Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
On a day where Anthony Pettis revealed that he’s suing USADA for cutting his finger while post-urine collection, this is still my favorite headline. Mike Perry — the man best known for throwing haymakers and being hilarious (if controversial) — is set to compete at Chael Sonnen’s Submission Underground 11 against Al Iaquinta … another bruiser who is not exactly known for his jiu-jitsu prowess.
The event will take place at the Roseland Theater in Portland, Oregon on February 23, 2020.
There are some genuinely great match ups on there for my fellow jiu-jitsu nerds, but is there anything more hilarious than “Platinum” vs. “Raging Al?” Analytically, Perry has landed a few big takedowns and defended himself well enough on the mat, but I cannot remember him attempting a submission. Iaquinta is the more experienced wrestler of the two, but he only seems to go for heel hooks after getting dropped.
It should be a lot of fun, yet it gets even better.
Mike Perry’s wife, coach and corner-woman, Danielle Nickerson, will also be competing! Nickerson’s level of experience is completely unknown, which helps keep things entertaining. Love him or hate him, this seems like a brilliant publicity move from Sonnen — there’s little chance I would’ve chosen to write a headline about Submission Underground if it was anything less ridiculous!
Insomnia
Joanna Jedrzejczyk is feeling herself.
A birthday tradition in gyms around the globe:
Nothing says birthday fun like your teammates punching you in the gut #birthdaybodyshots pic.twitter.com/f769QHbFSB
— Serena DeJesus (@SerenaSouthpaw) January 10, 2020
Alexander Volkanovski isn’t impressed with the work of his Featherweight peers. I’d like to see Chan Sung Jung get a shot, but the champion has a point: no one’s win streak compares to the one that earned him his title shot.
“Go earn that spot, none of you are the clear number one contender right now, you are all one fight away!” UFC champion Alex Volkanovski has a message to everyone in the featherweight division. pic.twitter.com/3ALQrwOaIw
— Fight News Australia (@fightnewsaus) January 13, 2020
This throwback screams MySpace.
Another excellent throwback, and this one reveal that Kelvin Gastelum can actually get lean! It is possible!
Another inside look into the Tony Ferguson training camp:
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Calf slicers are both very rare and very painful. If the trapped fighter resists for too long, the kneecap itself can pop out of place!
Calf slicer en el 1R de Glenn Sparv #RebelFC10 pic.twitter.com/hatcSPJU0d
— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) January 11, 2020
SUMO!
Day1 first time komusubi (someone who is going up!) #DaiEiSho (R) vs the DaiDai-yok #Hakuho. Let’s not forget D got his 1st #kinboshi and gave Hak his only loss last basho. #hatsubasho2020 pic.twitter.com/UUVmAtgzZC
— SumoSoul (@TheSumoSoul) January 12, 2020
Day1, Man do these two give us a show! Brand new sekiwake #AsaNoYama (L) in only his 2nd basho in #sanyaku vs M2 #MiTakeUmi who hasn’t been below Sanjaku since.. ’19 Sept! That’s longer than TY or TNS. Dang. #hatsubasho2020 pic.twitter.com/z2dji53qgy
— SumoSoul (@TheSumoSoul) January 12, 2020
This is a particularly brutal KO, but it does serve as an important lesson: don’t attempt head lock throws unless great at them!
Frightening slam KO last night at Spar Star Promotions: FN 46 (Amateur show). Emon Baker def. Richard Trieu.
Fortunately he was back to his feet a couple mins later. pic.twitter.com/RYctfh3eOk
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) January 12, 2020
Random Land
Gun violence is solved.
Midnight Music: I don’t want to feature this song, but to avoid doing so would be dishonest. It plays constantly here. In malls, in taxis, and live on the street, there is no escape from “Shape of You.”
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.