Welcome to the most recent version of Missed Fists the place we shine a lightweight on fights from throughout the globe that will have been ignored in these hectic instances the place it looks like there’s an MMA present each different day.
Within the neverending seek for fight sports activities innovation, we speak so much about tweaking rulesets and outside-of-the-box gimmicks, however not often will we contemplate how overhauling the gear might change the sport. Positive, you already know about gi and no-gi grappling, however what have you learnt about full go well with grappling?
Women and gents, we current to you the John Wick Invitational.
(Huge thanks as all the time to @Barrelelapierna for his or her weekly lists of the perfect KOs and submissions, and to @Grabaka_Hitman for importing lots of the clips you see right here. Give them a comply with and chip in on Patreon should you can.)
That is truly the second John Wick Invitational and I’m embarrassed to say I hadn’t heard of this competitors till now. Shortened to JWI-2 (I’ve to marvel in the event that they dropped printed mentions of John Wick to attenuate the possibility of getting sued), the occasion is offered by xSuit, which is sensible given the attire firm manufacturers its wares as “The World’s Most Comfy Go well with.”
The clothes is actually put to the take a look at right here as what you’re seeing is full-on jiu-jitsu competitors in fits, creating fights harking back to Keanu Reeves’ intense motion franchise. Critically, that is form of genius, and likewise a little bit of foolish enjoyable particularly as soon as a battle will get all the way down to the final minute.
That’s when the weapons come into play.
That’s proper, if there isn’t any submission after 4 minutes, a coin is flipped to find out whether or not a prop gun or prop knife shall be thrown into the combating pit. The ultimate minute then turns into a scramble to both seize the gun and get a shot off or seize the knife and stab your method to victory. It’s a delightfully ridiculous gimmick that nearly makes it disappointing when a battle ends in a normal armbar or rear-naked choke earlier than the grapplers can get to additional time.
I can not suggest taking an hour or two to skim by means of JWI-2 and watch no less than a couple of matches (particularly earlier than Lionsgate Studios decides to challenge a C&D). And take a look at this nice writeup of the occasion from BJJDOC, which additionally breaks down a few of the guidelines (unfastened although they might be).
Gennier Rojas vs. Gabriel Diaz
If we’re speaking grappling, then I’m not going to go up the chance to spotlight one among my favourite submission: The calf slicer.
A sick transfer beneath any circumstances, I’m notably a fan of fighters breaking out this leglock throughout a seeming stalemate on the bottom. At Fusion FC 89 in Lima, Peru, Gennier Rojas arrange an unsuspecting Gabriel Diaz earlier than locking the maintain in and leaving that calf sliced up actual good.
Actually, a pleasure to observe (most likely not a pleasure to faucet out to).
Fusion FC 89 is accessible for replay on UFC Combat Go.
Landry Ward vs. Bryce Logan
Jordan Stronge vs. Chris Hayes
Additionally on Combat Go, now we have a pair of unbelievable knockouts from LFA 207 and Cage Warriors 187.
Landry Ward simply knocked his man for a loop, stepping right into a proper hand simply as Bryce Logan superior and rendering him momentarily limp.
By the point Logan’s physique regained stable kind, he was attempting to single leg the referee. Yeah, I’m going to name {that a} good stoppage.
Over in Glasgow, Scotland, Jordan Stronge completed Chris Hayes in fashion. If you happen to’ve ever yelled “JUST LET THE GUY UP” at a display screen after seeing a fighter damage their opponent, this one is for you.
No messing about on the bottom, only a good reset to gauge how a lot Hayes had left. Not a lot because it seems, so Stronge sealed the take care of a good looking leaping knee.
Hurshed Nazarov vs. Keremuaili Maimaitituoheti
Hurshed Nazarov fell quick in his Courageous CF debut 11 months in the past, so you already know he was decided to make a memorable second impression. And he did, scoring his first end since 2021.
Neglect all that scoreboard noise, Nazarov went in searching for a quick end and he discovered it, needing simply 17 seconds to crack Keremuaili Maimaitituoheti proper on the chin and go away him in that place you’re speculated to take when an airplane goes down.
Taiki Kono vs. Toshikazu Hirayama
Over at a DEEP occasion in Aichi, Japan, we had arguably the perfect knockout of the week.
In an beginner bantamweight bout, Taiki Kono leveled Toshikazu Hirayama with a really disgusting head kick.
And that’s all one can actually say about that.
DEEP Nagoya Impression 1st Spherical is accessible without spending a dime replay on YouTube.
Ballot
What do you consider the John Wick Invitational?
If you already know of a current battle or occasion that you just assume might have been ignored, or a promotion that would use some consideration, please tell us on X — @AlexanderKLee — utilizing the hashtag #MissedFists.
