Welcome to a look at overlooked fights from around the world. In a busy MMA schedule, it`s easy to miss incredible moments happening outside the major spotlight.
We are only three months into 2025, and already there`s been a wealth of exciting MMA action, especially outside of the UFC. You could easily compare the top five knockouts from smaller promotions to the UFC`s best, and the UFC might not even come out on top.
For example, Jaron Lathrop, in his professional debut at XFC 52, delivered a potential Knockout of the Year with a spinning back kick reminiscent of Joaquin Buckley`s famous KO.
And then, there was Thiago Goularte`s spinning knockout at a Thunder Fight event in Sao Paulo.
Watch it for yourself. It`s pure, unadulterated MMA chaos.
Early in the fight, Thiago Goularte seemed to dominate Leonardo Mesquita, overwhelming him with punches and forcing him to defend desperately. Mesquita was turtling up, even turning his back, and many referees would have stopped the fight. However, the action continued, and Mesquita began to fight back, landing powerful strikes.
Suddenly, Goularte was on the defensive, possibly exhausted from his initial attack. But it was a trick! From nowhere, he unleashed an unbelievable spinning back elbow.
Goularte actually fell to the ground while throwing the elbow. It looked like it shouldn`t have landed with any force, let alone enough to knock Mesquita out cold and require a stretcher. Yet, it did.
Forget Knockout of the Year, this could be Fight of the Year. And incredibly, it wasn`t even the most surprising finish of the night.
In the main event, undefeated heavyweight Mario Piazzon (8-0) was expected to win the vacant title against veteran Alex Junius (15-39). The matchmakers probably didn`t anticipate this outcome:
You might remember Piazzon from a poor showing on the 2023 Contender Series where he won by disqualification after taking an illegal knee. His chances of a UFC call-up were already slim, and after this mishap, they`re essentially zero.
On a brighter note, Milena Galvao won a kicking battle against Isabel Oliveira.
Both fighters have impressive leg power, but Galvao landed a head kick that clearly connected with Oliveira`s face. It was an instant reaction, and Galvao showed good sportsmanship by not following up.
A free replay of Thunder Fight 47 is available on YouTube.
At Hexagone MMA 25 in France, we saw some excellent striking and some not-so-great striking.
Levy Carriel landed a powerful right hand on Raphael Mebenga, needing only one more punch to finish the fight in just five seconds.
Timing and precision were not on display in the fight between Adama Diop and Paul-Emmanuel Gnaze.
Boxing coaches won`t be using this fight as instructional material, but the result is undeniable.
Pablo Gutierrez had no interest in a second round, and neither did his opponent Kevin Hernandez, who didn`t even attempt to avoid a flying knee from Gutierrez.
Gutierrez telegraphed that flying knee from a mile away, and Hernandez still didn`t see it coming.
Ultimate Combat Challenge 75 is available for free replay on YouTube.
Now, this is how you set up a flying attack with style and subtlety.
Sung Hwan Jung launched into the air and landed a beautiful switch kick that stunned Tomoya Omura. The fight could have been stopped right there, and no one would have complained.
Free fights from Zeus FC are available on their YouTube channel.
Let`s wrap up with a couple of submissions featured on UFC Fight Pass, starting with Fight Club Rush 23 in Sweden:
I`m not familiar with this kneebar variation performed by Delmar Silva. The human body is an incredible weapon, yet also fragile, and Silva exploited that with an unexpected leglock.
Perhaps I`m just a novice. Jiu-jitsu experts, please tell me how common this technique is.
In the main event of Lux Fight League 51 in Mexico City, Luis Ivan Rodriguez secured an interim flyweight title with a beautiful rear-naked choke.
Body triangle locked, one arm controlled, and the choke sunk in perfectly. Rodriguez (25, 9-1) won his first title, and it seems bigger things are on the horizon for this Mexican prospect.
Wesley Dunham