Midnight Mania! Dana White says Ronda Rousey just doesn’t have it anymore – ‘It’s a young women’s sport’

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

Welcome to Midnight Mania! Tonight we have Dana White commenting on Ronda Rousey’s sudden decline (and Derrick Lewis weighing in on it), a look at how President Donald Trump’s controversial immigration executive order could be affecting Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) already, fan art, a possible match up for Rashad Evans, “Gamebred” getting amped about possible future fights, highlights, knockouts, funny videos, podcasts, and everything else you need to fuel your mixed martial arts (MMA) habit

Insomnia

Dana White appeared on TMZ earlier today and spoke about the future of Ronda Rousey. He was quick to affirm that UFC will always be “her house” thanks to both the work she did and the friendship she and White have developed.

“Her and I are very, very good friends and we’ll be very good friends for the rest of our lives … whatever she needs, I’m here for her.”

When asked if he was surprised about how quickly her career seemed to tank at the first sign of adversity, White had this to say about the 30-year-old birthday girl:

“I don’t know why. This sport is very, very tough, man. You have to stay on top of your game, and it’s a young man and young women’s sport. Throughout the history of time and fighting, one day you just show up and you don’t have it any more. It’s always happened that way. You never know when it’s gonna come, man, it just creeps up on you, and … it’s a rough sport.”

Lewis agrees with White, but he said the reason he thinks she is done is that it’s “more of a mental game” and said he doesn’t think she has fight left in her. These comments will no doubt go over poorly with his opponent, Rousey’s boyfriend Travis Browne … as if he needed to add to the beef with Browne.

Bobs and Weaves

The political maelstrom enveloping the nation since Donald Trump took office is even affecting UFC, particularly the infamous “refugee ban.” UFC brass is currently looking into its impact, as several of its fighters are from the affected nations. One of them is Gegard Mousasi, who was born in Iran, but lives in (and is a citizen of) the Netherlands. Mousasi had this to say (via MMA Fighting):

“The rule is even if you’re born in Iran, you’re a threat. It’s gonna ruin the relationship between countries. I think the U.S. is on the wrong path.”

Mousasi unsure if he’ll be allowed in U.S. to fight at UFC 210 due to Trump’s travel ban https://t.co/18do3SzWFZ pic.twitter.com/aaorb53yiK

— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) January 31, 2017

MMA analyst and Ph.D. in history, Patrick Wyman, has this to say about the situation:

Mousasi maybe not being able to fight at UFC 210 due to Trump’s executive order is a great example of why it’s bad for business writ large.

— Patrick Wyman (@Patrick_Wyman) January 31, 2017

White is a personal friend of Trump and even spoke at the Republican National Convention at his behest. One would think that connection could help resolve scenarios specific to the world’s premier MMA league. New UFC owner, Ari Emanuel, has a few high-level connections, too.

Slips, Rips and KO Clips

The guy who made the awesome and weird Ronda Rousey-Edmond Tarverdyan hunting lions video is back with more:

We Were Brothers @nickdiaz209 VS @GeorgesStPierre
the untold story #ufc@mma_gifs_ pic.twitter.com/Ss3vmOU0cQ

— mojahed fudailat (@MojahedFudailat) January 30, 2017

the eagle @TeamKhabib sympathy with coach Edmond
after being left to face the cold alone ️⛈️
@mma_gifs_ @MMARoasted
“LEFT ALONE” pic.twitter.com/ko1jCmJSfG

— mojahed fudailat (@MojahedFudailat) January 25, 2017

Very fast kneebar!

pic.twitter.com/w7FyePheWn

— John Battle (@JohnBattle_Bjj) January 31, 2017

Here’s a potential match up for poor Rashad Evans:

Per sources, not official yet but UFC has targeted Rashad Evans vs. Daniel Kelly at middleweight for UFC 209 on March 4 in Las Vegas.

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) February 1, 2017

Speaking of match ups, Masvidal seems to already be fielding “big” offers:

When @danawhite Or @seanshelby call me with a fight outside the top 5 @ufc #easymoney pic.twitter.com/LSHV8RBSCz

— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) January 31, 2017

Great artwork of Masvidal and the Korean Zombie:

Here’s No. 2 in my #UFCillustrated series in which I illustrate every single #UFC event of the year!! #UFCOnFox23 #Masvidal pic.twitter.com/gK7q79v66B

— John Sheehan (@johnsportraits) January 26, 2017

Back with the next #UFCillustrated. This time it’s the return of @KoreanZombieMMA. Can’t wait to see him in action at #UFCHouston pic.twitter.com/i1WROJaI4w

— John Sheehan (@johnsportraits) January 31, 2017

This is good promo material:

Go check out Lion Fight 34 this Friday February 3rd.
It’s a must !@LionFight #MuaiThai #VegasBaby #fightnight #LasVegas pic.twitter.com/0ODRutuAf0

— Kevin Rega (@KevinRega) January 31, 2017

Check out the angles this guy takes to get the knockout:

Pops put buddy to sleep real quick pic.twitter.com/iDsbh6joKW

— Thirty Sec Fights (@ThirtySecFights) January 31, 2017

Baroni/Minowa round 2 (first fight) is legit one of the best rounds eva. https://t.co/MqjKA5w6hd

