Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Darren Till is no stranger to struggling on the scale. “The Gorilla” was a massive Welterweight, and that size advantage came at a cost. Till did miss weight twice while competing at 170-pounds, and on the occasions he did make weight, Till was so dehydrated that he was losing vision while in the sauna.
Luckily, Till has since relocated to 185 lbs., a division that fits his frame far better. Till’s debut at Middleweight was quite successful, as he dispatched previous title contender Kelvin Gastelum! In short, it’s an improved situation for Till.
An improved situation until this damned quarantine forces “The Gorilla” out of the Middleweight division! Being home alone has resulted in some poor nutrition choices from Till, who is bulking up.
I greatly admire and respect Till’s forthcoming nature, and he’s not alone. For every athlete posting home and solo workouts — which will continue to have a place on Midnight Mania — there’s a fighter whose weight-cut was just canceled. In the case of my co-worker Andrew Coyne, his April 11th bout being cancelled called for a triple-dozen donuts from Krispy Kreme.
Whether you’re handling the alone time with sweets or side planks, stay safe everyone!
Insomnia
Daniel Cormier wrestling up Ali Abdelaziz is sure to bring a smile to the faces of the many folks who despise the Dominance MMA manager.
I wonder if this was around the time Andrei Arlovski was training with Freddie Roach? Either way, a cool piece of history!
I was 16 years old when I had the honor to spar with UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski . Super tough guy lived up to his name The Pitbull. I did manage to give him some trouble tho. Thanks champ! pic.twitter.com/BMCLJNTCaG
— AndyRuizjr (@Andy_destroyer1) March 19, 2020
Apparently, Josh Barnett is in the whiskey business!
Seeing as how many of us are all cooped up, fight off the cabin fever with one of a kind bourbon.
WARBRINGER10 gets you 10 bucks off.
Single Barrel, Cask Strength, Mesquite smoked bourbon.https://t.co/2UdrBbrXta pic.twitter.com/VLl0Juh2nj
— (@JoshLBarnett) March 20, 2020
I don’t know if athletes of other sport’s would be cool with sharing a cup between three men, but it’s yet another interesting bit of trivia!
Jeff Monson is wearing my cup in this fight. He & Roy Nelson asked (very nicely) right before walking out if they could borrow my cup.
What do you say to that? Yes, of course.
Monson post fight…”thanks dude, I rinsed it off for you”#TrueStory https://t.co/BnL20KepmA
— Rex Highwalker (@HighwalkerMMA) March 19, 2020
Jeff Monson pulls off his signature north-south choke against Sergei Kharitonov.
(DREAM 8) pic.twitter.com/NMCCFGL5lr
— Mike Skytte (@MikeLovesTacosX) March 19, 2020
Speaking of, Ryan Bader is still finding ways to wrestle.
Tiger Muay Thai seemed to be one of the last remaining MMA gyms open, but they’re shutdown as well. Although, with all the fighters living within walking distance of the gym …
Slips, rips, and KO clips
There are not many worse ways to go down than via liver shot.
Ernesto Hoost (K-1 Fight Night 1997) pic.twitter.com/SIMVYZd6iC
— Beyond Kickboxing (@Beyond_Kick) March 20, 2020
Two comebacks for the price of one!
(1) – @SpiderAnderson‘s triangle-choke of @ChaelSonnen @UFC 117 on August 7, 2010 ?? https://t.co/7xdT94s65i
vs
(16) – @TheProspectMMA‘s TKO of Josh Reed @CageWarriors 86 on September 16, 2017
?? https://t.co/7xdT94s65iDing, Ding! ? pic.twitter.com/VlKtALgtrG
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) March 20, 2020
Man, these knees look particularly spearing and painful.
Random Land
Hyenas vs. lions
Midnight Music: A fair question given our current circumstances!
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.