Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Paulo Costa has just a single fight left on his UFC contract. He’s made his frustrations with his salary clear, as well as his intentions of moving on towards greener pastures following that final fight. Despite being just a single match away from freedom, Costa remains picky for his final match up.
Five rounds with Robert Whittaker, for example? Costa passed on that one.
Recently, top-ranked Middleweight contender Sean Strickland called out “Borrachinha,” and in the words of Strickland, “It makes f—king sense!” Indeed, that seems like a very reasonable and perhaps stylistically favorable match up for Costa, but the Brazilian doesn’t seem thrilled. He responded on Twitter, focusing more on Strickland’s dated wine joke than the actual prospect of fighting “Tarzan.”
“Strickland deep, deep, deep down in his heart is a nice guy,” Costa wrote on Monday. “I just think one of his many problems is because he’s been shot several times in the head, and now he’s kind of living on a permanent concussion, making jokes so old he couldn’t think of something updated.”
Instead, Costa has his own ideas. Rather than square off with a fellow Top 10 Middleweight, Costa reposted a fan made UFC 289 poster that pitted him against Nick Diaz, the 39-year-old Welterweight who technically hasn’t won a fight since 2011.
Give to people what people’s wants pic.twitter.com/Grt5by47uP
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) January 31, 2023
The former Strikeforce champion is clearly not at the height of his powers anymore, and he shouldn’t be in the cage with Costa. However, he’s been busy calling out Israel Adesanya, so in the unlikely event that the contract does come his way, don’t be surprised if the Stockton slugger puts pen to paper.
Insomnia
Max Holloway vs. Arnold Allen absolutely deserves a live audience.
Spoke to Arnold Allen last week.
He’s hoping for doctor clearance two weeks from now
If he gets the thumbs up the Holloway fight is on for April 15, fight night main event, 5 rounds.
Different source told me the plan is for that to NOT be at the APEX
Deserves a crowd
— Adam Catterall (@AdamCatterall) January 31, 2023
With how the Welterweight division is booking up, Colby Covington vs. Belal Muhammad makes a lot of sense! That’s especially true if Khamzat is indeed heading to Middleweight.
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) January 31, 2023
January really has been a dumpster fire month for MMA, and I’m grateful for its end.
ufc lost their heavyweight champion. then dana started slap fighting and now partnered with logan paul’s drink. Wtf has happened to this sport.
— Dovy (@DovySimuMMA) January 31, 2023
Ov vs. Ov combat!
Makhmud Muradov will fight Abusupiyan Magomedov at #UFCVegas71 on March 11th. (first rep. Muradov IG) #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN #UFCLasVegas #UFC2023 pic.twitter.com/dmkSUaNntQ
— Marcel Dorff (@BigMarcel24) January 31, 2023
Sean O’Malley, Merab Dvalishvili, and Aljamain Sterling all walk into the UFC PI for lunch … Could this be the start of a beautiful friendship?
We’re getting lunch together @SugaSeanMMA @funkmasterMMA #petryanhunters pic.twitter.com/3KXMztLnn2
— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) January 31, 2023
Slips, rips, and KO clips
I don’t know what to call this technique. It looks like a spinning hook kick with a jump added as an afterthought!
HOLY SHITTTT. Zelimkhan Khatuev just landed one of the craziest knockouts of the year at ACA YE 32
Flying spinning hook kick? What the hell was that? Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/rtdPE9OqV0
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) January 30, 2023
A thread FILLED with old school Fedor highlights!
5 September 2000
Rings: Battle Genesis Vol. 6
Fedor KOs Hiroya Takada in 12 seconds pic.twitter.com/BKLn9nogPb
— Ocelot MMA (@Ocelot_MMA) January 30, 2023
Diving face-first into one of the most powerful strikes in kickboxing — not good.
Spinning back kick KO by Nabi Nabiev at KFL 7 pic.twitter.com/qajlRZqigw
— Matysek (@Matysek88) January 31, 2023
Random Land
Building a cabin:
Timelapse of a DIY wooden cabin build. Video credit: restorationboby pic.twitter.com/X7pgp0wp3o
— H0W_THlNGS_W0RK (@HowThingsWork_) January 31, 2023
Midnight Music: Alternative, 1981
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.