Midnight Mania! Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix brackets set, with Rampage-Sonnen kicking it off | UFC Betting Sites

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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

The opening round of the Bellator MMA World Grand Prix, their 8-man heavyweight tournament, has been finalized, and the first bout is a fun one. Erstwhile light heavyweight Quinton “Rampage” Jackson faces off against former middleweight Chael Sonnen at Bellator 192 on January 20. That quarter-final bout will shortly be followed by Roy Nelson vs. Matt Mitrione on February 16th, Frank Mir vs. Fedor Emelianenko in April, and Ryan Bader vs. Muhammad Lawal in May. These brackets were reported tonight by ESPN.com.

The winner of Jackson-Sonnen will take on the winner of Fedor-Mir, while the winner of Lawal-Bader will face the winner of Nelson-Mitrione.

There are no shortage of people who want in on this throwback tournament, as Scott Coker, Bellator’s president, detailed.

“We’ve had a lot of interest from fighters all over the world who want to be a part of the Grand Prix,” Coker said. “Everybody from Rory MacDonald to Linton Vassell. But I think when it comes down to it, the potential alternates that we’d seriously look at will be Bobby Lashley, Cheick Kongo, Javy Ayala, Justin Wren, Sergei Kharitonov and Shane Carwin. Carwin reached out to us, so we’re talking to him now to see if we can make something happen.”

Bellator’s heavyweight title is currently vacant; the two finalists of this tournament will fight for the honor of wrapping that belt around their waist. Do you like these matchups? Who do you think wins it all?

Insomnia

The Tony Ferguson-Khabib Nurmagomedov drama, which has yet to give us a single fight after at least 3 bookings, took another turn today. Nurmy said he was offered the fight with Tony, but Ferguson has made it clear he wants McGregor next.

To be clear I was offered to fight @TonyFergusonXT on December 30th and I accepted the fight but my focus is barboza. @danawhite @ufc

— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) November 22, 2017

To be fair, it would be stupid for him to take a lesser money fight while that possibility exists. He’s also been burned by Khabib before and then denied his purse on fight week

@TheNotoriousMMA Wannabe K.O.T.Jungle Looks Like A Pussy To Me Keep Hiding Behind The Brass Like A Gimp, Bitch. Papi Is Coming For U EC

— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) November 22, 2017

Cormier came out in support of Khabib’s claim:

So I walk into the gym today and @khabib_nurmagomedov walks up and says the @Ufc is wanting to make me vs @tonyfergusonxt for dec 30. They wanna make the card bigger for end of the year. Then he tells me that tony is saying no to the fight. Come on Tony, that ain’t gangsta bruh. Take the fight man!!!! And by the way Ufc says tony won’t ever fight Conor so that’s not an option. The fans really want it. Come on My friend, hit him with that low single u always talk about. #khabibchamp #weareaka

A post shared by Daniel “DC” Cormier (@dc_mma) on Nov 22, 2017 at 2:12pm PST

Ferguson didn’t respond directly, but instead retweeted this reply from Ariel Helwani:

I expect DC to campaign for his guy but also expect more from him. Ferguson fought 6 wks ago, Barboza signed to fight Khabib at 219, UFC still wants to beef up 219 & now Ferguson is being pressured because McGregor isn’t avail for 219. No need for public pressure. Unbecoming, DC. https://t.co/S10GFb9WRN

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) November 23, 2017

Cormier responded to that with his own crying GIF, which is… amazing.

Fighting with you about this is making me sad. This is one where we will have to just disagree man. #khabibchamp #khabibtime pic.twitter.com/svpHEdG33T

— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) November 23, 2017

Poirier wants in on the action too:

I’m ready and willing! https://t.co/8U0PGpcpGc

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) November 22, 2017

That’s some nice artwork for a fight coach’s wall right there.

I finally got around to framing my original photo of Jack Dempsey sparring from 1927. This will be a nice addition to my office.

A post shared by Brandon Gibson (@sixgungibson) on Nov 22, 2017 at 2:40pm PST

This seems like a potentially bad idea, but her shins also must not have any nerve endings left.

I dont kick tree’s, I kick concrete pillars pic.twitter.com/nnSDrmZmfs

— Zombie Prophet (@ZPGIFs) November 22, 2017

Meisha Tate is keeping the hustle going post-MMA

It’s official… My first ever online workout program is LIVE and open for registration! >> #linkinbio @mieshatate << Let me introduce you to the Be Your Own Champion 30 Day Challenge! It’s going to get you lean, strong and fighter fit without wasting time in the gym. AND… it’s a Black Friday special, so we’re even offering it with an unbelievable 76% off the normal price! You don’t want to miss out on this – click the link in my bio to secure your spot now! @mieshatate #linkinbio #blackfriday #fitness #beyourownchampion #30daychallenge

A post shared by Miesha Tate (@mieshatate) on Nov 22, 2017 at 11:44am PST

A rare feeling:

l Sorry… was that supposed to be hard #BJJ #BecauseJitsu #BJJproblems

A post shared by Because jitsu (@because_jitsu) on Nov 19, 2017 at 8:42am PST

A) I’m really, REALLY looking forward to Justin Scoggins-Tim Elliot, and B) this is true

regular and super saiyan version pic.twitter.com/0I3JDaHYvN

— Leg Kickin Tacos (@LegKickTKO) November 22, 2017

That is crazy: Muay Thai veteran John Wayne Parr got a depiction of his face with (nearly) all his stitches visualized at once. That’s a lot of head trauma.

