Midnight Mania: Miserable, Mean, And We Can’t Stand Her

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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey has burned a lot of bridges since walking away from her UFC career. Of course, if you ask “Rowdy,” she might say the opposite and argue that people turned against her after a couple difficult losses. Either way, there was a lot of tension and conflict amidst the Rousey downfall that lingers to this day.

Recently, Rousey has made headlines while promoting her new book, Our Fight. Aside from discussing her concussion issues in the lead up to competition, Rousey really struck back at media members like Joe Rogan, labeling them “a bunch of assh—es” for failing to support at her lowest point.

Now, at least one member of the media is striking back. Former UFC color commentator Jimmy Smith is standing up to Rousey’s recent comments, and he describes her as a terror behind the scenes. According to Smith, Rousey has no right to play the victim card when she was actively bullying the people trying to interview here.

“I’ve never been a religious person,” Smith began. “One thing that’s always said about God, he gets all the credit, none of the blame. That’s what Ronda Rousey wants: all the credit, none of the blame. I want credit for all my wins; my losses I had CTE and I had this and I had that. ‘I’m the greatest to ever do it,’ but when it didn’t work, it was so and so and never me. She never gives credit to the people who actually beat her. The idea that ‘I left MMA and went to the WWE cause I had concussion problems’ makes no sense!”

He continued, “The people behind the scenes: camera people, audio people, the people you can push around, and the people you can bully, and the people you can talk down to —Can’t stand your f—king ass. Everybody behind the scenes that had to put a mic on Ronda Rousey couldn’t stand her. I said why? They said ‘She was a b—ch to us from the moment she sat down, to the moment she got up.’

“Like it’s our fault that she has to do this interview to hype her next fight and she’s just miserable, and she’s mean to us, and we can’t stand her. They were cheering when she got knocked out … Those are the people you can be mean to and rude to, and they can’t fight back. Those people couldn’t stand Ronda Rousey, so don’t sit here and tell me that you’re the victim. When the poor guy sitting behind the camera is doing his job, gets s—t on by you or you’re mean to the person asking you questions when we’re hyping your fight, don’t give me this victim s—t.”

Though Smith wasn’t working as UFC commentator during Rousey’s reign, he was certainly active in the media during her time as a fighter and the subsequent fallout. I cannot remember many explosive Jimmy Smith headlines in my own decade plus of covering the sport, so it would appear that Smith just really feels strongly here.

I wouldn’t expect a Ronda Rousey response.

Insomnia

I’ve always liked Joaquin Buckley fights, but his increased social media presence has been one of the more pleasant 2024 surprises.

An unfortunate update to UFC 302: Anthony Hernandez is injured and out of his fight versus Roman Dolidze.

I have to say, the PFL 5 card looks like a lot of fun.

Ciryl Gane absolutely ruining the day of his mitt man and coach, Fernandez Lopez, will always be funny.

Chuck Liddell continuing to prove himself as an all-time great athlete.

Andre Fili out amongst the people, asking the real questions.

Lorenzo Hunt may have suffered a brutal injury this weekend, but this is still a great clip!

Slips, rips, and KO clips

“Little Red” Danny Lopez dropping the hurt on a large number of opponents:

Now THAT is how you respond to getting taken down! Great punching on the break.

First punch of the fight proves to be perfectly placed …

Random Land

I do not endorse this.

Midnight Music: Rock, 1969

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