DWCS 86 video: Juan Diaz continues MMA's most violent trend2 days ago7 min read2 comments

Alright, fight fans, let's talk about the moment that just broke the internet and probably your group chat—Juan Diaz just decided to add his name to 2025’s most vicious highlight reel with a spinning back elbow that felt like something out of a video game. Seriously, if you haven’t seen the clip yet, stop what you’re doing and go watch it; it’s the kind of knockout that makes you jump off your couch and yell at your screen.Picture this: Round 2, clock ticking down to just two seconds left, and Diaz, who’s been looking sharp all fight, unleashes a spinning back elbow that catches Won II Kwon clean on the jaw. Kwon goes down like a ton of bricks, and Diaz follows up with a hammerfist that was basically just showing off at that point—the violence-o-meter, as the kids say, was cranked to eleven.This isn’t just some random flashy move; it’s part of a bigger trend that’s taken over MMA this year, almost like the league decided to make spinning back elbows the new meta. Think about it: we’ve seen Lerone Murphy do it to Aaron Pico, Diego Lopes to Jean Silva, and Sergio Pettis to Magomed Magomedov—it’s like everyone’s trying to one-up each other in the most brutal way possible, and honestly, I’m here for it.The UFC’s official tweet calling it one of the best KOs in DWCS history isn’t just hype; it’s facts, and it’s got everyone from casual viewers to hardcore analysts buzzing about what this means for the sport. Diaz, at 27 years old, isn’t just some newcomer; he came into Dana White’s Contender Series 86 as the Lux Fight League champion, riding a seven-fight winning streak, and now he’s extended that to eight with a finish that’s basically his ticket to the big leagues.You’ve got to feel for Kwon, though—dude entered off a loss in ONE Championship and now finds himself on a two-fight skid, which in this game can feel like an eternity. But let’s not sleep on the rest of the card, because DWCS 86 was stacked with finishes that’ll have the matchmakers working overtime.Marwan Rahiki put Anaias Mulumba to sleep with strikes in the second round, Michael Oliveira dropped Victor Valenzuela with punches, and Wes Schultz pulled off a Suloev stretch submission that’s so rare, most fans probably had to Google it. Even Jovan Leka’s unanimous decision win over Azamat Nuftillaev had its moments, but let’s be real—it’s Diaz’s elbow that’s the talk of the town.This whole spinning back elbow craze reminds me of when the NBA went three-point crazy a few years back; suddenly, what was once a high-risk, occasional move becomes a go-to weapon, and fighters are drilling it in camp like it’s the new jab. It’s not just about the spectacle, though; there’s a tactical shift here.Elites are using these techniques to exploit openings in high-stakes moments, and when you combine that with the evolution of striking in MMA—thanks to cross-training in Muay Thai, karate, and even capoeira—you get these cinematic finishes that blow up on social media. Dana White’s probably grinning ear to ear right now, because this is exactly what the Contender Series is for: finding diamonds in the rough who can deliver viral moments and shake up divisions.Looking ahead, Diaz’s entry into the UFC could stir up the lighter weight classes, where precision and unpredictability are king. Imagine him facing off against veterans who’ve seen it all; will his flashy style hold up, or will he need to round out his game? That’s the beauty of MMA—it’s a constant arms race, and 2025 might just be remembered as the year the spinning back elbow became the ultimate equalizer. So, yeah, mark your calendars, because if this trend keeps up, we’re in for a wild ride, and Juan Diaz just proved he’s not just following the wave—he’s riding it like a pro.