Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Bo Nickal has no beef with Jon Jones.
The bluechip Middleweight prospect and elite collegiate wrestler shared the mats with “Bones” last year for just a couple minutes in the lead up to UFC 285. There was a mild bit of controversy afterwards, as some fans believed Jones gassed quickly into the wrestling exchange, but that didn’t end up affecting his first-round submission win over Ciryl Gane.
The better part of two years later, a quote from Nickal regarding the impromptu wrestling match has been circling social media. The single sentence reads, “I didn’t want to humiliate him [Jon Jones] in front of 50 people” and was widely mocked by fight fans.
It also doesn’t tell the whole story. Per Nickal, that sentence comes from an exaggerated, joking rant and wasn’t meant to be taken seriously. Though MMA Uncensored wasn’t the only page to run the quote, Nickal took them to task for the lack of context and “irresponsible journalism.”
I said this right after saying I’ll beat Steph in a 3 point contest, throw a football further than Josh Allen, hit a homer off Ohtani, and beat Cole Hocker in the 1500m.
Straight up irresponsible journalism by @MMAUNCENSORED1 next time get the full quote. https://t.co/TvqR5KX55r
— Bo Nickal (@NoBickal) December 29, 2024
“I said this right after saying I’ll beat Steph in a 3 point contest, throw a football further than Josh Allen, hit a homer off Ohtani, and beat Cole Hocker in the 1500m. Straight up irresponsible journalism by @MMAUNCENSORED1 next time get the full quote.”
Nickal is currently riding a four-fight UFC win streak. He didn’t exactly impress in his most recent victory versus Paul Craig back in November, but he remains undefeated moving into the new year.
Insomnia
Colby Covington makes the exact excuse everybody knew would come.
Colby Covington reacts to his loss at #UFCTampa, and says he was cut by a headbutt from Joaquin Buckley early in the fight
“I could’ve finished him in that 4th or 5th round… It’s unfortunate that the DEI doctor stopped the fight early.”
@ColbyCovMMApic.twitter.com/1gJXr54Tr2
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) December 31, 2024
I like Chris Curtis and enjoy his fights, but you don’t need spies to understand the Southpaw boxer’s approach to MMA. It’s the same every fight!
Chris Curtis’ update on XC Russian Spies
tl;dw – They weren’t spies https://t.co/8CRKs6CNOB pic.twitter.com/pqfKqmxvnt
— Alex Behunin (@AlexBehunin) December 31, 2024
Former Light Heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill is beefing with … Michael Johnson?!?
Gang u a bitch and you one of the biggest clowns and pussy’s on the roster. They keep u around to get slept by debut fighters!!! I’ve made more money than you and you been here 3x as long so I would expect you to know the money game! Find out what it is when I’m on that time frfr https://t.co/LTkGUOHRH3
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) December 31, 2024
I laughed, but I also remember Conor McGregor landing in hot water for a tweet like this back in the FOX days. Times have changed!
DDP vs. 400 Alexa Grasso’s
(via Shadow Banned/YT) pic.twitter.com/tG892S81Ek
— Full Violence ™ (@Full_Violence) December 31, 2024
I’m confident nobody reading this column has ever pirated a stream, but just in case, be wary of fakers …
We lost a legend this morning
RIP methstreams ? pic.twitter.com/KWoMaIAsl6
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) December 30, 2024
After an outstanding 2024, Youssef Zalal is getting a shot at breaking into the Featherweight rankings.
Calvin Kattar will fight Youssef Zalal at #UFCVegas102 on February 15th. (first rep. @moroccandevil45 on the JAXXON Podcast) #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN #UFC2025 pic.twitter.com/ShhDPGBuef
— Marcel Dorff (@BigMarcel24) December 31, 2024
In another era, Sean O’Malley would’ve been a massive star in Japan.
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) December 31, 2024
What’s Sean O’Malley doing in Japan
@SugaSeanMMA #UFC #MMApic.twitter.com/JPxx7yAii2
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) December 30, 2024
Slips, rips, and KO clips
A young Jorge Masvidal demonstrating himself the better fighter then losing a controversial decision — many such cases.
Paul “Semtex” Daley(24-9-2) vs Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal(20-5)
Shark Fights 13: Prangley vs Jardine
September 11th 2010 pic.twitter.com/JPIUZrHr9h
— Underrated Combat Sports Tribal Chief (@MMAUnderrated) December 31, 2024
How long until RIZIN wisely finds a Gracie to match up versus next generation Saku?
Taisei Sakuraba wins his MMA debut in 26 seconds!!
pic.twitter.com/4HvQSAz6jB— MMA Mania (@mmamania) December 31, 2024
A hard low kick shuts down a street fight. A wimpy one isn’t worth it …
That leg kick turned Unc’s clock back 30 years pic.twitter.com/3H8ISGegYF
— UPFRONT MMA (@upfrontmma) December 31, 2024
Random Land
A bird of prey wearing a seatbelt.
Midnight Music: R&B, 1971
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.