Welcome to the latest edition of Missed Fists, where we bring to light notable fights from around the world that you might have missed amidst the packed schedule of MMA events.
A weekend without major promotions like the UFC allowed regional and international organizations to showcase incredible finishes. Fans were treated to a variety of unbelievable moments, from lightning-fast knockouts to unique submissions.
Let`s dive into the highlights, starting with potentially the quickest finish seen this year.
At a Vendetta Fight Nights event held in Ankara, Turkey, Mahsun Sahzade needed an astonishing mere two seconds to secure victory. He delivered a spectacular spinning kick knockout against Sanjar.
While the sheer speed of this finish is breathtaking and might prompt questions regarding its context, the effectiveness and precision of Sahzade`s head kick are undeniable.
Meanwhile, Octagon League was active, hosting events in Kazakhstan that featured impressive performances. At Octagon League 73, Bogdan Pshebelskiy executed a Peruvian necktie submission, ending his fight decisively and demonstrating his versatile skill set.
Octagon Selection 53 also delivered fireworks, with Amir Kadamov and Mikhael Mamedov both achieving devastating knockout victories.
From Japan, a DEEP Tokyo Impact event presented a controversial but impactful conclusion. Shunsuky Miyabi landed a stomping blow to the face of his opponent, a strike that, while landing after the fight was arguably decided, added a brutal exclamation point.
Cage Titans 71 showcased sheer striking power when Jacob Apito secured a brutal elbow knockout against Cole Cameron. Apito`s powerful elbows led to a definitive finish.
The action continued at a Fight Club Rush event in Malmo, Sweden. Christopher Bajo landed powerful elbows, sometimes referred to as `hellbows,` against Ali Isajew, who struggled to defend himself, leading to the finish.
Moving to Fusion FC 90 in Lima, Peru, Rangel dos Santos delivered a beautiful airborne switch knee knockout. This finish was particularly noteworthy as his opponent, Jesus Herreras, entered the fight undefeated with an 8-0 record. Furthermore, this marked only the third knockout win in dos Santos` 17-fight career and his first since 2019, making the technique and result even more spectacular.
In the United States, Cage Fury FC also provided highlights. Eric Nolan claimed a welterweight title with a perfectly timed short left hand that put his opponent, Blayne Richards, down.
Nick Galanti demonstrated clever grappling strategy. When Shane Sobnosky defended a takedown attempt with a whizzer, Galanti capitalized by pulling guard and quickly transitioning to a fight-winning guillotine choke, securing the tap.
Another powerful moment came from Busurman Zhumagul, who landed a knee strike with significant impact.
From LFA 209, Joseilton Santos faced Carlos Petruzzella in a bout between two undefeated fighters. Santos ended Petruzzella`s perfect record with a knockout blow, securing his own continued undefeated status.
Jungle Fight 136 in Brazil featured Laura Vasconcelos defending her strawweight title. Vasconcelos improved her record to 5-0 by delivering a swift head kick knockout, establishing herself as a fighter to watch as she approaches her 25th birthday.
Finally, looking back slightly further to an event in Russia, the Alexander Serdyukov Memorial featured a knockout by Shukhrat Mirovazov that, while only recently gaining wider attention, is notable for its sheer brutality.
From a potentially record-tying two-second spinning kick to brutal ground strikes and submissions, this past period in regional MMA offered a diverse collection of unforgettable finishes.
Wesley Dunham 
Marcus Blakely