Issue 157

August 2017

1. Walk it off

Independence, Missouri

We are all for referees giving fighters a chance to recover, but this is ridiculous. When Christian Camp was knocked out by Anthony Guttierez at the end of round one at Kansas City Fighting Alliance 23, the fight should have been stopped. What followed is best summed up by commentators who had a solid grasp of the Unified Rules: Turner Davis and Invicta 145lb champ Megan Anderson. “Mike England just walked away. He doesn’t look too concerned about the well-being of Christian Camp,” said Davis. The fight continued for another round until Camp was KO’d, again.

2. Infected

Kallang, Singapore

Angela Lee is remarkable. At just 20 years old, she carries the MMA hopes of a nation and was the star of ONE Championship: Dynasty of Heroes. But her striking and submission skills weren’t the most impressive aspect of her atomweight title defense. It was revealed she was diagnosed with a form of pneumonia seven days earlier, yet she was still able to put in an incredible performance to retain her belt. That ‘Unstoppable’ nickname is no joke.

3. Young blood

Tokyo, Japan

Sticking with young Asian MMA talent, eyebrows were raised when 12-year-old ‘MoMo’ was taped to make her amateur debut at Deep Jewels 16 against Momoko Yamazaki, an adult who is twice her age. The pre-teen showed age was just a number, however, when she choked her opponent unconscious in the first round.

4. Shock and awe

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Brazilian journalist Thiago Asmar may have bitten off a little more than he could chew when he tried to keep up with the fighters at Nova União for his documentary show Treinamento de Choque – roughly translated as Shock Treatment. Head coach Andre Pederneiras asked his fighters to take it easy on the poor guy when he joined them for sparring. Their response? “No, he has to suffer.” Cue the likes of José Aldo choking

him and knocking him out over the course of several grueling weeks. Asmar’s reaction: “Holy s**t, where did I put myself?”

5. Buckle up

Anchorage, Alaska

Now it’s time for a salute to a true MMA journeyman, Tony Lopez. The 51-25 heavyweight veteran may be 43 years old, but he’s still collecting belts across the States. ‘Kryptonite’ is champion in King of the Cage, Arena Wars, OKC Charity Fight Night and Sugar Creek Showdown and added another strap to his collection by beating Mika Faavale in the main event of Alaska FC 132.

6. Momma’s boy

Ekaterinburg, Russia

Moms are prevalent in MMA. Ronda Rousey’s was pivotal in her martial arts upbringing, Urijah Faber’s got a shout-out at every event and Fight Nights Global’s Viktor Kichigin has his screaming at him as part of his corner team. When he was beaten up and knocked out at FNG 67, mother was not pleased, so slapped her son silly while he was still half conscious. Embarrassed, he left the ring, leaving her to stand next to the referee when the decision was announced.

7. Toe the line

St. Petersburg, Russia

Botched weight-cuts, illness, failed drug tests – we have seen many ways a fight can be canceled at the last minute, but this is a new one. Top Russian lightweight Eduard Vartanyan was forced to pull out of his fight with Andrey Koshkin because he jumped off the weigh-in stage and mangled his big toe. The picture of the injury is far too gruesome to print, but those who are not faint of heart can Google it to view the absolute carnage he caused to his extremity.

8. Fight the power

Astana, Kazakhstan

Before Fight Nights Global 65, Gadzhimurad Khiramagomedov was known as a calm and intelligent fighter in Russian MMA circles. Not anymore. He, along with his brother Gazmat, is now facing a lifetime ban after hospitalizing the vice president of the Russian MMA Union after he lost a decision to Georgiy Kichigin. FNG president Kamil Gadzhiev said: “The case went beyond the sport… Of course, we will no longer work with him.”

9. The show must go on!

Grozny, Russia

“Event postponed” usually only means one thing in MMA circles: a cancellation and a bunch of unpaid fighters. Not in the world of Absolute Championship Berkut. When ACB 59 in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia, was abruptly shelved when many local athletes refused to fight due to political tensions, it looked like that was a wrap. Instead, the show was rescheduled to take place 100km away and after both ACB 60 and 61, which created an incredibly confusing chronology of events.