." And NEW Future FC LW champ. #FutureMMA12 pic.twitter.com/PpzZWiJwX4
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 17, 2020
Do Gyeom Lee takes flight to defend his UAE featherweight title.
Do Gyeom Lee TKO1 Alexandru Chitoran with a perfectly placed flying knee and follow up punches. And still UAE Warriors featherweight champ. #UAEWarriors12 pic.twitter.com/252iPEQewc
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) July 31, 2020
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) July 31, 2020
[h=3]The Kid Yamamoto Award (Fastest KOs)[/h]AL: In honor of the late, great Kid Yamamoto—the true owner of the fastest knockout in MMA history—here’s our list of six of the quickest KOs of 2020, in descending order. Before we get to that though, one has to ask how these things even happen. What goes into the making of a blink-and-you-missed-it fight?
JM: It’s mostly luck, but a little bit has to do with the person on the receiving end either being bad, or having a noticeable flaw that gets exploited. Take Jorge Masvidal’s KO of Ben Askren. Askren always comes out and shoots to start fights. Masvidal knew this and planned for it. It was still immensely lucky to work out like it did, but it couldn’t have happened in the first place without Askren screwing up.
It’s the same with any of these other ones. Either someone is being reckless and gets caught, or they were too slow to get started in the first place and thus, never got the chance.
Now here’s the list.
Kenan Dzhafarli (0:14)
Kenan Dzhafarli TKO's Vitaliy Kozak in about 12 seconds pic.twitter.com/mUMKnxOSjO
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 27, 2020
Yuri Kiselov (0:12)— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 27, 2020
Yuri Kiselov KO's Timur Magdiev in about 15 seconds. Walk off. Stretchered out. #MMAFestival pic.twitter.com/UFiGWQ49JP
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) August 28, 2020
Filip Pejic (0:12)— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) August 28, 2020
12 second KO!! One of the fastest ever in KSW!! #KSW56
pic.twitter.com/L3SYuW2hAc
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) November 15, 2020
Alexander Mikhaylin (0:10)pic.twitter.com/L3SYuW2hAc
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) November 15, 2020
Alexander Mikhaylin KO's Mikhaylo Samchik in 10 seconds #WWFC17 pic.twitter.com/P4AAEW1lMA
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 18, 2020
Michal Andryszak (0:09)— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 18, 2020
Michal Andryszak ! 9 seconds KO :O pic.twitter.com/NSRJSEc0eA
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda1) July 31, 2020
Kenyasky (0:05)— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda1) July 31, 2020
Numero 7?
Kenyasky, DEEP Tokyo Impact 2020 pic.twitter.com/8J3WeuO4T2
— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) December 21, 2020
Kenyasky, DEEP Tokyo Impact 2020 pic.twitter.com/8J3WeuO4T2
— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) December 21, 2020
[h=3]The Tobikan Judan Award (Craziest Submissions)[/h]JM: This was probably the easiest category for me to pick as I had a regional show finish in my top-5 submissions of the year for the site. Felipe Dias’s Suloev stretch was one of the most insane looking positions we saw in MMA all year and I had to re-watch it a number of times to finally figure out what caused the finish. Just look at it!
Man just got turned into a knot in the Shooto main event. Reverse triangle + Suloev stretch.
Felipe Dias def. Vanilto Antunes via sub R1. New Shooto WW champ. #ShootoBrazil100 pic.twitter.com/cg6kB65xo8
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) August 24, 2020
Knotted up like two pretzels in a taffy pulling machine.Felipe Dias def. Vanilto Antunes via sub R1. New Shooto WW champ. #ShootoBrazil100 pic.twitter.com/cg6kB65xo8
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) August 24, 2020
AL: I don’t know what I’m seeing.
Vanessa Demopoulos’ Contender Series spot didn’t go as she’d hoped, but she should forever be proud of this ridiculous inverted triangle chokeout that made her LFA’s first-ever strawweight champion.
JM: My second winner is actually probably my choice for Submission of the Year in all of MMA, however, since it only just happened on Dec. 31, it didn’t make any of our lists. Ayaka Hamasaki winning the Rizin atomweight championship with a freakin’ leg scissor choke was far and away the weirdest, coolest submission to happen this year.
