Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Manny Pacquiao is a pretty universally respected figure. Fighting from the depths of poverty to superstardom and lots of championship wins, Pacquiao has represented himself admirably for many years inside the ring. Hell, he might end up president in the Philippines someday!
However, Pacquiao isn’t exactly accepting his recent defeat to Yordenis Ugas with grace. Speaking with The Athletic, Pacquiao described Ugas as “one of the easiest opponents” of his career, blaming the loss on his legs failing him.
Manny Pacquiao: “In my entire career, Ugas was one of the easiest opponents. He only had one style, and I should’ve been able to easily move away… You’ve seen how I have moved in my fights before. I couldn’t move in this fight. My legs just – stopped.” [@TheAthleticBOX]
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) August 25, 2021
Always one to offer his two cents, former UFC champion Michael Bisping took to Twitter to take the boxing legend to task for his comment. “The Count” argues that accepting the defeat is the only way to move forward, as well as the manly path.
How about when fighters lose they man up, say fair play, the Better man won. Seems these days some are man enough to fight but not man enough to accept the result. Accept, assess, improve, do better. Denial is never the path forward. https://t.co/J1wa4hnk1X
— michael (@bisping) August 25, 2021
“How about when fighters lose they man up, say fair play, the Better man won,” Bisping tweeted. “Seems these days some are man enough to fight but not man enough to accept the result. Accept, assess, improve, do better. Denial is never the path forward.”
If this is the end of Pacquiao’s professional boxing career, the 42 year old leaves the ring with a professional record of 62-8-2, and there are a dozen golden titles hanging in his closet. Bisping, meanwhile, retired in November 2017 and is currently a member of the UFC commentary team.
The Return Of Shameless Self-Promotion
Hey y’all, I’ve once again got a fight booked. This time, we’re heading back to Florida to compete for CFFC, one of the best regional shows in the country.
As with all my pro fights, I raise funds to cover camp costs/actually make a profit via the fight banner. $5 or more gets your name/screen name/nickname on the fight banner, and it enters you into a raffle to win the banner itself. Payment options include venmo: AndyLRichardson (1572), PayPal, or the latest GoFundMe page. Complete details are HERE!
And, for those that don’t care for my fight career and its associated e-begging, all the coming Midnight Manias will have the same amount of content as usual. Simply skip this section each night and it’s like nothing happened!
Insomnia
MULLET FIGHT!
BREAKING
Featherweight fight between Chas Skelly and TUF 27 winner Mike Trizano is set to take place on October 9th. #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN
Article (in Dutch):https://t.co/k1SmvkRzPr pic.twitter.com/keNjzNQZAw
— MMA DNA (@MMADNANL) August 25, 2021
I would like to confirm that this drill is absolutely miserable. Typically, it’s done in a group of three, rotating the person shooting takedowns every 60 seconds or so for a few rotations. I cannot imagine doing it for 25 minutes!
Volkanovski putting that work in . This looks like hell lol #UFC266 @alexvolkanovski pic.twitter.com/4kbMsZ0Adh
— Jason Williams (@jasoneg33) August 24, 2021
Being able to laugh at yourself is essential in the fight game, where bad things will happen eventually.
??? pic.twitter.com/iSbZiSOJI9
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) August 25, 2021
I’m not a zoomer, but TikTok and its young creators provide objectively the best social media content.
This mf don’t miss pic.twitter.com/uGcyZXK31q
— Andrew Wiltse’s knee slice (@WiltseKneeSlice) August 25, 2021
Jake Paul is living up to his promise that their boxing match will the biggest of Tyron Woodley’s career.
Interest in Tyron Woodley has NEVER been as high as it is for his @JakePaul fight. These Google Trends date back to his UFC debut in 2013. The next highest peak was for his Darren Till fight in Sept. 2018, which the Paul fight has more than doubled #PaulWoodley pic.twitter.com/xZazECpD5y
— Shakiel Mahjouri (@Shak_Fu) August 25, 2021
Billy Quarantillo vs. Andre Fili sounds like a kickass Featherweight scrap.
What do y’all think of this fight?? pic.twitter.com/LGEe4vxF47
— Billy Q (@BillyQMMA) August 24, 2021
All the best to longtime MMA vet (those who haven’t seen his pair of battles vs. Justin Gaethje are missing out) and Bare Knuckle champ Luis Palomino, who is struggling with a nasty bout of COVID-19.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Tired and rocked along the fence is just a bad place to be.
Alan Villalba #LeonFighter pic.twitter.com/nI3KNJhlsp
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) August 22, 2021
Left hook to the temple!
Zurdazo de Maxim Zezyulin! El arbitro se mato yendo a separar. Estan al aire libre con bastante lluvia y siguen con el evento como si nada #ArmyMMA3 pic.twitter.com/oQZKrddLg2
— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) August 24, 2021
There’s really some masterful technique on display here.
Random Land
A cool perspective on crop harvesting:
Midnight Music: Okay, final album that came out last Friday! The great Sturgill Simpson returned with yet another album, The Ballad of Dood and Juanita. A blue grassy concept album about the Kentucky frontier, the record features Willie Nelson!
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.