Missed Fists: Fighter choked unconscious following illegal knee, comes back to win after bout restarted

Welcome to the latest edition of Missed Fists, where we bring you the highlights from lesser-known fights around the world that may have slipped under the radar during these busy times in the MMA scene.

While the UFC’s International Fight Week is underway, it’s worth noting that every week feels like International Fight Week when we consider the global nature of the sport. Many of the industry’s most renowned stars, such as Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo, Georges St-Pierre, Alexander Volkanovski, Yair Rodriguez, Brandon Moreno, and Alexandre Pantoja, hail from outside the United States.

This past weekend, Mexico took center stage on UFC Fight Pass with three events that delivered some thrilling moments. Special thanks to @Barrelelapierna for their weekly compilations of the best knockouts and submissions, and to @Grabaka_Hitman for sharing the clips showcased here. Be sure to follow them and consider supporting them on Patreon.

Let’s dive into the fights!

Jesus Gutierrez vs. Victor Nunez

In all my years of watching MMA, I can honestly say I’ve never witnessed a fight quite like this one. At a Budo Sento Championship show in Veracruz, Mexico, Victor Nunez seemed to secure an incredible finish as he landed a flying knee on Jesus Gutierrez, followed by a choking technique that rendered Gutierrez unconscious. While the knee strike was blatantly illegal, it’s not uncommon for commissions to overlook such infractions and move on without consequences.

However, this commission had a different approach. Instead of dismissing the illegal blow, they restarted the fight, allowing it to go the full 15 minutes. It’s interesting to note that recent examples in the UFC resulted in finishes via illegal strikes being overturned to no-contests, benefiting the fighters involved. It remains unclear why this situation with BSC took a different turn. Unfortunately for Nunez, he suffered a split decision loss to the resilient Gutierrez. Despite being hit with a flying knee and being choked unconscious, Gutierrez displayed his grappling skills, dominating the second round and doing enough in the striking exchanges of the third to secure the victory on the scorecards.

Raul Zaragoza vs. Jesus Wong
Luis Cabrera vs. Fernando Saavedra

At Lux Fight League 33 in Puebla, Mexico, there was even more peculiar action. Jesus Wong endured a barrage of strikes from Raul Zaragoza but was ultimately dropped by a seemingly innocuous jab. It’s amusing to see Wong withstand so much punishment only to be stunned by a modest-looking shot. This incident takes the crown for the most unexpected fall of the week and could potentially be the best of 2023 so far.

In another fight at the same event, Luis Cabrera sealed the deal against Fernando Saavedra with a left hand that appeared to rotate Saavedra’s head 180 degrees.

Luis Elias vs. Angel Munoz

Our Mexican journey continues in Tijuana, where Luis Elias showcased his skills at Ultimate Warrior Challenge 45. After a flurry of offense, Elias secured a victory with a calf slicer. It’s common for fighters to attempt a choke or an armbar after hurting their opponent, but Elias demonstrated exceptional awareness by going for the calf slicer in that situation, resulting in an instant submission. A commendable display that earns him maximum style points.

Itamar Junior vs. Ernane Pimenta

Let’s travel south to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Ernane Pimenta’s leg-lock attempt didn’t go as planned. As Itamar Junior closed in, Pimenta aggressively attacked the leg, leaving his head and face completely exposed. Junior took advantage of this opening, delivering heavy strikes that ultimately rendered Pimenta unconscious.

Jimmy Quinn vs. Dan Kneil
Milad Ahady vs. Marcondes Bastos
Stephanie Evans vs. Malgorzata Tkocz

We now shift our focus to Cage Warriors 156, which took place in Cardiff, Wales. In his professional debut, bantamweight Jimmy Quinn made quite an impression by setting a new record for the fastest knockout in Cage Warriors’ history. Quinn appeared calm and patient, allowing his opponent to believe he was leading the dance. Then, with perfect timing, he unleashed a devastating left hook that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas. While the stoppage may have been slightly premature, it seemed like a sequence where the opponent was knocked out on his feet and subsequently awakened by the impact of his head hitting the mat.

Milad Ahady’s body work against Marcondes Bastos was brutal. Ahady relentlessly targeted Bastos’ midsection, telegraphing his intentions as Bastos offered little resistance. Ahady’s assault left Bastos defenseless, causing severe damage to his internal organs.

In the second fight of the evening, Wales’ own Stephanie Evans had to step up her game at the end of the first round to secure the victory. With just one second remaining, Evans achieved a technical submission, leaving her opponent Malgorzata Tkocz completely bewildered.

Damian Zaharia vs. Catalin Pintilie

It’s safe to say that Catalin Pintilie was not prepared for what was coming. At Heroes 7 in Ramnicu, Valcea, Romania, Damian Zaharia swiftly ended the fight with a head kick knockout in just 12 seconds. Zaharia’s shin almost found its way into Pintilie’s mouth.

Jimmie Pace vs. Boris Garcia

Based solely on his nickname, Jimmie Pace’s brutal knockout of Boris Garcia from a Combate Global event in Miami deserves attention. Known as “Jimbo Slice,” Pace put Garcia down hard with a couple of powerful punches while Garcia attempted to push him away. The resulting KO was both unusual and surprising. Given that Pace pays homage to the unforgettable Kimbo Slice with his name, it’s fitting that he finishes fights in similarly unpredictable fashion.

To conclude this week’s edition on a peculiar note, boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. apparently won a fight in the metaverse against someone named NDO Champ. The boxing bout took place at an undisclosed location but was digitized and made available on the internet for a fee. The fight itself featured clippy graphics rather than the immersive hologram experience some might have expected. The event has left many puzzled about the direction of these digital spectacles.

That wraps up this edition of Missed Fists. If you know of any recent fights or events that you believe deserve more attention, or if you’d like to bring a lesser-known promotion to our attention, please reach out to us on Twitter at @AlexanderKLee using the hashtag #MissedFists.

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