Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Mike Perry may be the face of bare knuckle boxing, but that doesn’t mean “Platinum” is afraid to lace up the gloves. One way or another, Perry’s next move isn’t fully confirmed due to his status as Dillon Danis’ back up versus Logan Paul. Danis is currently in a will-they, won’t-they relationship with competition as a whole, so it’s distinctly possible that Danis pulls out officially any day now and is replaced by Perry.
He’s hinted as much this week.
If by some divine miracle Danis does make it to the ring, Perry has stumbled into another option: former Pro Bowl NFL running back Le’Veon Bell. The longtime Pittsburgh Steeler’s NFL career officially fizzled out in 2022, but he’s rebounded inside the boxing ring. He knocked out fellow football star Adrian Peterson in an exhibition bout last year (watch it), and he’s 1-1 as a pro overall after losing his debut to ex-UFC Middleweight Uriah Hall.
Apparently, Bell wants a piece of Paul as well, and he’s not happy that Perry scored the backup slot. He questioned Perry’s comparative star power, and accused “scared” Logan Paul of avoiding a fight with him.
Mike Perry the back up opponent when/if Dillon Danis pulls out? lol that just lets you know, Logan not tryna fight for real .. but look, i’m done callin out these dudes, they’re obviously scared and I’m not tryna be a bully .. so ima just leave em alone pic.twitter.com/XQLL1x8QSQ
— Le’Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) September 26, 2023
It didn’t take Perry long to respond. “Platinum” has grown into a genuine star in the combat sports community, even if he’s not as well known in the general public as Bell. Perry then advised him to “Save yourself the embarrassment,” but offered, “You and I can square up tho, lmk.”
Surprisingly, Bell seems to be down. He wrote back to Perry, “I been SEARCHING for a dance partner.”
I been SEARCHING for a dance partner https://t.co/wvJBMAYLHj
— Le’Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) September 27, 2023
It’s an odd match up, but one that could prove lucrative for both men. Perry is far more experienced and proven in the ring, but he would be facing a significant size disadvantage, and Bell can certainly crack. Maybe it ends up on the undercard of Paul vs. Danis if that fight makes it to the ring?
Insomnia
How is everyone feeling about Francis Ngannou’s chances at achieving the impossible?
bro looks kinda shit ngl pic.twitter.com/Dam2E7eTUF
— Dovy (@DovySimuMMA) September 27, 2023
A rare UFC signing from outside of Contenders Series.
Top Chinese prospect Dong Huaxiang (11-2) has signed with the UFC, per source.
The Guangxi province native is hoping to fight on December 9th and will compete in the strawweight division. #UFCNews #MMANews #UFC pic.twitter.com/oRP8JavcWF— Chris Presnell (@mmaecosystem) September 27, 2023
Remember the bottle cap challenge? We need more cool martial arts challenges, that was a fun couple weeks.
Alex Pereira casually doing the bottle cap challenge while holding 5 Glory Kickboxing belts pic.twitter.com/NitIRbB1vE
— Liam?? (@LiamHealy16) September 27, 2023
Credit to Tom Aspinall, he always seems to be training with really good people across disciplines and around Europe.
Tom Aspinall in the Netherlands training with Glory Kickboxing Heavyweight Champion Rico Verhoeven and newly signed DWCS winner Oki Bolaji pic.twitter.com/ggQe1afzp1
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) September 27, 2023
Lightweight banger alert!
Nazim Sadykhov will fight Viacheslav Borshchev at #UFC295 on November 11th. (per @naz_mma) #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN #UFC2023 #UFCNY pic.twitter.com/oBNAfoOSZn
— Marcel Dorff (@BigMarcel24) September 25, 2023
A totally real and very encouraging look into Paulo Costa’s weight cut:
weight loss is going very well, don’t worry pic.twitter.com/ivVkKrPnob
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) September 27, 2023
Can we expect to see more bibles in the cage?
Dana White on Bryce Mitchell bringing his bible into the cage pic.twitter.com/0Rfd5ENx5v
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) September 27, 2023
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Ezekiel chokes are on the rise! Cool to see a non-Heavyweight finish one.
Ezekiel choke from the bottom by Ali Galimov at UFL7 pic.twitter.com/BMycZapTNc
— Matysek (@Matysek88) September 23, 2023
An expert at his craft:
Lamnamoonlek offense off of catching kicks pic.twitter.com/x0rW36IQ8G
— Benjamin (@AJKFenjoyer) September 26, 2023
It’s always cool when future UFC fighters cross paths on the regional scenes, let alone when one turns out to be an all-timer delivering a nasty KO.
Throwback to Alex Volkanovski KO’ing Jamie Mullarkey pic.twitter.com/XHGe27xKy9
— (@sinoUFC) September 27, 2023
Random Land
The first guy is an absolute hero.
Midnight Music: Folk rock, 1969
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.