Welcome to the latest edition of Missed Fists. We shine a light on fights from around the world that have been overlooked in this hectic age of daily MMA shows.
Rashad Evans, if you’re there, you should know that there’s another fighter coming to bat to challenge for the King of the Stunky Legs crown.
(Thank you so much for everything @Barrel La Piena For a weekly list of the best KOs and submissions, go to @Gabaka_Hitman They have uploaded many of the clips you see here. If you can, please follow and join us on Patreon. )
Hiram Caballero vs. Jason Mirarpez
(Deep Breath) The 2025 APEC Korea Memorial World Mixed Martial Arts Tournament in Seoul on Thursday was eye-catching for a variety of reasons, from its gorgeous all-yellow ring to its diverse lineup that included many former UFC fighters, but the most memorable image may be the little-known flyweight bout between Hiram Caballero and Jason Miralpes.
Check out this scary knockout just in time for Halloween.
Caballero scored with his left hand and Mirarpez didn’t look happy with the stop, but I’m glad the referee stopped it, even if it was only for the principal. He saw that his leg was about to be torn in four places and said, “Hey, that’s enough MMA for tonight.”
This is the worst post-KO leg twist I’ve ever seen. Rashad, Cro Cop, hey, consider what happened to Ludovit Klein’s ankle at UFC 321. I would compare Miralpes’ fall to any of those.
Free replays of APEC events are available on YouTube. Having watched the match and its aftermath in its entirety, I’m happy to report that Mirarpez left the ring with no injuries and seemingly unharmed, although he initially needed help getting back to his corner. Well, maybe it wasn’t as bad as Cro Cop.
Arthur Ventura vs. Alejandro Ribeiro
Let’s continue with the spooky highlights (okay, I can’t keep up with this Halloween gimmick) from Arthur Ventura’s brutal finish to Alejandro Ribeiro at Jungle Fight 141 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Ventura rocked him with a one-two, took him out with a flying knee, and then landed a couple of defenseless punches. I can’t blame Ventura for that fight, I blame Cage for putting Ribeiro up there and teeing off his opponent.
Ronald Padilla vs. Alvaro Vaccera
Hey, remember when Yair Rodriguez scored that insane buzzer-beating back elbow knockout on Korean Zombie out of nowhere? You should remember Ronald Padilla.
How else to describe this picture-perfect recreation? No, the stakes aren’t that high, the angles aren’t that extreme, the timing isn’t incredible, but the impact is truly devastating, and seeing Alvaro Vacasera instantly fall to his knees is another image from this week that I won’t soon forget.
FFC 97 is available on UFC Fight Pass.
Renato Canuto vs. Caleb Contreras
While you’re logged in, check out the second fight of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Renato Canuto’s MMA career.
Kanuto appears to have fallen in love with soccer kicks after winning his pro debut in May of this year, utilizing classic JMMA techniques to earn two wins and two KOs.
Just as important, watch how quickly he transitions from grappling to ground-and-pound once he gets the advantage. Hey, Jaylton Almeida, are you taking notes?
Aiden Bell vs. Joshua Rivera
Speaking of heavyweights, there was an amateur bout at the Fury FC event in Houston, where Aiden Bell and Joshua Rivera threw down.
It was Bell who scored an impressive knockout that day. After the break, he landed a powerful left hook that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas.
Mitch Gilmore vs. Dylan Woosley
Also in amateur action, Mitch Gilmore pulled off an incredible comeback, surviving a knockdown and heavy ground-and-pound before landing a huge head kick to win the match.
Synergy FC 23 and other regional events are available to watch with your Spectation Sports subscription.
Samuel Ivan vs. Robert Stan
The final highlight of the week isn’t MMA, but it’s hard not to mention Samuel Ivan’s absurd jumping spinning heel kick KO.
From Dynamite Fighting Show 28 in Pitesti, Romania:
How do you even think about doing something like that?
Robert Stan seemed to be confidently walking down Ivan, probably thinking, “Surely this guy isn’t going to try to spin kick me at this distance.” Then he got hit with a spin kick.
That’s it for this week. Friends, please remember that when celebrating, a simple fist pump or bow may be enough.
If you know of a recent match or event that you think might have been overlooked, or a promotion that might catch our attention, please let us know via X. @AlexanderKlee — Use the hashtag #MissedFists.