Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight …
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
The vengeful MMA gods have struck again. Dustin Poirier vs. Nate Diaz, a sure contender for action fight of the year, has fallen through, Poirier having to withdraw due to injury.
Breaking: Dustin Poirier has suffered an undisclosed injury, per multiple sources. He is off UFC 230 co-main event against Nate Diaz in New York.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) October 10, 2018
The offers to replace Poirier at UFC 230 (which now, bizarrely, features a heavyweight title fight between Daniel Cormier and Derrick Lewis as the main event) have already begun rolling in, but Dana White confirmed that Diaz is officially off the card.
Nate Diaz definitely off UFC 230, Dana White tells me…
— Lance Pugmire (@latimespugmire) October 10, 2018
Now that Diaz is not fighting in November, there is one fight that would no doubt interest him more than anyone: Conor McGregor, fresh off his loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229, is first on many people’s lists to step up and face Diaz for a third time.
The first question is, would McGregor do it? His coach indicated he has been fixated on getting a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov, which my informal poll yesterday indicated was considered a good idea by 1 in 5 people. It’s not a good idea.
McGregor looked off against Nurmagomedov in a way that didn’t seem completely explained by Khabib’s wrestling control for two rounds. His coach John Kavanagh expressed this sentiment, saying that perhaps they trained too defensively in preparation for Nurmagomedov. A rematch against a known opponent would reveal definitively whether McGregor is the same fighter who departed MMA in 2016- although if the answer is not the one he likes, McGregor could see his career at an interesting juncture.
Insomnia
For better or worse, the Diaz brothers always show up. That was true of Poirier as well up until today.
Injuries are a part of the game and happen to basically every fighter…except the Diaz brothers, who have never withdrawn from a bout due to injury in their professional careers.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) October 10, 2018
Sijara Eubanks doesn’t appreciate her career being jerked around like this
This is my life you’re playing with @danawhite @Mickmaynard2
— Sijara SarJ Eubanks (@SarJnCharge) October 9, 2018
Why is this accurate??
Tony Ferguson already getting ready to replace Dustin Poirier at #UFC230 pic.twitter.com/jj7XuHeUlf
— Justin Golightly (@SecretMovesMMA) October 10, 2018
Here’s footage that almost shows what happened…
Footage of how the #UFC229 brawl started has emerged. It shows Dominance MMA’s Rizvan Magomedov taunting Dillon Danis moments after Conor McGregor is submitted. Danis pushes him away, an act Khabib saw and prompted him to scale the cage an try dropkick him. H/T to @MIKERUSSELLMMA pic.twitter.com/aLNCGr1AwR
— Chisanga Malata (@Chisanga_Malata) October 9, 2018
Wow, shots fired from Mike Perry
Why is this the reality we live in? If Donald Trump Jr. fights with the same form he deadlifts with, he would be in trouble.
I’m having lunch with Michael Avenatti @MichaelAvenatti at the Vanity Fair Summit and he’s proposing a three-round mixed-martial arts fight with Donald Trump Jr. @DonaldJTrumpJr for charity. No joke.
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) October 9, 2018
My portion of the proceeds from the fight will be split 50% to rebuilding Puerto Rico and 50% to @RAINN. Just waiting on Bif to confirm. #Basta
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) October 9, 2018
Not a bad idea from light welterweight Michael Chiesa
It’s too late to do this before the year ends but make GSP vs Woodley happen for the last 170 pound fight ever, GOAT status. End on a high note then add 165 and 175 to spread out these over populated weight divisions.
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) October 9, 2018
Derrick Lewis says Daniel Cormier disrespected Popeyes with his funny music video.
I hate this fight because it’s going to be all DC unless Lewis knocks him out, which seems like a pointless matchup. Fun matchups are where both fighters can potentially do their thing. This fight will either be all one way or the other. The odds reflect that.
Opening odds on #UFC230‘s new main event, via Bovada.
Daniel Cormier: -800 (1/8)
Derrick Lewis: +500 (5/1)— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) October 10, 2018
Derrick Lewis was at the doctor’s office when he found out about the bout.
Just spoke to Derrick Lewis. He had no idea he was in consideration to headline opposite Daniel Cormier at UFC 230. He said he’d do it if they paid him “right”, but was at the doctor’s office when we called.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) October 9, 2018
Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic are going back and forth on social media.
Damn seems like I’ve knocked my guy @stipemiocic silly. Come on my guy don’t be thirsty! We’re still good. You got next if Brock doesn’t make it! https://t.co/9y0SoJ4YgP
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) October 10, 2018
UFC 229 Pay-Per-View numbers are shaping up to be far and away the best in the company’s history.
I expect the #UFC229 PPV numbers to be 2.4 million to 2.5 million. It should end up as the third or at worst fourth largest PPV in history in terms of sales, depending. Top 3 now: MayPac, 4.6; MayMac, 4.4; DLHMay 2.48;
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) October 9, 2018
This sport has always been this way
— Ram Gilboa (@RamGilboa) October 9, 2018
It still amazes me there are ways to twist the human body into pretzels that I hadn’t seen before.
Yutaka Shimamura hits a rolling reverse omoplata on Shoki Ogawa – ZST 60 (5.12.2018) pic.twitter.com/R4i2b9kdtS
— Bestrafer7 (@Bestrafer7) October 9, 2018
Stephen Thompson and his team doing backflips
I don’t know why I found this funny, but I did.
I’m mad at this promo for Derrick Lewis underwear.
It had to be memed
Extremely realistic combat scenarios here…
Lando Vannata hitting the bag
Tony Ferguson is the right kind of crazy, not this kind… we think.
Random Land
You gotta be kidding me.
I am dying
This family called the cops on some whales
I can’t breathe
RETWEET! pic.twitter.com/bIpvOAsS4f
— StanceGrounded (@_SJPeace_) October 8, 2018
Stay woke, Maniacs! Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @Vorpality