Wacky things can happen in the lower levels of any sport. From flea flickers in high school football to bouncing-puck goals in junior league hockey, extra heaps of fun (be it through novelty or schadenfreude) can often be had when looking to the amateurs.
MMA is no different, and absurd things, whether funny, silly or scary, can be found when one looks past the bright lights of the UFC and into the dim barns, rec centers and converted basketball courts of the regional circuit.
From unusual submissions to sloppy striking, from creativity gone awry to one-of-a-kind finishes and from bad fighters to bad promoters, every reaction from “holy crap” to “What was he thinking?” can be heard at any given event. Well, with 2014 coming to a close, it is worth taking a look back over the last 12 months and finding some of the best (and the worst) moments of the regional, amateur and international circuits.
Some of them will make you shake your head at the silliness. Some of them will warm your heart. Some of them will make you crane your neck or recoil in your seat in an attempt to fathom what happened.
So what were these moments? Click on and find out!