Midnight Mania: Illness Strikes Down Another UFC Vegas 97 Match

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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

When it rains, it pours.

Just a day after Alessandro Costa was forced from his scheduled Flyweight banger versus Matt Schnell, the Light Heavyweight preliminary card headliner between Ovince Saint Preux and Ryan Spann has been cancelled. UFC announced the news on Wednesday, blaming the cancellation on an “OSP” illness.

In the Costa vs. Schnell situation, UFC was able to find a short-notice replacement in Cody Durden. This time around, there was no mention of a replacement, so it’s likely that Spann is off the card entirely. It remains to be seen if the bout is rebooked at a later date or scrapped entirely.

Saint Preux (27-17) is a longtime Light Heavyweight veteran who fought for the 205-pound title back in 2016. At 41 years of age, “OSP” is in the closing stages of his career, but he’s still managed to win two of his last three since returning to Light Heavyweight. Spann, meanwhile, has lost his last three bouts. The 33-year-old knockout artist has fallen out of the Top 15 rankings and was looking to rebound in this match up.

Check out the full UFC Vegas 97 fight card right here.

Insomnia

A pair of all-time great Brazilian fighters getting some training in!

The “kickass Bantamweight fights” cup runneth over.

Probably the first time in history that a dude from Philly has liked The Sopranos and Meek Mill (no shade).

Nate Manness, who was controversially released from the UFC roster last month, has officially signed with BKFC.

The greatest Heavyweight of all time.

I don’t have anything against Torrez Finney in the least, but I just know Michel Pereira front kicked the crap out of him.

TJ Dillashaw was so slick at his peak.

An interesting look into the finances of one of the premier regional shows in the US.

Slips, rips, and KO clips

Yanarsanov definitely baited him into the buggy choke by allowing the guard pass.

Spin to win!

Slipping while kicking doesn’t appear to have affected the power delivered by even a single iota.

Random Land

Gorgeous scenery.

Midnight Music: Hip-hop, 1998

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