Midnight Mania! BJ Penn’s brother arrested after airplane brawl, Thailand allowing prisoners to fight for freedom

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Welcome to Midnight Mania! Today we have BJ Penn’s little brother, Reagan Penn, kicked off an airplane and arrested after an altercation involving alcohol, Thailand prison allowing prisoners to fight for their freedom (not making that up), and more.

According to this article by TMZ, Reagan Penn, BJ Penn’s younger brother and himself a mixed martial artist, was on board a Delta aircraft in Los Angeles to fly to Phoenix to see his brother compete. However, he got into it with airplane staff following a request for more alcohol before takeoff. Thing escalated and police were called. Allegedly, Penn yelled that he wouldn’t get off the plane without a fight. Two officers took him down and arrested him. He was later released.

Reagan Penn was heard to say that BJ would “kick his ass” if he didn’t make it to Phoenix. It is unknown whether he eventually managed to make it there. Hopefully this distraction does not take away from his brother’s performance this weekend. BJ has been in the news lately railing against fighters wanting “money fights”. He is apparently ready to return this weekend- finally, after a series of unfortunate events have kept him out of several scheduled Octagon appearances.

BJ has had his own run-ins with the law recently. In 2015, he was arrested following a parking lot brawl with his buddy, Kuuipo Mokiao, after a night of drinking. His friend suffered a broken orbital, while Penn suffered a cut on his face. More recently, he was accused of sexual assault by a former employee, but the charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence.

Will Penn see a return to vintage form this weekend?

For updates regarding UFC Fight Night 103 in Phoenix, Arizona, click here.

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Bobs and Weaves

In Thailand, prisons have begun a program whereby inmates can regain their freedom by fighting in the Muay Thai ring. Sound crazy? It is, but Thailand has a problem with overcrowding, and this program is meant to help with that.

Showtime is doing a documentary on the program and one of the prisoners in it, called Prison Fighters: Five Rounds to Freedom. This is the trailer:

That looks like must-see TV.

While we wait- more Sumo throws!

The Karate Hottie, Michelle Waterson, is trying a new workout tool:

Jon Jones does love his guns… good to see him doing a hobby that doesn’t require Cialis… or driving a vehicle.

Dana White has hobbies too, including his newest, one, owning bulls.

Ever wonder how to keep track of all the combat sports happening in any given weekend? Grabaka Hitman has got you.

Mike Kyle is fighting on ACB this weekend. Here he is getting disqualified for blatant fouls.

And here is another random moment from a Wes Sims fight, a man whom Mike Kyle once apparently bit during a fight

McGregor and Diaz have this in common: they both like having abs. And money. Lots of money.

Speaking of money, McGregor’s newest Pegasus commercial is just reinforcing that he’s got potential as an actor:

This KO by Roy Jones Jr. is awesome

How would you rate Paige VanZant’s spinning back kick?

This guy has skills

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Podcasts and Audio

The Heavy Hands Podcast

The MMA Ratings Podcast, discussing Penn vs. Rodriguez, Lauzon vs. Held, and Mark Hunt’s lawsuit against the UFC. For full betting odds and guide to the fight card this weekend, click here

Luke Thomas’ Promotional Malpractice Live Chat:

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Quick Hits

• Scott Harris from Bleacher Report did this phenomenal in-depth article on poverty in the UFC, and the many fighters that need to work other jobs just to pursue their love of fighting.
• Chuck Mindenhall wrote about what the UFC will look like in 2017
• Mayweather has now offered McGregor fifteen million plus a cut of the PPV money. It’s more than he made in the UFC in a year… but is it as much as he deserves? This talk will no doubt continue, and only boosts McGregor’s position in bargaining for an ownership stake in the UFC

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Randomland

A cat flipping the script on this poor little dog

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Stay woke, Maniacs!