Missed Fists: Lone’er Kavanagh dazzles on Contender Collection, plus a brutal MMA debut

Welcome to the newest version of Missed Fists, the place we shine a lightweight on fights from throughout the globe that will have been missed in these hectic occasions the place it looks like there’s an MMA present each different day.

Why, howdy there! It’s been some time my avid Fisties, however I’m excited to be again. I haven’t graced Missed Fists in a very long time, however with Alexander Ok. Lee out on trip, I selflessly supplied to step in and make a journey down reminiscence lane. Issues are just a little totally different for the reason that final time I used to be right here, however the core idea stays the identical: Hey y’all, take a look at this cool stuff!

So let’s take a look at some cool stuff!

And since I’m in cost this week, I’m going to cheat. Often AK doesn’t go for UFC adjoining content material as a result of that is about regional MMA, in spite of everything. However I like me some Contender Collection, and on the primary episode of the season this week, followers bought to see one of many best possible prospects in all of MMA present out.

Lone’er Kavanagh is simply 25 years outdated and plenty of very sensible folks anticipate very large issues out of this younger man. It’s simple to see why.

An Tuan Ho is an efficient prospect in his personal proper, but it took Kavanagh little greater than two minutes to determine the timing and lamp him.

Kavanagh has TV star seems to be (critically, he kinda seems to be like Tanner Buchanan from Cobra Kai), unreal energy, and a little bit of one thing particular round him. Many individuals anticipated him to go win the Cage Warriors belt however then the UFC referred to as, and if he retains delivering performances like this, the speak will flip to when he’s combating for the UFC title as an alternative.

Wender Batista vs. Ricardo Nogueira

MMA debuts all the time fascinate me as a result of it’s a hurricane of feelings washing over you earlier than you make the stroll for the primary time. Even probably the most assured folks may have some doubts, as for the primary time, the rubber is actually about to fulfill the highway. What when you truly suck, and embarrass your self and your loved ones and nobody will ever love you once more since you did so poorly?

Or, what when you’re Wender Batista?

Batista made his MMA debut in opposition to Ricardo Nogueira at Sinop Preventing Fight 2 in Sinop, Brazil, and you’ll hardly dream of a greater end result. Regardless of being massively deprived relating to expertise, Batista confirmed poise in his first battle, earlier than touchdown a lovely head kick that dropped Nogueira. He then completed the job with a collection of savage punches that left Nogueira folded up on prime of himself like Mirko Cro Cop after the primary Gabriel Gonzaga battle.

Not dangerous to your first time.

Ngoc Tin Huynh vs. Tuyet Dung Phan Ngoc

Not all debuts go as properly, although. Working example, when Ngoc Tin Huynh made his debut in June at Lion Championship 14, he misplaced a unanimous choice. However the younger Vietnamese fighter didn’t let that preserve him down, and at Lion Championship 16 in Ho Chi Minh Metropolis, Vietnam, his sophomore effort went considerably higher.

Ngoc Tin Huynh opened the competition with a sneak excessive kick that nearly completed the job instantly, however Tuyet Dung Phan Ngoc coated up and retreated, permitting Ngoc Tin Huynh to knock him out in simply 13 seconds.

Someplace on the market, Conor McGregor is pondering fondly about when he used to battle.

Langston Sykes vs. Anson Swindle

However whereas Ngoc Tin Huynh was undeniably excited to redeem himself from his unlucky debut with an important KO, there won’t be a person alive who was happier this week than Langston Sykes.

Sykes fought Anson Swindle within the co-main occasion of Island Fights 84, and heading into the competition, Sykes was 0-4 in his skilled MMA profession. That form of repeated shedding can put on on an individual, and Sykes was in a position to exorcise these demons with some of the aesthetically pleasing knockouts you’ll see this month.

The mix, the clear proper hand to complete him off, the way in which Swindle’s head snaps round after which he falls completely between the ropes, touchdown on the center one like he’s about to get 619ed by Rey Mysterio. *Chef’s kiss.*

Ilzat Assiyev vs. Abylaikhan Zholdasbayev

However Missed Fists doesn’t simply rejoice the knockouts in regional MMA. We’re additionally all concerning the wonkiest and rarest submissions. Regional MMA is nice for subs as a result of the disparity in fighters may be huge, so that you get all kinds of issues which are extraordinarily uncommon in UFC or PFL.

To that finish, certainly one of my favourite submissions is the Suloev stretch because it’s very cool and likewise brutal, as Abylaikhan Zholdasbayev came upon.

Zholdasbayev confronted Ilzat Assiyev within the opening bout of NAIZA 65 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the poor man bought run over. Assiyev scored an early takedown, moved to mount, and battered Zholdasbayev till lastly delivering a merciful finish with a Suloev stretch. It’s not usually the Suloev is taken into account mercy, however on this case, it was — although Zholdasbayev could not stroll proper for some time.

Qiulun vs. Bayanduuren Gantumur

On the subject of enjoyable submissions, former Contender Collection and Street to UFC fighter Qiulun bought again within the win column with a nasty ninja choke in opposition to Bayanduuren Gantumur at JCK Struggle Night time 90 in Luliang, China.

Gantumur opened the second spherical with a unadorned shot at Qiulun’s legs and paid the worth for his mistake, as “Tibetan Knight” rapidly locked within the fight-ending choke. Gantumur fought valiantly to outlive and break the grip, however finally couldn’t discover a method out and was pressured to faucet earlier than going to sleep.

And that’s it for this week, Fisties! Truthfully, pretty gentle so far as regional highlights I’d think about nice, however nonetheless, some fairly enjoyable ones. And as all the time, an enormous due to @Barrelelapierna for his or her weekly lists of the most effective KOs and submissions, and to @Grabaka_Hitman for importing most of the clips you see right here. Give them a observe and chip in on Patreon when you can.

If you recognize of a latest battle or occasion that you simply assume could have been missed, or a promotion that would use some consideration, please tell us on Twitter (I’m not calling it X) — @AlexanderKLee — utilizing the hashtag #MissedFists.