Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
The world of high-level jiu-jitsu competition just grew a little more interesting.
Australian grappling ace Craig Jones is a longtime black belt and elite competitor, a two-time silver medalist at the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) tournament, widely regarded as the highest stage in jiu-jitsu competition. Jones will not be returning for the 2024 ADCC event, however, because he’ll be holding his own invitational tournament scheduled for August 16 and 17, directly competing against the ADCC event.
Why? On the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) website, Jones described his tournament as “A nonprofit dedicated to elevating sport and athlete compensation, while simultaneously raising money for charitable causes.“ In other words, Jones isn’t impressed by the prizes offered by ADCC and other organizations like IBJJF and is trying to raise the stakes. He’s offering up a $1 million grand prize in two separate weight classes, above and under 80 kilograms.
As part of the promotional effort, Jones appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience MMA Show podcast. He wouldn’t reveal his financial backer, but Jones did offer one form of proof that he’s secured funds: dumping $1 million in cold hard cash all over Joe Rogan’s desk! It stunned the UFC color commentator, who remarked, “I’ve never seen a million dollars in one place! I’ve never even seen a million dollar check.”
Jones has already convinced several top talents like Nicky Ryan, Mason Fowler, and Nicky Rodriguez, to jump ship from ADCC to the CJI. Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight king Luke Rockhold will be there competing too! Oh, and Jones himself will be grappling legendary female grappler and undefeated MMA fighter Gabi Garcia in a wild super fight match up.
Craig Jones and Gabi Garcia will finally grapple against each other at the Craig Jones Invitational! pic.twitter.com/1MD8SVsH0C
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) May 28, 2024
Sounds like an event worth watching?
Insomnia
A fun bit of back story to a UFC 302 “Prelim” fight:
Bassil Hafez told me he beat Mickey Gall over 10 years ago at a local grappling tournament. The two face eachother again this week at #UFC302
Bassil posted this picture on his Instagram today saying he’s ready to make it 2-0 against Gall
Full interview out now on @Home_of_Fight pic.twitter.com/nVYqI45G2e
— Jake Noecker (@JakeNoeckerMMA) May 27, 2024
Report: PRIDE OG Enson Inoue is suspected of drug smuggling.
??????????????… ????????????????????????????????? https://t.co/RSB6OSipvz
????????????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/NNzobFTdld
— ????????? (@q3jQd9xK0aZSvEL) May 27, 2024
Julian Erosa has to be the most unpredictable fighter on the roster. He’ll look bad in two out of three appearances then stunt on a really good fighter and make it look easy.
Christian Rodriguez will fight Julian Erosa at #UFCDenver on July 13th. (first rep. @TeamIridiumISA) #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN #UFC2024 pic.twitter.com/WpkaNUWeUo
— Marcel Dorff (@BigMarcel24) May 28, 2024
For the IPA drinkers reading:
wtf did yall know about this? pic.twitter.com/MtWwDhYmeY
— indigoism (@HidanSan_) May 28, 2024
I think people are taking Joaquin Buckley’s social media yapping way too seriously, Cub Swanson included. He gets an impressive amount of info wrong here, but who cares?
Joaquin Buckley went in hard on Cub Swanson
: Solidfoundation_shop pic.twitter.com/lxlfapUYXb— MMA Mania (@mmamania) May 28, 2024
Niko Price has an incredible gift for hurting people in silly ways.
The jankmaster.
Niko Price landing a standing hammerfist off a headkick. pic.twitter.com/dhJdVIhCdJ— Feño (@fenoxsky) May 27, 2024
This photoshopped picture of Khamzat has been making rounds online — don’t believe the lies!
Khamzat Chimaev at 170 vs. 185
h/t @Sa_Gwang pic.twitter.com/EN9m4egfGP
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) May 27, 2024
Jiri Prochazka is back in public, longing for the dark and empty room.
Jiri Prochazka enjoying himself as the Czech Republic won the 2024 World Hockey Championships yesterday pic.twitter.com/5PaQiAkfsF
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) May 27, 2024
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Entered the pocket with his lead hand by his hip …
God damn. Mouthpiece launched #NasheDelo83 pic.twitter.com/cTF9ntkYdf
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) May 25, 2024
The start of the Machida era.
Lyoto Machida KO2 Rashad Evans
05.23.2009 | UF©? 98 pic.twitter.com/i2LCkPr4Kd
— Forgotten Finishes (@FightsForgotten) May 25, 2024
It didn’t produce a finish, but a picture-perfect wheel kick into a faceplant feels worthy.
WHEEL-KICK TO THE CHIN #TNU137 pic.twitter.com/uQXVM7GtCh
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) May 25, 2024
Random Land
Give her a Strawweight title shot.
Midnight Music: Soul, 1965
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.