Missed Fists: Fighter’s arm loudly snaps in most disgusting submission of 2025

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.

Last week, I had the bad fortune of witnessing an arm being horrifically mangled in an amateur bout in South Africa. Like the curse in Smile, this limb-destroying demon does not appear to be satisfied as we had a similar incident occur at a Conquest of the Cage show in Spokane, Wash., just seven days later.

And in an amateur fight 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.)

Robby Vaughn vs. Alain Mbonerane

This is the worst déjà vu I’ve ever experienced.

Headphones all the way down unless you want to lose your lunch.

You’ve been warned.

Proceed.

A disgusted tip of the cap to the always proud Queen of MMA Disfigurement Kristen King for sending this my way (her exact message: “You should watch this on full volume” along with a cheery emoji. A disturbed individual).

So Robby Vaughn hit a nice body lock slam and then immediately worked for side control, with struggling underneath. Vaughn saw an opening for a key lock and looked to have Mbonerane dead to rights. It’s unclear if Mbonerane wasn’t able express his submission (he was tangled up something fierce) or if the danger escalated faster than he expected, but the end result was the same.

SNAP. Or perhaps more of a POP? Either way… BARF.

Wishing a proper recovery for Mbonerane, who was at least smiling in a recent Instagram Story.

I’d apologize for sharing that clip with you, but you know it wouldn’t be sincere. We’re all in this together now. Regardless, let me make it up to you with some sweet knockouts.

Mavlonbek Kosimov vs. Shodimurod Karaev

At Amir Temur Fighting Championship 22 (free replay available on YouTube), Mavlonbek Kosimov gave us our best spinning finish of the week with this gorgeous kick upside Shodimurod Karaev’s head.

He put some serious snap on that one… oh damn it, didn’t mean to bring up snapping again.

Plamen Penchev vs. Sofiane Bouafia
Deyan Galinov vs. Abdou Sowe

Thanks to Brave CF, Missed Fists turns its eye to Burgas, Bulgaria for the first time, where Plamen Penchev made a memorable promotional debut in his home country with this face-plant KO.

Penchev was completely firing blind, but there’s no questioning his effectiveness. If you open your eyes and see your opponent’s are closed, then you did good.

That’s six straight wins now for Penchev, a 33-year-old middleweight sporting an 11-1 record. If this performance is any indication, who could do some major damage in the Brave cage.

Penchev’s countryman Deyan Galinov also made his debut and was no less impressive.

Galinov caught Abdou Sowe with a looping left, which led to a flurry of punches and Sowe being left stiff as a board on the canvas.

Stephen Stirewalt vs. Thomas Prestriedge

Yup, it’s Stephen Stirewalt, a.k.a. DA PORK POUNDA.

A fine KO, certainly, but it’s the nickname that jumps out at you immediately.

Stirewalt is a 31-year-old bantamweight with a 6-6 record, so I’m going to assume he isn’t on the UFC’s radar, but I would pay 300 American dollars to hear Bruce Buffer shout “Da Pork Pounda” at the top of his lungs at a sold-out T-Mobile Arena.

Wu Zen vs. Chen Rui

At Jue Cheng King Fight Night 101 in Shanxi, China (free replay available on YouTube), Wu Zen provided a perfect example of how to change up speeds on your opponent.

One second he was flicking an innocuous inside leg kick, the next he was firing off a full-force piston right into the Chen Rui’s jaw. That’s how you do it when you’ve got almost 50 pro bouts under your belt at the age of 30.

Lucas Gouveia vs. Luiz Felipe Herculano
Marcio Cabral vs. Mailton Azevedo
Marcos Degli vs. Matheus Severino

Then again, it’s always good to show some caution in the cage. Luiz Felipe Herculano learned this the hard way at LFA 212 in Brasilia, Brazil (also available on Fight Pass).

Herculano got dropped, but that didn’t stop him from frantically pursuing Lucas Gouveia. It’s Gouveia who kept the calmer head and he was rewarded for it when he caught Herculano with another accurate punch that turned him around 180 degrees.

Earlier on the show, Marci Cabral scored a 42-second KO with a head kick that looked slightly accidental.

You be the judge.

At first glance, that looked like a kick to the body that Mailton Azevedo just ducked into at the wrong time. However, he ducked his head the exact same way earlier reacting to a Cabral jab, so perhaps it was a setup all along? Awesome finish, either way.

https://www.mmafighting.com/2025/7/11/24465700/im-going-straight-to-the-ufc-top-prospects-marcos-degli-matheus-severino-high-stakes-lfa-title-fight

In the main event, flyweights Marcos Degli and Matheus Severino aimed to make a UFC-worthy statement in a title fight. In the end, Degli landed a beautiful right hand to put Matheus Severino down and defend his championship.

A UFC call is coming soon.

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.