NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 04: Paulo Costa of Brazil | Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images
Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
I really don’t know what to say about this one.
Paulo Costa and Israel Adesanya are set to collide for the Middleweight title at UFC 253 on Sept. 19. There’s been bad blood for months, however, as the two have sniped at one another fairly often with insults. Both Adesanya and Costa have never been afraid to get weird with their trash talk — is “dinosaur arms” really even an insult? — but Costa’s latest video promo takes the cake as the strangest thing I’ve ever seen.
In the video below, various eras of Paulo Costa — the frosted tips phase were my favorite — leer at Israel Adesanya’s face photoshopped onto various women … I think? I’m not sure what exactly is happening here, but it’s definitely strange.
Cmon motherfuckers pic.twitter.com/iFwY1aNAqY
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) August 5, 2020
In my opinion, the only promo that can compete is Jeff Monson’s legendarily bad take ahead of his bout with Mark Kerr.
Strangeness aside, there are real reasons to be excited about Adesanya vs. Costa. Both athletes are undefeated in professional MMA, and it’s an incredible clash of styles. Adesanya is rangy and slick, an accurate out-fighter with lots of depth to his game. Meanwhile, Costa is an aggressive bruiser, a hulking combination striker who throws heat and pressures his opponents until they fold.
Insomnia
Zabit Magomedsharipov rolled the dice and tried to get Alexander Volkanovski to fill in for Yair Rodriguez … not happening.
I am the champ not the replacement fighter but I hope you find a matchup ASAP then chances are I see you later this year. https://t.co/QCzsEEpi0I
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) August 5, 2020
Also, Zabit is unhappy about Rodriguez pulling out a third time, and it’s hard to blame him.
It’s funny I signed bout agreement few weeks ago, Yair never did, UFC never announced officially main event.
Two options:
1. UFC playing games
2. Yair has no balls— Zabit Magomedsharipov (@zabeast_mma) August 5, 2020
A cool piece of fan art celebrating a pretty legendary (if one-sided) showdown:
I am glad to see Daniel Pineda back in the UFC. He can always be trusted to put on a show, and his recent run in PFL was pretty violent!
Herbert Burns will fight Daniel Pineda at #UFC252 on August 15th. (per @raphamarinho) #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN pic.twitter.com/Pq3OewFjbz
— MaRCeL DoRFF (@BigMarcel24) July 31, 2020
I grew up with five siblings, and the sisters were consistently more dangerous:
Is Derrick Lewis the funniest man on the roster?
Fighting can change your life … and your metacarpals!
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Does One Championship have any type of drug testing? Sending Amir Aliakbari in and waiting for test results is one way to find out!
Greco Roman world champion & RIZIN veteran Amir Aliakbari has signed with ONE Championship! pic.twitter.com/zRrz7FCLOY
— Cerebral Vigilante (@Delisketo) August 4, 2020
The so-called perfect left hook, a designation that I am not arguing!
“Sugar” Ray Robinson sure was sweet and smooth, and here he is leveling Gene Fullmer in 1957 to prove it #boxing #history pic.twitter.com/vR7R3bMxVk
— Boxing History (@BoxingHistory) August 5, 2020
Three years ago, Lomachenko entered the matrix …
3 years ago today, Vasyl Lomachenko retained the WBO super featherweight title with a fantastic display that forced Miguel Marriaga to retire on his stool
This was the third fight in a row where his opponent did not come out of their corner #NoMasChenko pic.twitter.com/LBkwQyDsOS
— Steve Boxman (@SteveBoxman) August 5, 2020
Random Land
The Rock of Guatape in Colombia (which actually does welcome visitors!).
Someone doesn’t like visitors. pic.twitter.com/qLil1tneD0
— Architecture Hub (@architecturehub) August 1, 2020
Midnight Music: ‘70s playlist tonight!
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.