Missed Fists: 0-5 fighter scores first win with outrageous spin kick knockout

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.

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try (and flying kick) again.

(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.)

Jimkelly Saint Pierre vs. Zachary DodgeJoshua Key Jr. vs. Fabricio Berrun

Prior to Saturday’s Extreme Cage Fighting event, here is how amateur fighter Jimkelly Saint Pierre (legendary name) fared in his first five fights (excluding a no contest).

While it had to have been encouraging for Saint Pierre to actually go the distance in his previous fight, it didn’t exactly look like he was turning things around.

After cracking Zachary Dodge with a sweet spin kick on the feet, JimSP decided to go airborne for a completely unhinged flying kick that not only landed, but finished the fight.

I confess, I’ve not seen Saint Pierre’s previous fights, but I’m going to assume he employs the same swashbuckling strategy every time he goes out there, and it just hadn’t worked for him in the past. On this one magical night in Queens, N.Y., however, Saint Pierre caught the attention of The MMA Gods and they blessed this mere mortal with victory, no doubt chuckling in amusement all the while.

That said, sometimes persistence doesn’t always pay off, as in the case of Joshua Key Jr. vs. Fabricio Berrun.

The taller Berrun marched forward, even as Key lit him up with counters. Berrun’s toughness proved to be his downfall after Key rocked him with a perfect 1-2 to cause him to face-plant on the canvas. Whoops.

Humberto Bandenay vs. Ernie Juarez

Hey, it’s Humberto Bandenay!

It’s crazy to think it’s been eight years since Bandenay made his UFC debut at the tender age of 22. It didn’t work out for the Peruvian featherweight back then (he won a Performance of the Night with a 25-second knockout of Martin Bravo, but then dropped his last three fights) but, as with many fighters, there is life after the octagon.

Bandenay stunned Ernie Juarez with a head kick at an A1 Combat show in Santa Ynez, Calif., recording his second straight win and fourth in his past five fights. Overall, he’s 12-2 (1 NC) since leaving the UFC, a more than respectable record, and at just 31 years old we might see Bandenay back in the big show yet.

Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat 30 is available for replay on UFC Fight Pass.

Marta Pankiv vs. Sonia Black-Ruby

Also on UFC Fight Pass, IMMAF strawweight standout Marta Pankiv improved to 2-0 as pro with a 42-second mauling of Sonia Black-Ruby at a Unified MMA show in Enoch, Alberta, Canada.

Feels like Pankiv could have finished Black-Ruby any way she wanted and chose a standing rear-naked choke for maximum visual impact. I don’t know about you, but I’m scared.

Vlasto Cepo vs. Daniel Schwindt

Vlasto Cepo was the definition of controlled chaos at OKTAGON 77 in Bratislava, Slovakia, somehow landing a winging right hand on the money despite the fact that I’m pretty sure he was throwing blind.

Mr. Cepo, you are a certified swanger and banger.

Akos Denes vs. Dino Suljkanovic

Our last stop this week takes us to Maribor, Slovenia, where Akos Denes improved to 5-0 with a tidy knee knockout of Dino Suljkanovic at Fight Nation Championship Knockout 2.

You can see Suljkanovic dipping in to attack the body and possibly go for takedowns, but he telegraphed that last level change and paid the price as Denes drove that knee right into his jaw.

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.