Midnight Mania! ‘Stylebender’ Still Aims To Break Heavyweight ‘Bones’

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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

I cannot recall any recent updates to the Jon Jones and Israel Adesanya feud. At one point a few months ago, the two were trading online barbs every few days! I’m guessing Jones made a comment after Adesanya’s lackluster title defense against Yoel Romero, but lately, the two have been preoccupied with other issues.

The global pandemic, disrupting looters, Brazilian muscle-heads, ongoing negotiations with UFC brass … the two have a lot going on!

However, the news that Jones is likely heading to Heavyweight was enough to provoke a comment from “The Stylebender.” First and foremost, Adesanya was unimpressed by the move.

“Look how long it took him to move up to heavyweight,” Adesanya said during today’s UFC 253 media call (transcription via MMAJunkie). “Finally. He was expecting me to do it straight away, but I hadn’t defended my belt yet. I’ve defended my belt twice now, I’m going to defend it a few more times and then do what I set out to do. But, yeah, the pot calling the kettle black on his part. Go put some (expletive) muscle on your chopstick legs and go (expletive) fight Francis Ngannou and watch him break you. I hope he doesn’t, though. Maybe he does. Who knows?”

I don’t know that either Adesanya or Jones are really in a position to throw shade regarding skinny legs, but “Stylebender” did confirm his interest in facing Jones in the future. Adesanya has mentioned a potential move to 205 lbs. and Heavyweight eventually, and that remains the case, “One hundred percent. It doesn’t change my plans,” Adesanya said. “My plan is still going forward as planned. So, yeah, same thing.”

Before Adesanya can seek to climb the ranks in other divisions or settle his grudge match with “Bones,” he must first deal with Paulo Costa at UFC 253 on September 26, 2020.

Insomnia

Daniel Cormier and Volkan Oezdemir being bros:

A really slick piece of boxing! Love that Vargas returns with the lead uppercut rather than rear cross that most fighters would expect.

Jon Jones really loses the title in some manner outside of the Octagon every few years.

Saenchai’s humor is a perfect fit for TikTok.

Cat Zingano drains a cauliflower ear:

This is one hell of a statistical accomplishment. Shoutout Nik Lentz for over-achieving and being a consistently tough out for a decade now!

Slips, rips, and KO clips

An absolutely gorgeous combo — what’s Gokhan Saki up to nowadays?!?

Left hand STRAIGHT down the center!

Ryan Bader returns to Light Heavyweight on Friday, and that man is no joke!

Random Land

I do feel more relaxed!

Midnight Music: It doesn’t get much smoother!

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.