Photo by Todd Lussier/Zuffa LLC
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Welcome to Midnight Mania!
For a long time, fans cracked jokes about Colby Covington’s inability to generate heat. He would win a fight, say something controversial, and no one would really react in any significant way. Covington did things like spoil popular movie franchises on Twitter, which was annoying, but … no one really cared.
Times have changed. Covington has fully embraced the politics game, which is netting him presidential meetings and phone calls and a great deal more attention. He’s feuding with the current champion yet again — precisely what “Chaos” wants.
Not everyone is a fan. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) interim Lightweight strap-hanger, Justin Gaethje, spoke at today’s virtual media event about just how much he detests Covington.
“I probably despise [Colby Covington] more than anybody on planet Earth, other than like child pedophiles and murderers and things like that. He is a coward. He’s a fake person.” – Justin Gaethje
Watch full video: https://t.co/mkXA2bLnp5 pic.twitter.com/J5jguJgiRw
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) October 1, 2020
“The day I met him, I was singing his praises because of how professional he was and how he held himself,” Gaethje told reporters (transcription via TheScore). “But then he went on to do a bunch of interviews.
“I probably despise that man more than anybody on planet Earth, other than child pedophiles and murderers and things like that. He is a coward, he is a fake person. He stands there and acts like this soft-hearted dude, and then he gets behind a camera and is a total coward and a fake person. I’ve never met someone as fake as Colby Covington.
“As a man, I would love to slap him right across the face,” Gaethje said.
Both men are currently a bit preoccupied. Gaethje is preparing to challenge Khabib Nurmagomedov for the Lightweight crown on October 24 at UFC 254, while Covington is chasing a showdown with Jorge Masvidal.
However, that doesn’t mean there is no hope for a future showdown. The two are only separated by a single weight class, and Covington is known as a smaller Welterweight. Depending on how things shake out down the line, a grudge match is possible if this feud continues to develop.
Until then, maybe no more rallies together?
Shameless Self-Promotion
My full fight recap article (loaded with pics and some videos!) is up and can be read right HERE! The winner of the banner raffle out of over 80 people was THORAZINE … who passed it on to Taiter … who decided to donate it to the family of TomSelleck23, the community member who passed away in August whose name is on the banner.
I’m still waiting on the final design (delays!), which I’ll include on here when I have it. Other than the banner update (SOON!), this should be the last update until my next fight, so … THANKS AGAIN for the support!
My favorite sequence from my fight: butterfly elevation -> brief x-guard -> knee reap -> body lock -> standing back take -> sit and body triangle #BJJ #MMA #Flyweight #UFC pic.twitter.com/6HaJgpMxAO
— Andrew Richardson (@AndyLRichardson) October 1, 2020
Insomnia
After a long career filled with violent left hooks, Paul Daley has announced that his next fight will be his last.
The first one made me laugh, and this one did too!
Some UFC fighters when they were young. Pt2 pic.twitter.com/WSQteCXBk6
— Dovy (@DovySimuMMA) September 30, 2020
I understand Alistair Overeem won most of the fight and believe it could have kept going, but still, respect to “Demolition Man” for requesting a rematch with the guy who destroyed his face (PICTURES) less than a year ago.
Let’s run it back @ufc pic.twitter.com/4dHaINIb0Z
— Alistair Overeem (@Alistairovereem) October 1, 2020
Shoutout Jan Blachowicz for the best career renaissance since Robbie Lawler and Mark Hunt!
I find this genuinely inspiring pic.twitter.com/FgcBtkenaW
— Matai Stephenson (@MataiStephenson) September 30, 2020
Y’all leave Jon Anik alone, it’s not his fault he has to pepper random adverts in the action at all times. That’s the job!
brewed for those with a frightened spirit pic.twitter.com/MpyiA2bJIh
— Hektic_One (@hektic_one) October 1, 2020
Israel Adesanya is living up to his promise of trolling Jon Jones from quarantine, and “Bones” is firing right back!
1. Dye my hair pink
2. Grow a pair of breasts
3. Convince the world Jon Jones is jealous even though he’s undefeated, incredibly successful and the youngest champion in the sports history.
4. Mentioned Jon Jones in all interviews but avoid fighting him at all costs— BONY (@JonnyBones) September 30, 2020
Slips, rips, and KO clips
This clip really impressed me! Kasumov jumped on the arm triangle with great quickness, and when he was too high up on the choke, he readjusted smartly to put his foe to sleep. Excellent technique!
Kasum Kasumov (now 13-1) chokes Dimitar Kostov to sleep via first round arm-triangle. Kostov spun out and Kasumov was waiting. #BraveCF43 pic.twitter.com/DZCBOscCB8
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 1, 2020
Speaking of impressive, Khamzat Chimaev was looking deadly even in his amateur debut.
Rewatching Khamzat Chimaev’s first amateur MMA fight and totally forgot about the makeshift playpen full of children cage-side who ended up getting a front row seat for this finish (*note the youngest girl cheering): pic.twitter.com/2XT9d0IWul
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) October 1, 2020
This has to be a worst-case scenario for a fighter. There’s no reason Anthony Johnson should have been at Welterweight, but he made it this time, and Charles Brenneman had to try to fight him … rough.
Rumble Johnson destroyed Charlie Brenneman with a head kick, nine years ago today#UFC
pic.twitter.com/qrjbw7XetQ— Jon Realejo (@BloodyCanvasJon) October 1, 2020
Random Land
Is this hilarious to anyone else?
Subway sandwiches contain ‘too much sugar’ to legally be considered bread , Supreme Court ruleshttps://t.co/M9rwWMDT8s
— TheJournal.ie (@thejournal_ie) September 30, 2020
Midnight Music: Jazz night with a Blue Note classic, Eric Dolphy’s Out To Lunch!
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.