What @joerogan was speaking about on his podcast on the weekend. There is a famous photo of a ice hockey goalie named Terry Sawchuk. He played in a time before helmets were implemented into the game. He received more than 400 stitches in his face so an artist made up his face to show what he would look like if he had all the stitches at once. Using that as inspiration I asked my friend if he could do the same with myself to show the face of a Muay Thai fighter. This shows majority of my cuts but there are even more still in my hairline you can’t see. Stitch count is currently at 330 and still counting. So, you want to be a fighter .

A post shared by John Wayne Parr (@johnwayneparr) on Nov 19, 2017 at 2:44pm PST

MMA’s resident kook:

@eddiebravo10 #eddiebravo #10thplanet #10pjj #ufc #mma #bjj #rocketman

A post shared by Grappling Science (@grappling_science) on Nov 21, 2017 at 5:09pm PST

Even Joe Rogan gets it:

Bring friends. Make sure to take pics. #woke #Repost @bryce_smith ??? @eddiebravo10 @joerogan @brendanschaub @renato_laranja

A post shared by Joe Rogan (@joerogan) on Nov 21, 2017 at 10:29pm PST

I’m guessing the cross is supposed to be warped? That’s an artistic choice, right?

Concentration pic.twitter.com/FUiiqeXIbt

— Sage Northcutt (@sagenorthcutt) November 22, 2017

Jon Jones with the symbolism! Also, the replies to this are mostly just people referencing Jones snorting cocaine.

G = God
> = Is Greater
Than the
^ = Highs
v = Lows

— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) November 23, 2017

Slips, Rips, and KO Clips

He’s dead

Koya Urabe #K1_WGP pic.twitter.com/nDmXaRIXoV

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 22, 2017

Right on the end of his punches.

2013/9/21 Krush.33
-63kg?????
????? vs “??”?? ??pic.twitter.com/o6pPFtPrwj

— ??K-1bot?11.23 K-1? (@New_K1_bot) November 13, 2017

Ren Hiramoto (vs. Gonnapar Weerasakreck) #K1_WGP #k1???? pic.twitter.com/w2f16q5hnK

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 22, 2017

For some reason the physics of this knockout just grabbed my attention.

Guan Wang knocked Jerson Estoro out w/ a big RUC R1 at RUFF 12 (2014) #UFCShanghai pic.twitter.com/9qTTrz31MW

— Honky Extraordinaire (@Mr_Honky) November 22, 2017

I’m not sure how you can get knocked out cold and be in such denial about it, but here you go:

Today is the 15th anniversary of the most MMA moment ever.

In just 89 seconds Robbie Lawler knocked out Tiki Ghosn, who then proceeded to call Lawler overrated and give what is still the single worst post-fight excuse in MMA history.

Enjoy: pic.twitter.com/nETZe6CjQc

— Fury’s Fight Picks (Luca Fury) (@FurysFightPicks) November 22, 2017

Wheelchair fighting? I can dig it

2 wheelchair bound warriors go to war

Nothing but respect #Boxing #Boxeo pic.twitter.com/45GRtqO4nO

— EditinKing Boxing (@EditinKing) November 22, 2017

Podcasts and Video

The MMA Outsiders Episode 8, with Nic Davenport. We discuss fight psychology, mental conditioning, why it is so difficult for fighters to retire, and a whole lot more. Nic does fight preparation for MMA fighters at American Top Team, including Dustin Poirier, Marc Diakese, and Santiago Ponzinibbio. That moment Dustin got poked in the eye by Anthony Pettis? They trained for that specifically.

Check us out on SoundCloud as well as iTunes and Stitcher on the official MMA Mania channel!

UFC Shanghai breakdown with Flyin Brian J:

Follow MMA Mania on Youtube

Heavy Hands

Fights Gone By with Jack Slack:

The Promotional Malpractice Live Chat:

Random Land

Is this real?

A post shared by Derrick Lewis (@thebeastufc) on Nov 21, 2017 at 3:31pm PST

I know this is. Whoever runs the Denny’s account just wilds out every day:

it’s nice to wear a hat because if you’re suddenly in need of a bowl, buddy, you’re in luck

— Denny’s (@DennysDiner) November 19, 2017

it’s okay to cry over spilled milk holding in your emotions only creates more pain

— Denny’s (@DennysDiner) November 12, 2017

Stay woke, Maniacs! Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @Vorpality… and enjoy your Thanksgiving!