Now all she needs to do is work on timing, because if this happened in July, she’s probably the SOTY winner.
AL: People know Hamasaki is fun as hell to watch, right? Because people should know this.
Sometimes MMA just isn’t enough, and you’ve got to go to the world of Combat Jiujitsu to get your fix. So hats off to grappling wunderkind Kade Ruotolo for introducing me to the buggy choke:
Buggy choke for the #CJJW2020 Lightweight title!
Congrats Kade Ruotolo pic.twitter.com/4Qm0q5bCKC
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) November 30, 2020
JM: A.J. McKee is probably gonna mess around and hit this on Patricio Pitbull to win the featherweight title. Congrats Kade Ruotolo pic.twitter.com/4Qm0q5bCKC
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) November 30, 2020
Honorable Mention
Grigory Dontsov turns a head kick into a leg lock.
Grigory Dontsov subs Bektursun Kaiypnazar. Kick Catch Heel Hook. #MMASeries9 pic.twitter.com/ZEdWQFAx1m
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) July 11, 2020
Khasan Magomedsharipov, Zabit’s little bro, hits a twister.— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) July 11, 2020
And he hits a fucking twister. lol
Khasan Magomedsharipov now (4-0)#Kaganat2 pic.twitter.com/uTEBvoRRcm
— Dusty Andrews (@Fight_Expert) September 26, 2020
Spinning sh-just kidding, triangle choke!Khasan Magomedsharipov now (4-0)#Kaganat2 pic.twitter.com/uTEBvoRRcm
— Dusty Andrews (@Fight_Expert) September 26, 2020
Boris Magomedov chokes out Vasiliy Sokolov in R1. Spinning back kick to triangle choke. #FNG98 pic.twitter.com/YGTW5BYGJB
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 25, 2020
Sam Hughes with the buzzer-beater.— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 25, 2020
Jose Perez makes like a banana and splits.
Folks, ! Banana Split spotted at #CFFC91! pic.twitter.com/hi3D0b6pmZ
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) December 19, 2020
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) December 19, 2020
[h=3]The Spinning Sh*t Award (Best Spinning Sh*ts)[/h]AL: As for the best spinning sh*t, I’m once again cheating here and grabbing a highlight that easily could have slotted into the head kick category. Here’s Juan Roman going for a spin and cracking Mike Shipp right on the dome.
Juan Roman KO2 Michael Shipp - Caged Aggression 28 pic.twitter.com/XQblq1zgFz
— Streetfight Banned-cho (@streetfitebncho) October 17, 2020
“Oh, holy sh*t,” indeed.— Streetfight Banned-cho (@streetfitebncho) October 17, 2020
JM: Every year this is one of my favorite categories and the only slight grievance I have with it this year is that Fight Circus’ spinning attacks-only fight did not end up yielding an entrant. Still, it’s not like we were left wanting. Take my personal favorite of the year from Rebel FC 10 by Gazavat Suleymanov.
Spinning Elbow KO for the win ! #GazavatSuleymanov at #RebelFC10. #mma #MMATwitter #ufc pic.twitter.com/7kC5WNZpCE
— MMA Submission (@MMAsubPodcast) January 12, 2020
AL: Did he miss the initial step-in elbow or was that all part of the plan? We’ll never know.— MMA Submission (@MMAsubPodcast) January 12, 2020
Honorable Mentions
Sampson Tabbytite sends his foe tumbling.
The delayed reaction.
Dmitry Shestakov spinning back kick to the liver #MMASeries14 pic.twitter.com/RQfsqhWyPD
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 19, 2020
Right off the top of the head.— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 19, 2020
Puño giratorio de Mikola Kovalenko! #KharkivCup pic.twitter.com/KSRDHJxv0A
— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) November 28, 2020
— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) November 28, 2020
[h=3]Humpty Dumpty Award (Most Memorable Falls)[/h]AL: There were a lot of unfortunate falls this year, but my heart goes out to Pete Keepers who was able to do a full dance routine before Josh Quinlan put him away for good.
