Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
UFC’s planned event on June 6 is just one month away, but there’s currently little information available on it. Earlier in the week, Ariel Helwani reported that the card was planned to be held in the UFC Apex Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, Helwani now wrote on ESPN that the location has yet to be finalized, as the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) is not open.
The veteran reporter also has information about a possible main event, “I reported Tuesday that the UFC is hoping the June 6 card will be able to take place at the Apex in Las Vegas, but it hasn’t been finalized yet because the Nevada State Athletic Commission isn’t up and running. Nevada opening up would be a gift from above for the UFC because it would be easier running all the events there, and I suspect whenever Nevada opens for business many events will take place.
“Amazingly, that card is a month away and we still don’t know what the main event will be. Will it be Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer, or something bigger? One fight that has been discussed for that card is Aljamain Sterling vs. Cory Sandhagen, which is a potential No. 1 contender fight at 135, but it hasn’t been signed yet.”
Sterling and Sandhagen are among the most deserving contenders at 135-pounds, but the pair have repeatedly been overlooked in favor of more recognizable names. Both are on stellar win streaks: Sterling has won four straight in dominant fashion (including names like Pedro Munhoz and Jimmie Rivera), while Sandhagen’s win streak comes to five with victories over Raphael Assuncao and John Lineker.
Pitting the two against one another in the main event would be a great way to help the victor grow their name publicly, as well as really determine the order of the Bantamweight ranks.
Insomnia
Francis Ngannou finishing off a cardio session on fight week. Fight week is definitely a different dynamic without a weight cut, most fighters are so drained by this point that even hitting mitts becomes arduous after a few minutes.
Last MMA cardio session. Last week of fight camp. #ufc249 #UNCROWNEDCHAMP
https://t.co/zNSDZ6fAM5 pic.twitter.com/sGJ64SAO3E
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) May 6, 2020
Fast hands and a talented mitt holder!
Hands should not be able to move this fast @ESPNRingside
(via @KingRyanG) pic.twitter.com/pOuoqc1dl7
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 6, 2020
The biggest boxing match in history may be underway in September of 2021.
Anderson Silva recently underwent a stem cell injection, and it seems like “The Spider” is looking to make another return.
Anderson Silva, 45, underwent a Regenerative Stem Cell Procedure on his right knee today. This had been planned with his medical team for a while, and according to his team, he was looking for a good time to take 2 weeks off his training regimen to undergo the Stem Cell procedure pic.twitter.com/RwoyRo2mRT
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 6, 2020
Will Henry Cejudo be able to track Dominick Cruz down?
Slips, rips, and KO clips
UFC 249’s main card is definitely very strong, but it’s really the depth of the prelims that make it a special event. Fabricio Werdum, Anthony Pettis, Donald Cerrone, Vicente Luque and “Jacare” on the prelims? Sheesh.
Jacare armbars Dennis Hallman pic.twitter.com/UOAbhdcK5n
— MEGATON (trashykksliderfan) (@BasedDongeezus) May 6, 2020
Also while on the subject of UFC 249 depth, this is really neat and doesn’t even really appreciate guys like Aleksei Oleinik, who have a crazy amount of fights elsewhere.
Experience will be the name of the game at UFC 249.
The card’s fighters have 277 UFC fights between them entering May 9, which will set the record for any fight card in UFC history. pic.twitter.com/7HlQwMBL4V
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 6, 2020
It’s always fun watching Canelo load up on that left hand:
What a fight Canelo vs. Mosley was pic.twitter.com/J9pgrd2jC1
— DAZN USA (@DAZN_USA) May 6, 2020
Eddie Alvarez puts “The Dentist” to sleep:
10 years ago today, Eddie Alvarez chokes out Josh Neer at Bellator 17
Also on the undercard: virtual unknown Pat Curran upsets Bellator marquee signing Roger Huerta via unanimous decision, advancing to the S2 LW tourney final. pic.twitter.com/pFtQok0l3e
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) May 6, 2020
Random Land
If you’ve ever watched one of my technique highlight videos and heard an absolutely monstrous crash in the background, it’s because our gym has this badass older woman who works out with the giant piece of equipment below.
Midnight Music: Florian Schneider, one of the two founding members of legendary German electronic band, Kraftwerk, died today, so tonight’s pick is clear. Kraftwerk and their synthesizers influenced just about everyone who came after them, really changing the shape of pop music.
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.