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Missed Fists: Thiago Goularte wins most chaotic fight of the year with wild spinning elbow knockout

LaPhezz April 04, 2025
Alexander K. Lee https://ift.tt/P2VHI3n
Thiago Goularte and Leonardo Mesquita at a Thunder Fight event in Sao Paulo on May 30, 2025 | thunderfight, YouTube

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.

We’re three months into 2025 and there has been a ton of compelling MMA action, particularly outside of the octagon (hey, UFC Vegas 105 this Saturday! You’re watching, right?). Seriously, you could make a list of the five best knockouts from the regional and international scene and put them up against the five best from the UFC so far, and I’m not sure UFC comes out on top.

Case in point, we had pro debutant Jaron Lathrop deliver possibly the Knockout of the Year so far with a spinning back kick KO at XFC 52 that evoked memories of Joaquin Buckley disintegrating Impa Kasanganay.

And then there was this spinning effort from Thiago Goularte at a Thunder Fight event in Sao Paulo.

(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.)

Thiago Goularte vs. Leonardo Mesquita
Alex Junius vs. Mario Piazzon
Milena Galvao vs. Isabel Oliveira

Watch it. Bask in it. Embrace the pure chaos.

Thiago Goularte appeared to have Leonardo Mesquita dead to rights early in the fight, battering him with punches and forcing him into sheer survival mode. The way Mesquita was turtling up and turning his back, we’ve all seen fights stopped for less. But the brutal action was allowed to continue and it looked like Mesquita would be rewarded for his toughness as he started firing back and landing hard punches.

Soon, it was Goularte on the defensive, perhaps having punched himself out. He was just playing possum though, a berserker possum at that, because out of nowhere he unleashed a spinning back elbow from another dimension.

Goularte fell on his ass letting that one rip. That had no business landing with any impact, much less enough to completely flatten Mesquita and force officials to eventually break out a stretcher for the fallen fighter. Yet it was so.

Forget KO of the Year, that might deserve Fight of the Year honors. And somehow that wasn’t the most surprising ending of the night.

In the main event, 8-0 heavyweight Mario Piazzon was poised to capture a vacant heavyweight title as he was paired up with 15-39 journeyman Alex Junius. I’m guessing this ending isn’t what the matchmakers had in mind:

You might remember Piazzon from a dreadful 2023 Contender Series showing against Alexander Soldatkin that ended with Piazzon winning via disqualification after he took an illegal knee to the head while grounded. Chances were slim-to-none Dana White and co. would come calling again and after this slip-up, they’re down to just none.

On a more positive note, here’s Milena Galvao winning a kicking contest with Isabel Oliveira.

Both ladies have powerful-looking legs, but it’s Galvao who caught Oliveira with a head kick that must have glanced across the front of her face. Instant reaction and Galvao was kind enough not to follow up.

A free replay of Thunder Fight 47 is available on YouTube.

Levy Carriel vs. Raphael Mebenga
Adama Diop vs. Paul-Emmanuel Gnaze

At Hexagone MMA 25 in Poitiers, France, we saw some beautiful striking and… well, some not-so-beautiful striking.

Levy Carriel sent a rocket right hand into Raphael Mebenga’s head, then needed just one more punch to silence him. The whole bit took five seconds (per Tapology).

Timing and precision were not the order of the day for Adama Diop and Paul-Emmanuel Gnaze.

I don’t think boxing coaches will be putting this one on loop in the gym anytime soon, but you can’t argue with the results.

Pablo Gutierrez vs. Kevin Hernandez

Pablo Gutierrez had no interest in seeing a second round and frankly, neither did his opponent Kevin Hernandez as Hernandez made no attempt to get out of the way of a flying knee that landed from a mile away.

Seriously Gutierrez loaded that one up in San Miguelito to sent it all the way to Panama City and Hernandez still didn’t see it coming.

Ultimate Combat Challenge 75 is available for free replay on YouTube.

Sung Hwan Jung vs. Tomoya Omura

Now this is how you set up a flying attack with style and discretion.

In a flash, Sung Hwan Jung went airborne, flicking out a slick switch kick that rocked Tomoya Omura. Fight legitimately could have been stopped there and nobody would have complained.

Free fights from Zeus FC are available on the promotion’s YouTube channel.

Delmar Silva vs. Nabil Malki
Luis Ivan Rodriguez vs. Alexandro Bravo

Let’s close the show with a couple of submissions brought to you by UFC Fight Pass, first from Fight Club Rush 23 in Vasteras, Sweden:

I can’t say I’m too familiar with this kneebar variation executed by Delmar Silva. The human body is truly a magnificent weapon (and at the same time, incredibly fragile) and Silva took advantage of that fact with a leglock that few would expect to see in that position.

Maybe I’m just a noob, though. All you jiu-jitsu experts out there, let me know how common this technique is.

In the main event of Lux Fight League 51 in Mexico City, Luis Ivan Rodriguez didn’t need to get quite so fancy to win an interim flyweight title, but this is a lovely rear-naked choke all the same.

Body triangled, one arm captured, and that choke sunk in right under the chin. Rodriguez (25, 9-1) captured his first title belt and you get the sense even bigger things lie ahead for this Mexican prospect.

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.



from MMA Fighting - All Posts https://ift.tt/u1pO8rl
LaPhezz

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LaPhezz is an enigmatic writer who never reveals his true identity, preferring to keep his personal life completely private. He uses a pen name to create a persona that reflects his secretive nature, and his writing speaks for itself, captivating readers with his unique voice and storytelling style. Despite his mysterious nature, LaPhezz has gained a loyal following of readers who are entranced by his talent for crafting complex characters and intricate plots that keep them on the edge of their seats. He often shares insights into his creative process and the inspiration behind his writing, driven by a love of storytelling and a desire to explore the complexities of the human experience. LaPhezz's stories cover a wide range of topics, from love and loss to the mysteries of the universe. He brings a fresh perspective to every story he tells, transporting readers to new worlds and keeping them guessing until the very end. If you're searching for a writer who can captivate you with their storytelling and take you on a journey through the unknown, look no further than LaPhezz - the master of mystery behind some of the most enthralling stories on the internet.

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Dear valued readers,

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