Who brought ice skates into the Octagon? Wow! #LFA91 pic.twitter.com/SsZVfvbDzt
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) September 12, 2020
JM: The Humpty Dumpty is the biggest Fisty we give out every year, because it really signifies exactly what we are about here: weird, violent shit. And what is more delightfully weird and violent than the man, the myth, the legend, Sexyama?— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) September 12, 2020
Martial arts legend Yoshihiro Akiyama drops Sherif Mohamed with a DEVASTATING right hook for the first-round knockout! @akiyamayoshihir #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship #KingOfTheJungle pic.twitter.com/ywi6gbWPKa
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) February 28, 2020
AL: This was Sexyama’s first win in over five years and my goodness, it was worth the wait. Now Sherif Mohamed isn’t exactly a world beater (after this fight his record dropped to 9-6 with three consecutive losses), but that’s exactly the kind of matchmaking we like to see when you bring in an absolute star like Yoshihiro Akiyama.— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) February 28, 2020
JM: Not only does this KO give us a good excuse to write the best nickname in MMA once again, but the KO is also absurd with Mohamed looking like Wile E. Coyote when he chases the Road Runner off a cliff. There’s a new sheriff in town, and his name is Sexyama.
Honorable Mentions
Hideaki Yamazaki is a bully.
"The Golden Fist" Hideaki Yamazaki smokes Hikaru Terashima in R2. Out of his depth. #KFesta3 pic.twitter.com/wlZ9FdxIIc
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) March 22, 2020
Vladimir Mineev connects, Artur Pronin just needs a second to lie down.— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) March 22, 2020
LEON Warriors main event: Vladimir Mineev KO's Artur Pronin with an uppercut in the first, improves to 14-1-1.#LeonWarriors pic.twitter.com/CDFVCSkhwU
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) May 30, 2020
Watch dude’s leg.— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) May 30, 2020
What a KO from Jack Della Maddalena.#Eternal53 pic.twitter.com/4LHELg0g6p
— Special CombatSport (@SCombatsport) October 10, 2020
We gotta do something about this women’s boxing matchmaking.— Special CombatSport (@SCombatsport) October 10, 2020
VICIOUS KO - the first ever woman's entry for club KO of the year! Carly Holman (2-0) with the nasty KO-1 of Rebeka Laws (0-1) in their light welterweight contest in Rock Hill, South Carolina
? Payne Boxing pic.twitter.com/P0lxXKdtGh
— Tim - Boxeo ?? Boxen ???? ??? Boks ?? Box (@TimBoxeo) November 7, 2020
Renata Mascena causes a face-plant.? Payne Boxing pic.twitter.com/P0lxXKdtGh
— Tim - Boxeo ?? Boxen ???? ??? Boks ?? Box (@TimBoxeo) November 7, 2020
Numero 2?0?
Renata Mascena, Copa Thunder Fight de MMA Amador pic.twitter.com/FDL5eeNq6q
— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) November 16, 2020
Renata Mascena, Copa Thunder Fight de MMA Amador pic.twitter.com/FDL5eeNq6q
— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) November 16, 2020
[h=3]The Uncle Creepy Award (Most Bizarre Endings)[/h]AL: It’s difficult to say what constitutes a “weird finish” when we’re talking about outlaw MMA, but for me this award has to go to one of the most brutal below-the-belt shots I’ve seen in a while, Ibrahim ElSawi just annihilating the protective cop of Yuri Fraga.
Low blow of the year contender. Ibrahim ElSawi destroys Yuri Fraga's cup with the first strike of the fight. Fraga stretchered out of the cage. #UAEWarriors11 pic.twitter.com/npgn4AKyMY
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 12, 2020
JM: When a low blow results in the guy getting stretchered out of the cage, you know something when horribly, horribly wrong. I think I’d rather suffer the slam KO from earlier than that tragic fate. — caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 12, 2020
But I’d still rather have that happen to me than to be Thiago Souza:
Erick Visconde def. Thiago Souza in the 2nd after Souza injures himself attempting a suplex. 1,000 ways to lose. #TauraMMA9 pic.twitter.com/p7hD8RQ86o
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) March 15, 2020
AL: Dude was flailing, tapping the mat, doing anything in his power to let the referee know he was injured while also getting punched in the face and almost choked out. This throw went poorly, is what I’m saying.— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) March 15, 2020
JM: Anytime you are the cause of your own downfall, it hurts much more than just being straight-up beaten. And I imagine that losing because you failed to suplex someone and instead heaved them onto your own chest, rendering yourself useless, is a tough pill to swallow.