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 1, 2017

Valentina Shevchenko fought Joanna Jedrzejczyk three times under Muay Thai rules and beat her three times. Here’s a portion of that one of their matches:

Shevchenko is an OG:

Iam in MMA already 15years. My first professional MMA fight I had in2002. And before 2006 I submitted several opponents. Here some ofthem. pic.twitter.com/7PMkuJSWtQ

— Valentina Shevchenko (@BulletValentina) January 31, 2017

Podcasts and Videos

Here’s a couple technique podcasts you may have missed:

Jack Slack’s “Fights Gone By:”

Flyin’ Brian J. with the breakdown of this Saturday’s main event, a Featherweight fight that can’t possibly be boring because it features the return of “Korean Zombie:”

Quick Hits

  • Please, no! Dana White has expressed interest in making Nick Diaz vs. Damien Maia, and while part of me wants to see the Brazilian jiu-jitsu battle, the rest of me knows it’s a nightmare match up for Diaz.
  • Masvidal, on the other hand … White has said he is going to start taking match ups from Nick Diaz and giving them to “Gamebred.” He can start with that one.
  • Aisling Daly retiring after brain scan abnormalities is sad because UFC loses a good fighter, but it’s great to see a fighter who knows when to call it quits. Looking at you, BJ Penn.

Random Land

This is the GIF you never knew you didn’t want to see:

Stay woke, Maniacs!

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

Welcome to Midnight Mania! Tonight we have Dana White commenting on Ronda Rousey’s sudden decline (and Derrick Lewis weighing in on it), a look at how President Donald Trump’s controversial immigration executive order could be affecting Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) already, fan art, a possible match up for Rashad Evans, “Gamebred” getting amped about possible future fights, highlights, knockouts, funny videos, podcasts, and everything else you need to fuel your mixed martial arts (MMA) habit

Insomnia

Dana White appeared on TMZ earlier today and spoke about the future of Ronda Rousey. He was quick to affirm that UFC will always be “her house” thanks to both the work she did and the friendship she and White have developed.

“Her and I are very, very good friends and we’ll be very good friends for the rest of our lives … whatever she needs, I’m here for her.”

When asked if he was surprised about how quickly her career seemed to tank at the first sign of adversity, White had this to say about the 30-year-old birthday girl:

“I don’t know why. This sport is very, very tough, man. You have to stay on top of your game, and it’s a young man and young women’s sport. Throughout the history of time and fighting, one day you just show up and you don’t have it any more. It’s always happened that way. You never know when it’s gonna come, man, it just creeps up on you, and … it’s a rough sport.”

Lewis agrees with White, but he said the reason he thinks she is done is that it’s “more of a mental game” and said he doesn’t think she has fight left in her. These comments will no doubt go over poorly with his opponent, Rousey’s boyfriend Travis Browne … as if he needed to add to the beef with Browne.

Bobs and Weaves

The political maelstrom enveloping the nation since Donald Trump took office is even affecting UFC, particularly the infamous “refugee ban.” UFC brass is currently looking into its impact, as several of its fighters are from the affected nations. One of them is Gegard Mousasi, who was born in Iran, but lives in (and is a citizen of) the Netherlands. Mousasi had this to say (via MMA Fighting):

“The rule is even if you’re born in Iran, you’re a threat. It’s gonna ruin the relationship between countries. I think the U.S. is on the wrong path.”

MMA analyst and Ph.D. in history, Patrick Wyman, has this to say about the situation:

White is a personal friend of Trump and even spoke at the Republican National Convention at his behest. One would think that connection could help resolve scenarios specific to the world’s premier MMA league. New UFC owner, Ari Emanuel, has a few high-level connections, too.

Slips, Rips and KO Clips

The guy who made the awesome and weird Ronda Rousey-Edmond Tarverdyan hunting lions video is back with more:

Very fast kneebar!

Here’s a potential match up for poor Rashad Evans:

Speaking of match ups, Masvidal seems to already be fielding “big” offers:

Great artwork of Masvidal and the Korean Zombie:

This is good promo material:

Check out the angles this guy takes to get the knockout:

Valentina Shevchenko fought Joanna Jedrzejczyk three times under Muay Thai rules and beat her three times. Here’s a portion of that one of their matches:

Shevchenko is an OG:

Podcasts and Videos

Here’s a couple technique podcasts you may have missed:

Jack Slack’s “Fights Gone By:”

Flyin’ Brian J. with the breakdown of this Saturday’s main event, a Featherweight fight that can’t possibly be boring because it features the return of “Korean Zombie:”

Quick Hits

  • Please, no! Dana White has expressed interest in making Nick Diaz vs. Damien Maia, and while part of me wants to see the Brazilian jiu-jitsu battle, the rest of me knows it’s a nightmare match up for Diaz.
  • Masvidal, on the other hand … White has said he is going to start taking match ups from Nick Diaz and giving them to “Gamebred.” He can start with that one.
  • Aisling Daly retiring after brain scan abnormalities is sad because UFC loses a good fighter, but it’s great to see a fighter who knows when to call it quits. Looking at you, BJ Penn.

Random Land

This is the GIF you never knew you didn’t want to see:

Stay woke, Maniacs!