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Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Gilbert Burns must really want his promised title shot.
The Welterweight contender is undefeated at 170 lbs., and his six-fight win streak includes victories over Demian Maia and Tyron Woodley. His run has been impressive enough that Dana White confirmed Burns as next in line for the shot, siding with the Brazilian over potentially more lucrative match ups like a Jorge Masvidal rematch.
However, title shots can change hands quickly. After his dominant win over Woodley just a few nights ago, Colby Covington has now surpassed him in the official UFC rankings as the No. 1 contender.
“Durinho” isn’t have it, as the Brazilian took to Twitter to argue himself the more deserving contender and demand a contract … while also throwing in a potshot at poor Woodley.
U gotta be kidding me! I beat Woodley when he was N1, than Colby came watches my fight do what I did n now he ranks higher than me? He just beat the number 5 and a guy coming from 2 loses n without a soul!
Who does this Rankings? @danawhite send me the contract ASAP #AndNew pic.twitter.com/TqrqrMvqD5— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) September 22, 2020
While I understand why Burns is upset and do think he rightly has earned his shot at UFC gold, there is an argument for Covington. Burns hasn’t been a Welterweight for that long, so his resume at 170 lbs. is largely based on the aforementioned victories over Woodley and Maia.
Covington now has those same wins, alongside victories over men like Robbie Lawler, Rafael dos Anjos, and Dong Hyun Kim.
Regardless, the Welterweight division is heating up in a big way, so hopefully fights start getting booked sooner rather than later. Almost all of the top names remain unbooked, and there’s lots of fun potential match ups to be made.
Shameless Self-Promotion
Fight week is here! I’m keeping the name list open until fight day, so for anyone reading who enjoys my writing and would like to support/enter the raffle, $5 or more puts your user/nick/real name on the banner. I have Venmo (AndyLRichardson), PayPal ([email protected]), and a GoFundMe.
HERE is the PPV stream link for anyone interested. As always. I will also do a write up on my experience ASAP after the bout.
Insomnia
I’m going to keep it real: the memes have not been kind to “T-Wood”
— The Strangle Squad (@_StrangleSquad) September 21, 2020
Is it time for Donald Cerrone to step away?
Most significant head strikes absorbed, UFC history:
1 Donald Cerrone (1,025)
2 Max Holloway (933)
3 Frankie Edgar (928)
4 Diego Sanchez (885)
5 Robbie Lawler (819)
6 Rafael Dos Anjos (815)
7 Edson Barboza (814)
8 BJ Penn (793)
9 Joe Lauzon (792)
10 Ross Pearson (789)#UFC253— MMA By The Numbers (@NumbersMMA) September 22, 2020
To misquote Edmon Tarverdyan, “HEAD MOOMEN!”
The Khamzat hype is wild right now, and I cannot even argue it after that one-punch KO.
This is great pic.twitter.com/ncNWBVS7YV
— Laura Sanko (@laura_sanko) September 21, 2020
I like this fight, but I also feel like Leon Edwards needs a title shot written into the contract should he win. “Rocky” deserves a title eliminator!
All due respect @Leon_edwardsmma , which I have a lot of for you, I have been saying I would like to fight you for a while now! It makes sense and would be a great match up.
I think that was my first Twitter call out ever. man that felt weird. #FirstTimeForEverything
— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) September 22, 2020
Slips, rips, and KO clips
If a punch lands once, might as well throw it a dozen more times!
Guanyu unloads with a rare flurry of overhand rights, smashing brazilian Victor Almeida in round two. pic.twitter.com/YffQZjgcvZ
— Beyond Kickboxing (@Beyond_Kick) September 20, 2020
Enjoy some excellent ring generalship, one of the most underrated elements of fighting. Almost every time I preview a fight on this site, there’s a line about one fighter needing to cut off the cage or the other remaining evasive … because that’s often what decides fights!
Change-of-Direction/Redirection pic.twitter.com/teLmpFguoa
— Aaron Jahn (@MuayThaiScholar) September 21, 2020
JUMPING SWITCH KICK!
Uncrowned K-1 LW (62.5 kg) champ Taio Asashia #k1wgp pic.twitter.com/xEiIOViYkw
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 22, 2020
Random Land
An awkward bathroom situation …
— mick mcnally (@brunoandkia) September 20, 2020
Midnight Music: Fleet Foxes released a new album titled Shore today, so obviously I listened to that! Their harmonies are as pretty as ever.
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.