Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight …
Welcome to Midnight Mania! Tonight, we’ve got mixed martial arts (MMA) legend B.J. Penn giving it another try against Dennis Siver, T.J. Dillashaw sparring with Vasyl Lomachenko, Luke Rockhold saying he will move all the way to Heavyweight to fight Fabricio Werdum, sumo, knockouts, podcasts, and much more!
Insomnia
Baby Jay Penn is not done yet. The announcement came today via “UFC Tonight” that Penn would fight Siver at a UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City, Okla., on June 25, 2017. Also on the card, former Welterweight champion Johnny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks will take on “The Barbarian,” Tim Boetsch, in a Middleweight showdown and Felice Herrig will battle Justine Kish at Strawweight.
Despite losing his last four fights in a winless streak that extends back to 2011, Penn remains a notable name. He is, after all, one of this sport’s all-time greats. His most recent loss came at the punches and kicks of the surging Yair Rodriguez. His coach was adamant then that Penn should have faced an easier comeback fight. Siver represents a level of competition that he can potentially win against, a welcome change for Penn, after facing nothing but killers for the past decade. Siver hasn’t fought since 2015, a decision loss to Tatsui Kawajiri. If he loses, perhaps Penn will finally retire (yet again).
Bobs and Weaves
T.J. Dillashaw is sparring with pound-for-pound boxing great Vasyl Lomachenko? I want more than this short clip, please. That will get him ready for Cody Garbrandt if anything will.
Snapshot of @TJDillashaw and @VasylLomachenko sparring session. They just finished four, 4-minute rounds. Fun. pic.twitter.com/NFwsidApBV
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) March 23, 2017
Rehashing the fisticuffs pic.twitter.com/OxMxmExaJy
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) March 23, 2017
In case you haven’t seen Lomachenko work:
Speaking of Lomachenko:
Get Loma in an action movie pic.twitter.com/s3yVy5zyUE
— Rian Scalia (@rian5ca) March 22, 2017
@rian5ca @mookiealexander Should be using the Body Action System by Bas Rutten pic.twitter.com/qCvSX6yCb2
— Michael Davis (@MichaelDavisMMA) March 22, 2017
Check out Jose Aldo hitting the bag in preparation for his Featherweight title bout with Max Holloway at UFC 212 in Brazil.
Finalizando o treino, com treino de pegada!! #reebok #reebokbrasil #usinadecampeos #vitafor #vitafornutrientes #famousburger #sportblock pic.twitter.com/pNLWaJ8xrb
— Jose Aldo Junior (@josealdojunior) March 23, 2017
Sage Northcutt doing the most Texan pastime imaginable. Why does he still have a protein shaker in his other hand though?
Caught this small bass in the pond pic.twitter.com/f5kXB2UgUP
— Sage Northcutt (@sagenorthcutt) March 22, 2017
Joanna Jedrzejczyk is having her own fun in the sun!
I scream You scream We all scream for Ice Cream #ClubC #fun #chill #reebok #reebokpl… https://t.co/dS8OndcPTY pic.twitter.com/hWPaEPvbOJ
— Joanna Jedrzejczyk (@joannamma) March 22, 2017
I would watch this. This is the weirdest fight proposed in a long time that I would be completely into. Luke Rockhold and Fabricio Werdum have beef going quite a ways back.
Rockhold is pushing hard for a fight with Werdum. He’s willing to move up to HW. Asked UFC for it this week after FW’s #TheMMAHour comments.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 22, 2017
Slips, Rips and KO Clips
Bas Rutten in Pancrase was a force of nature:
Kevin Randleman was another force of nature. What an athlete.
Kevin Randleman could’ve been one of the all time best gaijin wrestlers pic.twitter.com/xugI6mZjSZ
— The Lucha Shooter (@IQWrestler) March 22, 2017
More sumo for your viewing pleasure.
Terunofuji is in the running for the yusho for the first time in a long while pic.twitter.com/qvrkJLc36p
— MEGATON (@BasedDongeezus) March 22, 2017
Kakuryu hands Takayasu his first loss of the basho pic.twitter.com/PVYRAljh3D
— MEGATON (@BasedDongeezus) March 22, 2017
Kisenosato survives the blitz from Yoshikaze, now in sole possession of the lead and still undefeated as a Yokozuna pic.twitter.com/iLoQ1jBeMB
— MEGATON (@BasedDongeezus) March 22, 2017
That’s one way to make an entrance!
— MEGATON (@BasedDongeezus) March 22, 2017
And this is another:
— MEGATON (@BasedDongeezus) March 22, 2017
These knockouts are visceral!
— MEGATON (@BasedDongeezus) March 22, 2017
— MEGATON (@BasedDongeezus) March 22, 2017
— MEGATON (@BasedDongeezus) March 22, 2017
— MEGATON (@BasedDongeezus) March 22, 2017
— MEGATON (@BasedDongeezus) March 22, 2017
OUTSIDER legend Keinosuke Yoshinaga pic.twitter.com/o011UoWPEG
— MEGATON (@BasedDongeezus) March 22, 2017
Quick HitsQuick
- This incredible story from Bloody Elbow about a taekwondo champion’s brother who happens to have been a suicide bomber, will suck you in immediately.
- Tito Ortiz still remembers manhandling Dana White on that airplane … but why didn’t he show up to box the UFC promoter?
- The UFC wants Holly Holm to fight who?
Podcasts and Video
Tommy Toehold’s Bushido Talk:
NEW #BushidoTalk! We discuss Conor’s NSAC hearing + Bellator on PPV w/ Mark Weir! https://t.co/0nncAkt8mS @NooberNaya @Pit_Master
— Tommy Toe Hold (@TommyToeHold) March 23, 2017
The MMA Ratings podcast
The Heavy Hands guys have a controversial take this week on Gunnar Nelson:
On Nelson…
Random Land
This is the highest adrenaline video I have seen in a very long time. It was filmed in 2011 in Brazil and it’s absolutely insane.
Stay woke, Maniacs!