Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight
Welcome to Midnight Mania! Tonight we’ve got Yoel Romero talking about cleansing the Middleweight division for God, poster art, the firstfruits of the weekend’s knockouts (including Krylov and “Bigfoot” Silva), and much more.
Mano Derecha de Dios
Yoel Romero is one of MMA’s most unusual characters and Middleweight’s scariest men. Michael Bisping seemingly wants nothing to do with him; he can be seen screaming unintelligible words at the camera during a workout, and goose-steps around the cage after a KO. Despite fighting seemingly without a defined process, he manages to pull off incredible knockouts with athleticism that astounded even at the Olympic level. At 40, he is absolutely shredded; his last knockout was a cringe-inducing flying knee of Chris Weidman in the third round. That win landed him an interim title shot against Robert “Bobby Knuckles” Whittaker at UFC 213. This, despite Yoel’s penchant for bending the rules and edging the line of cheating; he famously spent an extra thirty seconds on his stool after Tim Kennedy rocked him, and being popped by USADA was only staved off with a successful tainted-supplement defense.
Recently, Yoel spoke to FloCombat through a translator about how he wants to be regarded, and the quotes reveal his uniquely MMA pathology of blood-curdling killer instinct and religious conviction.
“This is for the fans of the sport and the people that watch,” Romero said. “I think being the right hand of God is more of a valid description of me than the Boogey Man. Boogey Man is made to scare kids. I prefer to scare my opponents. “
“Greatness is what I am fighting for through God’s plan for me. I will be the very best champion I can be for the people. I will cleanse the division and bring greatness to it not just me.”
That’s a man who takes his “Soldier of God” moniker a little too seriously. Yet, he’s also this goofy guy:
He also had this to say about Bisping’s knee injury:
“I find it strange that he posts pictures of him preparing to squat on Instagram to get ready for a fight,” Romero told FloCombat through a translator. “It’s strange he told GSP to fight in July or he moves on. It’s strange he is only ready for GSP. “I think Bisping is in a worse position than ever before. Instead of knowing when his end is coming, he must sit and think about when it’s coming. He will age in this time fairly quickly as his own mind will begin to break.”
Strange, indeed.
Recently, he threw the first pitch at a Marlins game. Let’s just enjoy Yoel Romero for the anomaly he is. Personally, I can’t wait for his fight against Whittaker this summer.
.@ufc fighter @YoelRomeroMMA nailed it with tonight’s first pitch. #LetsPlay pic.twitter.com/i8lYkdhokS
— #VoteMarlins (@Marlins) June 2, 2017
Insomnia
The official UFC 213 poster.
Your OFFICIAL #UFC213 post is out?? pic.twitter.com/KTtwTGQPxr
— UFC (@ufc) June 2, 2017
Fan artwork of Frankie Edgar.
Just finished 18×24 on thick canvas of @FrankieEdgar Check video on my Instagram account #ufc #frankieedgar #art pic.twitter.com/ObXEHkKsoy
— Tony Nasa (@nasa280) June 2, 2017
A little circular sunglasses, a couple of biceps… and BOOM.
Insta Sarah Conor fight kit for Claudia Gadelha. #UFC212 pic.twitter.com/d2Jzumnjvd
— Dan Tom (@TheMMAnalyst) June 3, 2017
Happy birthday to two Brazilian legends. I didn’t know the Nogueira brothers were twins all this time.
Happy Birthday to @MinotouroMMA and @MinotauroMMA pic.twitter.com/oHNttEMxhZ
— UFC (@ufc) June 2, 2017
Slips, Rips, and KO Clips
Right as he was shaking his head no.
NO, NO? YES YES. #LFA13 pic.twitter.com/0PNEVEsWAv
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 3, 2017
Dominick Reyes KO’s Jordan Powell #2 #LFA13 pic.twitter.com/20rFlLDVVb
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 3, 2017
Did I forget to mention“Bigfoot” Silva got knocked out by Vitaly Minakov in Russia?
Vitaly Minakov finishes the 286 pound Bigfoot Silva in the 2nd #FNG68 pic.twitter.com/HHvDGVZLmc
— Tony Fagnano (@BigToneMMA) June 2, 2017
Sambo school by Minakov @BigfootSilva @Grabaka_Hitman @Jolassanda @FoxBrasilsports @ZidanSports @ZPGIFs @MMASun pic.twitter.com/unDj3ouu5j
— Igor Lazorin (@BraveIgor) June 2, 2017
That’s one way to defend a guillotine.
Georgi Lobzhanidze hizo la de Spider-Man para defender esa guillotina! pic.twitter.com/xenB8BgJHo
— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) June 2, 2017
Wow, this is… something.
#MMAThings pic.twitter.com/YQoZg4x8Vw
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 3, 2017
Cage Warriors has a new 135-lb champ, Nathaniel Wood. Wonder if he ever goes by Nathan or Nate.
WOW!!!
Your NEW Bantamweight Champ, Nathaniel Wood!! #CW84 pic.twitter.com/5WDTlogO8o
— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) June 2, 2017
“THE BIG SQUEEZE from Kenneth Bergh!” #CW84 #UFCFIGHTPASS pic.twitter.com/qzLFgp6YI7
— UFC Fight Pass (@UFCFightPass) June 2, 2017
Inman brutality pic.twitter.com/sXzRPJjz4B
— FightPicks inc (@MixedMartialBet) June 2, 2017
KRYLOV!
Nikita Krylov makes quick work of Stjepan Bekavac via submission! #FNG68 #UFCFIGHTPASS pic.twitter.com/Idv3to9k5y
— UFC Fight Pass (@UFCFightPass) June 2, 2017
Nikita Krylov, ladies and gentlemen.
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 2, 2017
Heel hook!
Steve O’Keeffe Heel Hook from out of NOWHERE #CW84 pic.twitter.com/9Ty6eMi6Nm
— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) June 2, 2017
Don’t forget to watch Marlon Moraes tomorrow night
Marlon Moraes makes his UFC debut this weekend. Whoomp There It Is! #UFC212 pic.twitter.com/rehTV4LoGI
— Bestrafer7 (@Bestrafer7) May 31, 2017
Good Reads
- Duane Finley of Flocombat gets personal on what the MMA community means to him in a hard time
- Mark Hunt’s lawsuit got past the UFC’s motion to dismiss, putting him on some good legal footing
- The Korean Zombie is hurt and his fight with Lamas is off UFC 214. Maybe now they can book him in the fight we all want, against Cub Swanson
Random Land
My friend and professional local Houston musician AJ Herrick jamming.
Stay woke, Maniacs!