Jaron Lathrop’s Jaw-Dropping Jumping spinning back kick Stuns MMA World at XFC 52

Flyweight debutant Jaron Lathrop delivered one of the most spectacular finishes in recent memory at Xtreme Fighting Championship 52.

The event, held Friday night at Xtreme Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, featured a seven-fight card packed with MMA veterans. However, it was Lathrop, making his professional debut, who captured the spotlight with a breathtaking technique that left spectators and commentators alike in awe.

Facing Yevgeni Shinkarevsky on the main card, Lathrop showcased impressive striking volume throughout the opening round. The defining moment came when Shinkarevsky caught one of Lathrop’s body kicks – a defensive move that would typically give the defender an advantage.

What happened next defied conventional fighting logic. With his leg still captured, Lathrop, nicknamed “Protect Ya Neck,” executed a perfect jumping spinning back kick that connected flush with Shinkarevsky’s head. The impact immediately sent his opponent crashing to the canvas, where Lathrop followed up with ground strikes, forcing the referee to intervene.

“What an amazing highlight!” exclaimed one commentator as the arena erupted. “He was just flowing and he made his opponent crumble.”

Jaron Lathrop against Yevgeni Shinkarevsky ; Knockout via spinning back kick.

The technique drew immediate comparisons to Joaquin Buckley’s famous “Ninja Kick” against Impa Kasanganay from 2020, which earned Knockout of the Year honors. The similarities were striking – both involved the attacker having their leg caught before unleashing the spinning technique.

“That was like Buckley sending Kasanganay to the land of wind and ghosts, when we saw it here in Iowa City!” the commentator shouted in the heat of the moment.

What makes Lathrop’s finish even more impressive is that it came in his professional debut. In just one contest, he has established himself as a potential rising star and put himself on the radar of larger promotions looking for exciting talent.

As clips of the knockout circulate across social media platforms, MMA analysts are already discussing whether Lathrop’s spectacular finish could earn similar year-end accolades as its famous predecessor.

JONATHAN LATHROP VS YEVGENI SHINKAREVSKY KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR 2025 - YouTube

For Lathrop, this wasn’t just a win – it was a career-defining statement delivered in his very first professional appearance. As one observer at cageside noted: “This is called the state of flow. He was just flowing and made his opponent crumble.”

With such an unforgettable introduction to professional MMA, the fighting world will certainly be watching closely to see what Jaron Lathrop does next.