Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Deiveson Figueiredo last defended his title at UFC 255 on Nov. 21, 2020, and he’ll attempt to do so again this Saturday night at UFC 256. Perhaps a bit lost in all the chaos, however, is that Figueiredo was supposed to face Cody Garbrandt back in November. Complications from COVID-19 — including long term blot clotting, pneumonia, and a bicep tear — canceled the initial booking, but Garbrandt has since remained confident that he would fight Figueiredo in March.
Perhaps something has changed, because Garbrandt has instead turned his attentions toward retired double champ Henry Cejudo. Garbrandt mocked Cejudo on Instagram for allegedly breaking up with his girlfriend — a relationship once cited as a reason for retirement — and avoiding the next crop of challengers.
Cejudo replied to the post on classic “Triple C” fashion, chirping back “I love you more Cody “No Chin” Garbage #BendTheKnee.” The feud then continued further on Twitter, where Garbrandt offered to fight Cejudo at either Flyweight or Bantamweight on March 6 (roughly the same time frame he was planning to fight Figueiredo!).
Before we look to plan the future too far ahead, Brandon Moreno has a chance to derail all this talk by defeating Figueiredo on Saturday night. Either way, it seems like Garbrandt may be looking to expand his list of potential opponents, and Cejudo’s retirement seems somewhat flimsy.
Insomnia
Tony Ferguson has a definite chip in his shoulder after failed negotiations and general Lightweight drama.
@TonyFergusonXT says @TheNotoriousMMA owes him $500k…
And roasts Khabib and Dustin Poirier
Full interview on YouTube now https://t.co/r4uajskI9Z pic.twitter.com/45kIlk3Pzs
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) December 9, 2020
Jessica-Rose Clark is back hitting mitts after her recent ACL surgery.
This is my first day hitting pads again. Everything wobbles. Everything is slow. I don’t know how to move my feet. It’s a struggle to slow down. I wanted to bounce and dance and move and kick like I did pre-surgery.
But it’s a process. Small progressions every day.
8 weeks pic.twitter.com/r80GubNQLL— Jessy Jess (@missjessyjess) December 9, 2020
I may post Sumo clips, but that doesn’t mean I understand the rules. To my eyes, at least, I would award Cat Zingano the “W!”
Is “The Assassin Baby” an excellent or terrible nickname? I certainly lean towards the former.
Wow pic.twitter.com/kKFWB2RgZw
— MS (@UFC_Obsessed) December 9, 2020
Ronaldo Souza is a not a man to play around with.
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza told me that if Kevin Holland trash talks him during their fight, he will break Holland’s arm. #UFC256
— Keith Shillan (@KeithShillanMMA) December 9, 2020
This meme predates the Anthony Johnson signing, but who else should Bellator look to pick up from UFC’s latest roster purge?
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Jared Venderaa, who fights Sergey Spivac on Saturday, absolutely sent it in pursuit of this kimura.
Jared Vanderaa got finished with a Kimura R5 vs Richard Odoms at LFA 15 #UFC256 pic.twitter.com/a7Yi3IJJB2
— John Jack (@NHB_GIFS) December 8, 2020
Pressure and accurate left hands ended this contest.
#OnThisDay in 1990, Khaosai Galaxy defended the WBA junior bantamweight title with a 6th round TKO of Ernesto Ford in Petchaboon, Thailand #boxing #history #??? pic.twitter.com/UixztSUt8K
— Boxing History (@BoxingHistory) December 9, 2020
An absolutely gorgeous counter uppercut timed perfectly and hidden by some direction changes.
Random Land
An exceptional feat of athleticism:
Hold my beer while I dunk this basket. pic.twitter.com/L8ZzLbGHvX
— Hold My Beer (@holdmyale) December 9, 2020
Midnight Music: The single “Murphy’s Law” came out earlier this year but very much sounds like a ‘70s dance track; I’m here for that!
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.