Midnight Mania! Conor McGregor slayer, Nate Diaz, won’t answer UFC’s call unless its worth $20 million

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Welcome to Midnight Mania, where Nate Diaz ain’t gonna be no ho! In fact, he won’t even answer his phone for less than $20 million. We’ve also got Max Holloway getting honored in Hawaii, Roy Nelson doing the mannequin challenge with Mike Tyson, and Ilir Latifi getting a pin removed from his toe.

The exact quote from Diaz (via MMA Fighting):

“I’m only fighting at lightweight for a big fight or 20 million just to take the call. Until then, I’m just living my life.”

This is what happens in the rare instance when a fighter both knows his worth, as Diaz now does, has leverage — UFC knows a trilogy with its money-making machine, Conor McGregor, is perhaps its most-watched pay-per-view (PPV) event ever. McGregor already has the clout and earning potential to keep WME | IMG in the black moving forward as the $40 million man. Diaz, meanwhile, would be foolish to not thumb his nose at the company until he gets what he wants. This is part and parcel the reason UFC pays its fighters just above a living wage — financial difficulty is a real crowbar for them when negotiations get tough.

Unfortunately for them, Diaz has escaped that Matrix, and isn’t planning on going back. He is a millionaire — with no expensive hobbies — and could easily retire now. One last big-money fight, however, would set him up for life … and he knows it. And while $20 million is still pocket change compared to what the promotion — and McGregor — would make for a high-profile trilogy match, and the fight doesn’t have an expiration date anytime soon. And Nate is willing to back up his tough talk with his actions.

As Dana White so eloquently tragically argued: You eat what you kill in UFC. And Diaz mangled and strangled its cash cow.

As a reminder of how little problem the Diaz brothers have had backing up their tough talk inside and outside the cage, remember when Nate brawled with Khabib Nurmagomedov? (Area code) 209 vs the Dagestanis is just a combustible combination … even if “The Eagle” would wrestle Diaz’ to death in a cage.

Diaz’s message to Khabib after said brawl:

Put another in the swear jar, Nate:

Roy Nelson got to train AND do the “Mannequin Challenge” with Mike Tyson? He’s officially having too much fun.

The sport lost someone today. To be honest, I had never heard of him, but people who have been following mixed martial arts (MMA) longer than me are sharing his highlights, which look pretty awesome. Watch these, then pour one out for Morkevicius.

Here’s his whole playlist for those of you who are up all night like me:

Forest Griffin and I party the same way:

I don’t know how UFC Fight Pass doesn’t have a show where Griffin attempts a new career as a life coach. He seems to have it well in hand.

In other news, hobbled interim Featherweight champion Max Holloway was honored with the homegrown hero award in his native Hawaii.

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Podcasts and Audio

“Heavy Hands” is out, and Sage and Paige get some airtime:

The “Promotional Malpractice” live chat, in which Luke Thomas opens by calling his dog an idiot.

Tommy Toehold holds an actual podcast, if you didn’t know:

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Bobs and Weaves

Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier got into it on Twitter:

Oh, not that Jon Jones, and not that Daniel Cormier. These two are fighting about something more relatable!

This was clever of Alan Jouban.

Whatever you do, seriously, never, ever try and placate your lady friend who is stuck home with you on a UFC fight night with a, “Did you know that dude is a Versace model?” story.

It doesn’t work out well. Ever. I learned the hard way.

In case you missed it, Khabib Nurmagomedov responded to Jose Aldo. Apparently the crazy story “Scarface” was telling was (maybe) true — “The Eagle” DID turn down a fight with him — but not because he was afraid.

An old video was circulating of Ryan Hall this week, who once easily handled some drunk dude who got in his face:

Ronda Rousey returns before the “New Year” begins. You probably hadn’t heard, though — she’s not a big draw or anything. Nonetheless, remember the last time she stepped into the Octagon? It was insane.

That was violent, while this is just gross. Ilir Latifi, he of horse-riding fame, gets a pin extracted from his surgically-repaired foot:

He will get back on the horse soon.

He is, after all, a monster.

But, not as strong as his son.

Ilir Latifi is my hero. And I’m sure I’m not alone!

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Quick Hits

• Want to know why Chuck Liddell and Matt Hughes lost their jobs, but Forest Griffin didn’t? Chael Sonnen breaks it down (I told you Forrest had his life on lock!).
• Cain Velasquez is on the marijuana plant to ease his back pain
• Amanda Nunes got sick recently (Yes, she should be recovered by fight time).

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Randomland

This little girl really thinks she’s something.

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Stay woke, Maniacs.

Email [email protected] with sweet memes you want included.