Midnight Mania! Ilir Latifi Wants to be the Next Steve Irwin

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Ilir Latifi, he of elephant-riding fame, wants to launch a wildlife show where he does more of what he already does- explore nature …

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Ilir Latifi, he of elephant-riding fame, wants to launch a wildlife show where he does more of what he already does- explore nature and ride wild beasts. I’m 100% on board with this. From Nick Baldwin at BloodyElbow.com:

“I’ve always said one day, I’m gonna do a Steve Irwin kind of animal show,” Latifi told BloodyElbow.com. “100 percent, you’re gonna see that. That is gonna be on another level. You’re never gonna see the things that I’m gonna do.”

“I have plans about that,” he said. “I just want to find the right people and team to work with, great production team to do it. I would love to do it. A lot of people would love to see it, right? I’m gonna do a crazy show.”

“Probably we will start in Africa, do the big five: see all the lions, the buffalo, the rhinos — rhinos are my favorite — elephants,” Latifi said. “Then probably do the Amazon in Brazil, see that. And Australia. There’s a lot of cool places to see. Nature is amazing.”

Latifi explains that the famous photo of himself riding the horse bareback wasn’t something he did for social media. That’s just who he is.

“I’m very interested in everything with nature and animals and wildlife,” Latifi said. “I just love taking a ride on a horse on the beach.

“I never thought [there] would be such a hype about that photo. I think it’s just like it is a natural photo, and almost a little bit raw — like some kind of ancient time, I don’t know what. But it’s a cool photo, I can admit it.”

He also explained the following photo:

“I was at an elephant sanctuary that helps elephants that have been abused and stuff,” Latifi said. “They take care of them. I was there visiting and got the opportunity to meet some amazing animals. Elephants are very intelligent; they have a great memory.”

“Can you imagine seeing me riding a rhino?” Latifi asked. “It would be amazing.”

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I’m not ending tonight on fluffy cat and chick videos… because I’ve got something even better.

Stay woke, Maniacs! Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @Vorpality