Missed Fists: Kam Arnold takes selfie after scoring highlight-reel knockout

Kam Arnold and Seth Basler at a New England Fights event in Bangor, Maine, on Nov. 9, 2024 | @nefights, Instagram

Welcome to the latest edition of Missed Fists where we shine a light on fights from across the globe that may have been overlooked in these hectic times where it seems like there’s an MMA show every other day.

Maybe I’m just old (OK, I’m definitely old), but I remember a time when fighting wasn’t all about having followers and getting all the clicks on your MyFaces and your InstaSnaps and your TikkyTokkys. No, sir or madam, back in my day, you’d never hear about something as wacky as, say, a YouTube star stepping into the ring to box THE Mike Tyson. Who would imagine such a thing?

In the spirit of Friday’s event, it’s only fitting that we showcase a fighter who didn’t just win, he did it for the ‘gram.

(Big thanks as always to @Barrelelapierna for their weekly lists of the best KOs and submissions, and to @Grabaka_Hitman for uploading many of the clips you see here. Give them a follow and chip in on Patreon if you can.)

Kam Arnold vs. Seth Basler
Kyle Pufahl vs. Orlando Barbosa
Chris Turner vs. Bruce Boyington

Kam Arnold didn’t have the most difficult opponent at New England Fights 60, to put it nicely, so he had good reason to be confident enough to plan a celebration ahead of time. As it turned out, when he landed a knockout blow on Seth Basler (entering the contest with a 5-16 record), he was ready to asked for a phone to be thrown to him so he could commemorate the occasion.

That’s right, he won and then immediately took a selfie.

I’ll let you all be the judge on where this ranks on the sportsmanship scale, though it doesn’t look like Basler was all too upset about it. Then again, his mind was likely on other things at the moment. Let’s just say congrats to Arnold on the win and move on (though you can check out more footage from the fight below).

I mean, if anyone is getting dinged for sportsmanship, it’s Kyle Pufahl.

My dude, you may have actually shaken your opponent’s soul from his body with that slam. Ease up, eh?

In the main event of the Bangor, Maine, card, Chris Turner landed the perfect right hand on onetime World Series of Fighting competitor Bruce Boyington.

Instant shutdown.

Carter Whitty vs. Dalton English
Zach DiSabatino vs. Luis Pena
Jacobo Apito vs. John Medina

As the great Pharoahe Monch once said,

New York City gritty committee, pity the fool that
Act shitty in the midst of the calm, the witty

Now I have no idea what that means, but that’s as good a setup as any for amateur Carter Whitty’s amazing knockout at Cage Titans 68 in Plymouth, Mass.

That’s a 12-second knockout. Missed it? Here it is again.

Not the best level change you’ll see and I’m not entirely sure if Dalton English was going for a takedown or… a headbutt to Whitty’s stomach? Either way, he ate a whole lot of knee instead.

Also on the card, Zach DiSabatino scored a fantastic submission win over UFC veteran Luis Pena with an inverted triangle choke.

To be honest, it looked like DiSabatino didn’t have much going there. Somewhere in the chaos, he found a way to cinch in the hold and get the W. Just make it up as you go along, I always say.

Maybe that’s what Jacob Apito did, too?

Firstly, that is a Tarikoplata, which I know because it is definitely NOT the first one seen in MMA competition. How do I know this? Because this is freaking Missed Fists! Jake Ngai pulled one off at the age of 19 in December 2022.

This seems to have been corrected in a subsequent tweet, so no harm done.

Cage Titans 68 is available for replay on UFC Fight Pass.

Chance Ikei vs. Jacob Romero
Furkatbek Yokubov vs. Flavio de Queiroz

Also on Fight Pass, we saw what I feel was the best submission of the bunch as Chance Ikei just out-muscled Jacob Romero at LFA 196 in Phoenix.

That’s one of the nastiest anaconda chokes I’ve seen in a while. Ikei gave Romero no chance other than to tap. Romero didn’t take that option and away he went to sleep.

Furkatbek Yokubov made a Mike Heck of a first impression in his LFA debut.

The former Belarusian Fight Championship flyweight titleholder and sometimes Karate Combat’er dazzled with a spin kick that caught Flavio de Queiroz on the top of his dome, sending a knockout signal to the rest of his body.

Marcel Adur vs. Guido Cannetti

TIL: Guido Cannetti is still fighting!

Unfortunately for the ageless “Ninja,” it didn’t go well as his early offense wasn’t enough to put Marcel Adur away. In the second round, Adur capitalized on Cannetti’s aggression and caught him with an armbar.

A month shy of his 45th birthday, Cannetti has to be considering retirement, though if he continues to keep on keeping on, more power to him. The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America Never Die.

Fusion FC 84 is also available on UFC Fight Pass.

Ivan Buchinger vs. Hafeni Nafuka

You know who else is fighting? Ivan Buchinger!

And he’s headlining! And winning!!!

In the main event of Oktagon 63 in Buchinger’s native Slovakia, the 54-fight veteran turned back the clock, surviving a furious effort from Hafeni Nafuka to battle back for a second-round TKO.

Look at him go! This man made his pro debut in 2008!

You really, really can’t keep a good fighter down.

British Boloyoang vs. Christian Omokhobhio
Ndidi Alonu vs. Ziko Makengele

At an EFC Worldwide event in Sandton, South Africa, British Boloyoang (fantastic name) clipped Christian Omokhobhio with a quick right that turned all of Omokhobhio’s lights off.

Circled right into the power and paid the price.

Ndidi Alonu wasn’t quite as precise with his timing, but when you throw with this much volume and violence, you’re probably getting a finish.

Damn, mouthpiece flying and everything.

We’ve seen plenty of fights get stopped on the feet and occasionally we’re left scratching our heads, but that was a no-doubter as the referee had to save Ziko Makengele from further punishment. Legend has it they’re still peeling him off that fence.

If you know of a recent fight or event that you think may have been overlooked, or a promotion that could use some attention, please let us know on X — @AlexanderKLee — using the hashtag #MissedFists.