Midnight Mania! Dana White: McGregor-Cerrone ‘Nowhere Close’

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone is no longer close to happening, according to Dana White. McGregor had congratulated Cerrone after …

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone is no longer close to happening, according to Dana White. McGregor had congratulated Cerrone after ‘Cowboy’ won impressively over Alex Hernandez, offering him a fight. Briefly, it was even rumored (by Cerrone) that the bout would be for the interim lightweight title. However, as we covered recently, negotiations appear to have stalled. From ESPN.com:

“These two have been talking about this, and I said if they want to fight, I would do it, but we’re nowhere close to a fight,” White said. “We’re actually looking at other fights right now for Cowboy.”

Immediately following the news conference, White mentioned to ESPN that Al Iaquinta (14-4-1) was a potential opponent for Cerrone (35-11). He also guessed McGregor would return in the fall.

It isn’t clear what snag the parties involved hit, but if the UFC are looking for a new opponent for Cerrone, it would seem likely the issue is on Conor’s end. As for Iaquinta being the next opponent for Cerrone, well, ‘Ragin’ Al’ ain’t buying it just yet.

He is open to the idea, though. Iaquinta would, in many ways, be a perfect opponent for Cerrone’s return to lightweight. Iaquinta is ranked 4th at lightweight, but with just the one win over Kevin Lee at his back, Al isn’t in the title picture just yet.

Insomnia

What is going on with Tony lately?

What doesn’t humiliate you doesn’t make you stronger, right?

No thank you, Jon Jones, we don’t need cruiserweight. There is barely enough talent for light heavyweight as it is. Just go to heavyweight already.

It’s Tom Lawler and Robbie Lawlor, get it straight people.

Leslie Smith explains why Nate Diaz is immune to the UFC’s usual negotiating strongarm tactics: he’s rich.

Mirko Cro Cop apparently burst a vein in his neck after rolling it to try to release excess tension, and had a stroke. That’s curtains on his long and illustrious career, which reached the highest levels in both MMA and kickboxing.

We don’t deserve Ben Askren

Ben and Chael Sonnen talk trash… talk.

Ben Askren was that guy in class. He had to be.

Tony Ferguson Grappled With Lightning, Sparred Thunder, And Conquered His Fears

These are good points, Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Slips, Rips, KO Clips

Mirko Cro Cop’s career is over. Long live Mirko Cro Cop.

This was some knockout

Podcasts and Video

Anthony Smith has a mean right cross. Andrew and Andrew (neither of which are me) explain:

Jon Jones’ guillotine choke:

Heavy Hands

MMA Ratings

Random Land

This is another level of pointless- a card player got banned for taking PEDs (which don’t enhance performance when your sport is sitting around a table)

A reminder that Lars Anderson is a ridiculously skilled archer

Good point

Sleep well, Maniacs! A better tomorrow is always possible. Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @Vorpality