Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
UFC 255 is still more than two months away, but things are already heating up between Flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo and contender Cody Garbrandt.
In the video above, a shirtless “Deus Da Guerra” aggressively steps up to the camera and promises to “take off” the head of Garbrandt. The Brazilian also writes, “You think you are going to take my belt? I go to sleep dreaming of taking your head off! I wake up thinking of knocking you out. My whole day is dedicated to putting you to sleep!”
The cause of the bad blood? Figueiredo is upset that Garbrandt — the former Bantamweight champion coming off a knockout win over Raphael Assuncao at UFC 250 — “cut the line” of more established Flyweight contenders. Though Garbrandt is unproven at 125 lbs., “No Love” is in the win column and has some star power, which has proven enough to secure this title opportunity.
Plus, there’s not exactly a clear-cut top contender at Flyweight anyway, so the timing worked out. As for Figueiredo, he’s now won four straight fights, twice defeating Joseph Benavidez to capture the undisputed title.
Who ya’ got?
Insomnia
Michel Pereira is nothing if not entertaining!
Michel Pereira telling the media he trained with animals ahead of #UFCVegas9. He specifically trained taking down cows and running with horses.
— Danny Segura (@dannyseguratv) September 3, 2020
This seems like a roundabout way to ban wrestling shoes. Not being able to kick/knee is a terrible trade for a bit of extra traction!
RIZIN rules have been updated:
Fighters who choose to wear wrestling shoes will not be able to throw any sort of strikes with their feet including knees.
— MMA shingo (@MmaShingo) September 3, 2020
A few athletes in the world of boxing (and Conor McGregor) made big bucks this year.
Four fighters land spots on Forbes list of the world’s highest-paid celebrities for 2020 pic.twitter.com/1M0nrp8bQc
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) September 3, 2020
Leon Edwards deserves a title shot or title eliminator ASAP.
How I feel waiting for one of these so called top fighters to step up n get this ass whooping @UFCEurope @ufc
#pablo pic.twitter.com/LhDzfA7xP9— Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards (@Leon_edwardsmma) September 2, 2020
Michael Chandler coming in clutch with the very entertaining sparring clip!
A bit of the science behind how fighters cut more than 10% of their body weight in the final 48 hours or so before a weigh-in.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Douglas Lima is an animal, but is he also Bellator’s best fighter?
It’s amazing how despite all the damage, weight gain and loss, and general ups-and-downs of a 20-year pro fight career, Alistair Overeem doesn’t look that different!
These clips are from sometime during quarantine, but it’s still two knockouts for the price of one!
Random Land
Kangaroo wrestling!
Midnight Music: Kevin Morby is a really solid songwriter, definitely one to check out for fans of classic folk rock.
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.