Unusual Gear: The John Wick Invitational
Welcome to Missed Fists, where we highlight noteworthy combat sports action from around the world that you might have missed. This time, we`re focusing on innovative concepts, specifically grappling events with unusual gear.
While discussions often revolve around new rules or creative gimmicks in combat sports innovation, the impact of equipment is less explored. Beyond standard gi or no-gi grappling, there`s now full suit grappling. This is the premise of the John Wick Invitational.
This is the second iteration of the event, referred to as JWI-2. Participants compete in full suits, testing their flexibility and durability under grappling pressure. The visual style intentionally evokes the action sequences from the John Wick film series, blending serious competition with a sense of playful homage.
If a match goes the full four minutes without a submission, a unique element is introduced: prop weapons. A coin toss determines if a prop gun or a prop knife is added to the fighting area. The final minute becomes a frantic scramble as competitors vie to grab the weapon and “finish” the fight with a simulated shot or stab. This adds a delightfully absurd layer to the competition, often making standard submission finishes feel almost anticlimactic. The event is highly recommended for its unique spectacle.
Other Notable Finishes From Around the Globe
Moving beyond the unique format of JWI, this edition of Missed Fists also highlights other standout finishes from recent combat sports events, including impressive submissions and knockouts.
Submission Highlight: The Calf Slicer
Among notable submissions, a particularly brutal calf slicer was executed by Gennier Rojas against Gabriel Diaz during Fusion FC 89 in Lima, Peru. Rojas secured the painful leglock from a seemingly neutral ground position, forcing the tap.
Spectacular Knockouts
Recent events also featured some spectacular knockout finishes.
At LFA 207, Landry Ward delivered a stunning knockout. As Bryce Logan advanced, Ward stepped in with a perfectly timed right hand, rendering Logan unconscious instantly. Logan`s disorientation upon regaining consciousness was evident when he attempted to grapple the referee, confirming it was a necessary stoppage.
In Glasgow, Scotland, Jordan Stronge secured a highlight-reel finish at Cage Warriors 187. After hurting Chris Hayes with strikes, Stronge intelligently pulled back instead of following to the ground, assessing his opponent`s condition. Recognizing Hayes was compromised, Stronge closed the show with a spectacular jumping knee knockout.
Looking to make a strong impression after a debut loss eleven months prior, Hurshed Nazarov achieved a memorable first-round finish at a recent Brave CF event. Needing just 17 seconds, Nazarov landed a precise strike to the chin of Keremuaili Maimaitituoheti, scoring a rapid knockout that left his opponent in a defensive posture.
Arguably the most impactful knockout of the week occurred at a DEEP event in Aichi, Japan. In an amateur bantamweight contest, Taiki Kono landed a devastating head kick that immediately knocked out Toshikazu Hirayama. This head kick was truly brutal.
