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Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Gilbert Burns is no stranger to drumming up fights on social media. The top-ranked Welterweight contender worked himself into short-notice opportunities in part via Twitter, jumping online to inject himself in the mix. It paid off a couple times and helped him build his current six fight win streak, and as a result, Burns is the clear-cut top contender at 170 lbs.
That title shot has yet to materialize, however, so now Burns is working on a side hustle, attempting to convince Nate Diaz to match a six-figure bet and settle it on the jiu-jitsu mats.
So as my title fight is not scheduled yet, Let’s grapple! Let’s see who is the real gangster @NateDiaz209 so I put $200,000 you put $200,000 winner takes all at @ChaelSonnen @UFCFightPass what you say? pic.twitter.com/yaUFxUO6Ep
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) November 13, 2020
Diaz is an excellent grappler in the context of MMA and does have 11 professional victories via submission, but “Durinho” is a different animal. Burns has won gold in both the gi and no-gi worlds, as well as scoring a bronze finish at the prestigious ADCC competition — that makes him elite among the elite of the grappling world.
If Diaz does take this sucker’s bet, the black belt would be a gigantic underdog.
Of course, Diaz has yet to respond. The younger Diaz brother is coming off a loss to Jorge Masvidal in their BMF clash, but Diaz remains in prime position to capitalize on money fights both with “Gamebred” and Conor McGregor at some point in the future.
I wouldn’t expect to see him fight — or wrestle — anyone else until such a high-profile bout materializes.
Insomnia
Andrei Arlovski vs. Tanner Boser was not a great fight by any means, but that doesn’t mean damage did not happen!
A slick sequence in sparring:
Does Rafael dos Anjos have an advantage in his steel-plated chin? The man is durable!
I felt a real obligation to include this photoshop.
Team Alpha Mullet pic.twitter.com/KlwTp6A9eE
— As Shopped As It Gets (@AsShopped) November 12, 2020
Diving into a freezing river is the next level of an ice bath/cryotherapy.
Tony Ferguson wrote a whole paragraph about growing an avocado seed in a champagne glass — there’s only one “El Cucuy!”
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Paul Felder has been a violent man for a very long time.
Paul Felder’s finish of Khama Worthy early R1 #UFCVegas14 pic.twitter.com/6YvVj8zknr
— LORD HONKY HUMUNGUS (@Mr_Honky) November 11, 2020
Occupy the lead hand, fire from the power side:
Do you remember this walk-off KO from @Soldic_MMA!?
The RoboCop is back this Saturday at #KSW56!! pic.twitter.com/h6QtWt7ixP
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) November 11, 2020
Kurt Holobaugh’s UFC career didn’t go amazingly well, but he’s a talented man with a penchant for violent finishes.
Kurt Holobaugh with them knees. 28 second TKO! #XFC43 pic.twitter.com/XmDpjkSay4
— ShayMyName (@ImShannonTho) November 12, 2020
Random Land
Some incredible camouflage!
Midnight Music, Benavidez edition #4: Longtime readers of the column may remember that I am a gigantic Ariel Pink fan. Joe is not, but he does love Pink’s cover of Donnie and Joe Emerson’s track “Baby.” The cover helped popularize Dreamin’ Wild, the eclectic 1979 debut LP that nearly bankrupted the brothers and their parents. It’s a weird story for an odd album, and additional info can be found HERE.
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.