Midnight Mania! Everyone Wants A Piece Of ‘The Answer’

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

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Pedro Munhoz is the latest fighter to test positive for COVID-19, as the virus continues to wreak havoc on athletes scheduled to visit Fight Island. Munhoz’s illness leaves Frankie Edgar without a dance partner for July 15th, and the initial report was that Edgar would be left without an opponent.

However, multiple Bantamweights are champing at the bit for a fight with the former champion. Currently, the front-runner is top-ranked wrestler Aljamain Sterling, who recently strangled Corey Sandhagen to cement himself as the top contender at 135 lbs. after Jose Aldo and Petr Yan settle their business.

I don’t know that the fight makes sense for “Funkmaster,” who is already the No.1 contender, but maybe he wants an extra paycheck!

Regardless of Sterling’s apparently imminent travel plans, there are many other fighters throwing their hats in the ring. For example, Ricky Simon is already in Abu Dhabi (and therefore COVID negative) to corner Paige VanZant.

Similarly, the always exciting Marlon Vera is in town. Vera’s last bout was a highly competitive loss to Song Yadong, and there’s little doubt “Chito” is just the type to fill-in on short-notice.

Cody Stamann, who just a few weeks ago picked up an excellent win opposite Brian Kelleher, also threw his name into the hat. It’s worth-noting that the Kelleher fight was held at catchweight, as Stamann cuts a lot of weight. Edgar presumably wants to finally debut at Bantamweight, so that’s a potential obstacle.

Finally, it’s been roughly a year since we last saw No.9-ranked Jimmie Rivera inside the Octagon, but his manager claims he wants the bout too.

Ultimately, it appears that UFC and Frankie Edgar have many options to discuss if Edgar is willing to fight a new opponent. Who would you like to see “The Answer” battle?

Insomnia

Another week, another Thailand training episode! This time around, we visit a new gym, and I get a traditional bamboo tattoo.

Cat Zingano is really dangerous from the front headlock position.

Khalil Rountree is moving up to Heavyweight and going after Greg Hardy?!? I quite like this match up, and I may finally pick one of the 205-pounders jumping up.

Daniel Cormier has brought in Corey Anderson to help him train for his Stipe Miocic rubber match.

Paige VanZant passes the quarantine time in style.

Dan Hooker might just be Wolverine.

Slips, rips, and KO clips

I have seen many guillotines in my time, but I have never seen one pants a man.

This clip is extra fun because I fully thought the opposite fighter was going to be doing the counter right hand KOing.

Is this the greatest knockout in UFC history?

Random Land

The mind-boggling nutritional info behind Joey Chestnuts latest binge:

Midnight Music: When this song popped up on a Spotify playlist, my ears figured it for ‘60s or ‘70s … I was super wrong! It’s a recent single for an album that releases at the end of this month. I dig it regardless.

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.