Honorable Mention
These knees from Harry Stalone didn’t even vaguely resemble anything legal.
When you miss PRIDE a bit too much. #DEEP94IMPACT pic.twitter.com/UuBaNl1gTo
— Kyle Johnson (@VonPreux) March 1, 2020
Fight ends after one leg kick?— Kyle Johnson (@VonPreux) March 1, 2020
Eugene Sleptsov (4-0) TKO's Roman Pasyukov with a single low kick. Alright then #BFC52 pic.twitter.com/jLFnlB3HaB
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) May 14, 2020
So many nutshots.— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) May 14, 2020
Two points were deducted from Yenifel Vincente for this low blow and follow up punch. #MagdalenoVicente pic.twitter.com/9W8Sclrhgv
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) June 12, 2020
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) June 12, 2020
The ref DQs Yenifel Vicente after two more hits below the belt. #MagdalenoVicente pic.twitter.com/ybCxyi8scl
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) June 12, 2020
Shawn West takes an L for this YOLO knee.— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) June 12, 2020
Devastating illegal knee results in a DQ. #LFA84 pic.twitter.com/3e31byKzUV
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) July 11, 2020
Ary Santos DDTs himself in a title fight.— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) July 11, 2020
Oh god. Ary Santos knocks himself out trying to slam his way out of a guillotine.
Rangel "Anaconda" de Sá wins by KO, and takes the vacant Shooto super lightweight title. #ShootoBrasil pic.twitter.com/Vqqbp4JC0F
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) July 27, 2020
Rangel "Anaconda" de Sá wins by KO, and takes the vacant Shooto super lightweight title. #ShootoBrasil pic.twitter.com/Vqqbp4JC0F
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) July 27, 2020
[h=3]Odds and Ends[/h]AL: With MMA slow to restart during the pandemic, we made sure to keep a close eye on its cousins and there were several weeks where the best finishes came from the world of boxing or kickboxing or some other wacky form of combat.
Just focusing on boxing, few fighters delighted me more than 24-year-old super lightweight Elvis Rodriguez, who made a mess of the five opponents he faced this past year, including Danny Murray, Dennis Okoth, and Cody Wilson:
THROUGH. THE. ROPES.
Elvis Rodriguez just KO’d his opponent ... in R1 ... with this jab #PedrazaLesPierre | LIVE on ESPN pic.twitter.com/FixwzlntGL
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) July 3, 2020
Elvis Rodriguez just KO’d his opponent ... in R1 ... with this jab #PedrazaLesPierre | LIVE on ESPN pic.twitter.com/FixwzlntGL
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) July 3, 2020
HE'S DONE IT AGAIN
Cue the guitar ...
8 pro wins, 8 KOs, and Elvis Rodriguez just scored his latest finish by flooring Dennis Okoth with a thunderous left.#ValdezVelez | LIVE on ESPN | #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/Q3lgRINf6F
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) July 22, 2020
Cue the guitar ...
8 pro wins, 8 KOs, and Elvis Rodriguez just scored his latest finish by flooring Dennis Okoth with a thunderous left.#ValdezVelez | LIVE on ESPN | #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/Q3lgRINf6F
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) July 22, 2020
PLAY. THAT. MUSIC.@elvisTDK absolutely floors Cody Wilson ... KO artist, indeed #SCTop10 x #RamirezPostol live on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/bH4JQ9dA0r
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 30, 2020
JM: The only way I could like this Elvis more is if he adopted the moniker “The King of Rock and Rumble.” Pay respect to the legends of MMA, my dude!— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 30, 2020
But for me, this is hands down the best of the year, in part because I think Yeison Vargas may still be standing frozen in the ring like that.
