Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Pound-for-pound rankings are one of the easiest sources of debate in MMA, largely because there’s no established criteria. Is it a ranking of dominance against contenders? How much does multi-division success matter? Or is it all about skill, and which man would be the best if everyone was somehow the same size?
Regardless of which of the above criteria you identify most with, Khabib Nurmagomedov has a pretty strong argument for the No. 1 spot. Undefeated after 28 professional fights and with two defenses of his UFC Lightweight title, Nurmagomedov’s resume stands up well against just about anyone. However, when asked who he believes deserves that acclaim, Nurmagomedov did not point back to his own accomplishments as one might expect.
Q: “Who do you think is the best Pound for Pound fighter in UFC?”
Khabib: “Jon Jones.” pic.twitter.com/ZQfoC0nS9a
— ?? (@MMARusContext) December 24, 2019
Jon Jones regained his position atop the UFC pound-for-pound rankings recently. Nurmagomedov is ranked one spot below him, and it seems “The Eagle” understands why. Controversies aside, Jones’ accomplishments over the last ten years are hugely impressive, and he doesn’t seem likely to lose any time soon.
Insomnia
Merry Christmas!
Peace out Pat. Dude was always tough as nails!
Someone has to suffer for Weili Zhang to hit so hard!
Hard to argue with these choices, but can anyone else make the list?
Congrats to Rafael dos Anjos and his family on their citizenship!
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Someday in the future, MMA fighters will counter with body shots like this.
Nasty body shot from Tavares drops Susperrgui pic.twitter.com/t9skkTzwA5
— Decaf Metcalf ? (@FTBeard11) December 21, 2019
Once more, the success of a guillotine is often decided by how long the fighter in the hold takes to start fighting hands.
Nice choke by Aleksandr Podlesniy #PROFC66 pic.twitter.com/ogls2VDl2d
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) December 22, 2019
Ref cam!
Vicious KO at Split Fight! Unfortunate camera switch tho. #MMA #Fights #Kickboxing #Fighting #Ko #knockout pic.twitter.com/pw55zyoguC
— wildmatt (@wildmatt) December 22, 2019
Random Land
A Winter Wonderland or two seems appropriate right about now.
Midnight Music: If you’re ever working on a project and don’t like the outcome, remember that one of the greatest musical minds in American history wrote this disaster of a Christmas song.
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.