Missed Fists: Turpal Gediev demonstrates perfect takedown defense with spin kick to the face

Raatbek Kambarov and Turpal Gediev at an Integra FC event in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Oct. 12, 2024 | @Barrelelapierna, Twitter

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.

As you may have heard, there’s rumors currently swirling around the top of the bantamweight division, with Umar Nurmagomedov supposedly fighting Song Yadong soon instead of getting an expected title shot against Merab Dvalishvili. That’s led to further speculation that Dvalishvili could take on Sean O’Malley in an immediate rematch, which makes no sense, but this is the world we’re living in now.

I bring all this up to say that if O’Malley needs advice on how to deal with Dvalishvili’s relentless wrestling offense, well, I know I a guy.

(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.)

Turpal Gediev vs. Raatbek Kambarov

Hey, “Suga,” why didn’t you just do this to stop Dvalishvili’s takedowns?

At an Integra FC 19 show in Tbilisi, Georgia, Turpal Gediev made fighting look so easy as he stopped a shooting Raatbek Kambarov by simply spinning and planting his foot in his face. Seriously, this technique would have saved O’Malley a lot of trouble (and posting on social media).

Often, I’d call this sort of thing a fluke, like maybe Gediev was planning to kick the body and Kambarov just happened to duck into it, but after several replays, it actually looks like Gediev might have set that up. Either that or he made an incredible read-and-react play, which is mind-blowing in itself.

Will Fleury vs. Pavol Langer
Max Holzer vs. Mohammed Sadok Trabelsi

This news may have flown under the radar in North America, but over in Europe there was no bigger story than Oktagon MMA cramming 59,000-plus rabid MMA fans into Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany.

Though exact numbers are difficult to verify, as with any combat sports event, it’s clear that OKTAGON 62 was a smashing success, and the promotion has truly built something special even without larger-than-life names in the lineup.

Even better, the action delivered with several memorable moments, including Will Fleury’s wicked right hand knockout of Pavol Langer.

Fleury has competed for Bellator and PFL, and now seeks greater glory in Oktagon as he recorded his second straight finish for the promotion.

Big props as well to 22-year-old Max Holzer, who was smart enough to use a scooter for his entrance at the massive venue.

Those long walkouts can kill your cardio, a trap that the wise-beyond-his-years Holzer deftly avoided. Not coincidentally (IMHO), he finished his opponent in Round 3 to improve to 9-0 as a pro.

Adrian Bleszynski vs. Samuel Vogt

Speaking of late finishes, Adrian Bleszynski capped off a win in the fourth with this grueling finish of Samuel Vogt in the main event of Babilon MMA 48 in Sosnowiec, Poland.

That wasn’t exactly the most effective use of guard by Vogt. Great patience by Bleszynski to pick his shots and find a home for some accurate and heavy leather to shut Vogt’s lights off.

Andre Borges vs. Rodrigo Lidio
Inglesson de Lara vs. Marlon Brito
Anderson Ferreira vs. Walber dos Anjos

The knockouts were flowing at Centurion FC 23 in Rio de Janeiro, with both of the evening’s title fights ending via fisticuffs.

Andre Borges claimed Rodrigo Lidio’s welterweight title in violent fashion, loading up a left hand and letting Lidio have it just seven seconds into Round 2.

That’s three straight wins now for Borges, who has been one or two good wins away from signing with a larger promotion. He has losses to The Ultimate Fighter 32 winner Mairon Santos and recent UFC competitor Nick Fiore, names that could have pushed him towards a Contender Series opportunity had the result gone the other way. At 33, it might be too late for Borges to get that call, so he’ll have to settle on busting heads on the regional scene, which he’s doing just fine.

Inglesson de Lara, though? He has future UFC fighter written all over him. The 30-year-old lightweight claimed a vacant title on Saturday with a gorgeous body shot knockout of Marlon Brito.

What looked like a routine striking exchange turned out to be the end for Brito as his insides gave out on him. De Lara improves to 10-1 with the win.

Anderson Ferreira unleashed the best in the semifinals of the CFC one-night tournament, clipping Walber dos Anjos with a right hand, bonking him with a hammerfist, and then ruining him with a head kick.

Unfortunately for Ferreira, he’d later go on to lose by first-round submission to Paulo Henrique in the finals, but man, what a KO.

Kai Katayama vs. Shota Arikawa

What were you doing when you were 16? I wasn’t delivering highlight-reel knockouts, that’s for sure.

Kai Katayama, on the other hand…

Those legs are absolute thunder and you can’t help but feel for Shota Arikawa, who just happened to get caught in the storm.

Best of all, Lucas Bourdon’s note-perfect description of Katayama’s fighting fit.

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.