Knockout of the year contender in Miami! 22yr old Nicaraguan Melving Lopez (23-1, 14 KO's) absolutely folds Yeison Vargas (17-5) in their bantamweight contest for a TKO-1 victory. Thankfully, Vargas left the ring under his own power and looks to be OK. pic.twitter.com/Q3RVZDWhkI
— Tim - Boxeo ?? Boxen ???? ??? Boks ?? Box (@TimBoxeo) September 25, 2020
AL: Melvin Lopez hit this man with the tranquilizer dart.— Tim - Boxeo ?? Boxen ???? ??? Boks ?? Box (@TimBoxeo) September 25, 2020
From the world of lethwei, we got the best non-KO strike I’ve seen since The Showtime Kick and The Lobov Hammer. That’s right, it’s the Bo Bo Win Spin:
Best punch you'll ever see.
Bo Bo Win -> Daung Phyo Wai pic.twitter.com/9xdhuEC0cW
— inxxane (@inxxane) February 8, 2020
JM: I hate that you got to this one before me. God, what a glorious calamity that was. But fine, you can have that one because it means I still get this gem.Bo Bo Win -> Daung Phyo Wai pic.twitter.com/9xdhuEC0cW
— inxxane (@inxxane) February 8, 2020
This switch kick to the face by Singdam Diamond 98. Should have just stayed down, man. #SuperChamp pic.twitter.com/OCk0xB63Wz
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 18, 2020
Sometimes in life, you can be too tough for your own good and that’s exactly what happened to the poor schmuck who faced Singdam Diamond 98.— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 18, 2020
AL: Luckily for me I default to the fetal position.
Honorable Mentions
What a switch knee.
Wow. Reda Ougdou KO's Alexandru Negrea with a beautiful switch knee in the #PetrosyanMania co-main event. Goodness. pic.twitter.com/yvE56EtaBH
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 1, 2020
William Whipple with the head kick outta nowhere.— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 1, 2020
NOW THAT'S A KNOCKOUT FOLKS pic.twitter.com/2G8PcEzWnO
— Cerebral Vigilante (@Delisketo) February 16, 2020
Kana uncorks a right hand from the deepest depths of Hades.— Cerebral Vigilante (@Delisketo) February 16, 2020
A life-changing uppercut.
#SHOBoxingReturns with a BANG
Joe George KOs Marcos Escudero with a massive uppercut in Round 9. pic.twitter.com/dVdWogdfwe
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) August 2, 2020
Jumping switch kick on the button.Joe George KOs Marcos Escudero with a massive uppercut in Round 9. pic.twitter.com/dVdWogdfwe
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) August 2, 2020
Insane KO by Daraek RevolutionMuayThai this morning at Muay Hardcore (vs. Nauris Bartoska).
Flying switch kick to the face pic.twitter.com/xyZ3HqWBOb
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) August 15, 2020
Big upset.Flying switch kick to the face pic.twitter.com/xyZ3HqWBOb
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) August 15, 2020
Kulabdam punches his ticket to the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Tournament finals with a shocking first-round knockout of Thai superstar Sangmanee! #NoSurrender3 #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/NxXpmbeQNl
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) August 21, 2020
The good ol’ stiff kick to the thighs.— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) August 21, 2020
Hiromi Wajima KO2 Raseasing Weerasakreck #k1wgp pic.twitter.com/y8Z4j3qQGK
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 22, 2020
Head kick or baseball bat?— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 22, 2020
SOUND ON!
Kamlaiphet lands a MASSIVE head kick sending his french opponent to sleep. pic.twitter.com/SQ7XnmwdPa
— Beyond Kickboxing (@Beyond_Kick) October 31, 2020
Kamlaiphet lands a MASSIVE head kick sending his french opponent to sleep. pic.twitter.com/SQ7XnmwdPa
— Beyond Kickboxing (@Beyond_Kick) October 31, 2020
[h=3]The Mama Kichigin Award for General Weirdness[/h]AL: And then we have just general weirdness, which leads me to my favorite thing of 2020. No, not my favorite MMA move, not even my favorite MMA-related clip, just my favorite thing that happened anywhere this year.
From Time of Masters 5 in Rumia, Poland on Feb. 5, it’s The Violin Guy.
I'm.. pretty sure this guy was playing a violin cover of 4 Non Blondes - 'What's Up' behind his back. pic.twitter.com/RNAmXx5gWU
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 8, 2020
I repeat: It’s the Violin Guy.— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 8, 2020
Ok, things have taken a turn. I am now uncomfortable. pic.twitter.com/1QU0PCPP6M
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 8, 2020
JM: I mean, my true answer is Fight Circus Vol. 1 and everything that happened there. The golden axes, Jon Nutt singing the King’s Anthem in Thai, surprise fights. All of it. But since I’m dangerously close to beating that horse to death, I’ll go with something else, and though I am strongly inclined to choose Wotore, the spiritual lovechild of Fight Circus and YAMMA (you actually predicted the return of CamSoda, AK!), instead I’ll have to choose that which this award was named for: Mama Kichigin screaming in the face of her son who is getting whooped.— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 8, 2020
Imagine getting your ass kicked while your mom is screaming in your face. The life of the Kichigin brothers. #MMASeries11 pic.twitter.com/6AdUoTghoM
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) July 25, 2020
Just look at her. The focus, the anger, the mask around her chin as though having it on properly might impede her ability to shout at her son, the fanny pack. It’s all so extremely weird MMA, which is what we love about this sport in the first place.— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) July 25, 2020
AL: There’s really nothing more to be said, so we’ll just leave you with even more combat sports clips that sum up 2020 about as well as anything else.
Honorable Mentions
Stamp Fairtex.
I miss the old Kanye... #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship #ANewTomorrow pic.twitter.com/y4KwXwYQLR
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) January 10, 2020
Dragan Desic a.k.a. “Discount Demolidor.”— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) January 10, 2020
The Michel Pereira effect#SBC26 pic.twitter.com/doLtxOFT6X
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 16, 2020
Curtis Blaydes vs. Anthony Johnson sumo wrestling.— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 16, 2020
Too adorable.
This is the greatest end-of-round horn I've ever heard
cc:@Barrelelapierna pic.twitter.com/uusOnxBaw7
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 7, 2020
Adventures in officiating.cc:@Barrelelapierna pic.twitter.com/uusOnxBaw7
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 7, 2020
So Sovarathana with the hellbow knockout against Neymar at todays Muay Hardcore. pic.twitter.com/tBVruqVXEI
— Beyond Kickboxing (@Beyond_Kick) February 15, 2020
— Beyond Kickboxing (@Beyond_Kick) February 15, 2020
Phirabhat hurts his opponent with a left hook, and finishes the fight with right cross in the second round. pic.twitter.com/N2GCIm8OXg
— Beyond Kickboxing (@Beyond_Kick) July 29, 2020
— Beyond Kickboxing (@Beyond_Kick) July 29, 2020
Muay Thai referees are something else pic.twitter.com/da5UctJ1yK
— Jonathan of Kowloon & Coloane (@GlobeSvcs) February 16, 2020
Linkimaster gets down after another win.— Jonathan of Kowloon & Coloane (@GlobeSvcs) February 16, 2020
Marta Linkiewicz is the 15th ranked of 119 active Poland women (pound for pound). pic.twitter.com/9L17nEipTf
— Muniek (@MuniekMMA) September 8, 2020
Poor referee reset costs a fighter a win.— Muniek (@MuniekMMA) September 8, 2020
Not going to win any friends winning that way but a win's a win!#iKon2 pic.twitter.com/NcisbTqOba
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) October 23, 2020
Darina Madzyuk beats 529-pound man, later signs with Bellator.— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) October 23, 2020
Wasn't sure about posting this, but decided I'd be failing you all if I didn't
Darina Madzyuk (139lb) vs. Grigory Chistyakov (529lb)
From a recent event called "OUR BUSINESS" (???? ????) in Russia. I don't know what to say. God have mercy on us all. https://t.co/rphOHnmbto pic.twitter.com/kwdNMT61JH
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 28, 2020
Darina Madzyuk (139lb) vs. Grigory Chistyakov (529lb)
From a recent event called "OUR BUSINESS" (???? ????) in Russia. I don't know what to say. God have mercy on us all. https://t.co/rphOHnmbto pic.twitter.com/kwdNMT61JH
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 28, 2020
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 Twitter – @JedKMeshew and @AlexanderKLee – using the hashtag #MissedFists.
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