Midnight Mania! Rothwell poses with pets, Christmas clapbacks with Mayweather, and more

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every night

Welcome to Midnight Mania! Remember, sleep is for the dead and dying. To truly live, you must experience the fullness that can only come from binging late night MMA news and randomness.

2016 has taken a toll on many. This is refreshing to see. It’s also great because he’s trolling journalist Ben Fowlkes, who has mentioned on the Co-Main Event podcast repeatedly that he enjoys just what a weird character Ben Rothwell is.

Just for the hell it. And to give @ben_fowlkes fuel

A photo posted by Ben Rothwell (@rothwellfighter) on Dec 15, 2016 at 5:14pm PST

It’s not even the first time he’s done that.

No smoking @ben_fowlkes

A photo posted by Ben Rothwell (@rothwellfighter) on Dec 14, 2016 at 8:47am PST

I mean, he is pretty weird and I’m okay with it.

A photo posted by Ben Rothwell (@rothwellfighter) on Dec 10, 2016 at 12:57pm PST

This is cathartic.

Happy Thanksgiving…. meow

A photo posted by Ben Rothwell (@rothwellfighter) on Nov 24, 2016 at 11:54am PST

You know who else liked puppies? Jackie Chan.

I think we need these photos now more than ever pic.twitter.com/HUGWxCgPHW

— Holiday Ray (@willmenaker) December 16, 2016

Well, okay, everyone likes puppies. But so does Jackie Chan.

Oh, back to violence? Alright, back to violence then. That can be fun too.

Best major MMA promotion knockouts of 2K16https://t.co/4EtYLCPy0o

— Jessica Hudnall (@LegKickTKO) December 15, 2016

Speaking of weird characters, Sage Northcutt is fighting this weekend, and honestly I would love to see him make it to the top for the sole reason he and McGregor could fight, sheerly for the trash talk exchanges.

If Sage and McGregor had a war of words @Izi_Garcia #UFCSacramento pic.twitter.com/qnlTdNhhMg

— MMA Madness (@madness_mma) December 14, 2016

I mean, how can you even mentally unbalance someone who is never angry?

Northcutt says he can’t recall the last time he was angry. #UFCSacramento pic.twitter.com/4mfloDAUKM

— Heidi Fang (@HeidiFang) December 15, 2016

“Don’t make me angry, sir. Heh.

You probably wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.

I.. why, I’d refuse to mow your lawn!” https://t.co/9zxxLbk2Pb

— Jessica Hudnall (@LegKickTKO) December 16, 2016

Honestly, I’m excited for this weekend’s fights.

The FOX card is going to be entertaining, and the Fight Pass feature prelim is Takeya Mizugaki facing off against Eddie Wineland in a great bantamweight fight.

#ShootoJapan bouts feat. @Takeya_miz just added to the Fight Library! Watch his pro debut and this 13 sec KO! #FPThttps://t.co/hRVIQ0WuCE pic.twitter.com/O2RE6BEFKc

— UFC Fight Pass (@UFCFightPass) December 15, 2016


Open Workouts:

Super Sage:

The Karate Hottie, Michelle Waterson

Paige VanZant herself:

Oh, this also makes sense if you are Paige VanZant, Dancing with the Stars runner-up:

Make sure you check out Andrew Richardson’s breakdown of Waterson’s slick armbar:

I went back and watched that fight with Jessica Penne a while ago, and it was pretty slick. Worth your time to see it broken down.


Little did you know that Conor McGregor fought Nate Diaz a third time, in a parking lot:

Height doesn’t mean a god damn thing pic.twitter.com/DSciIj14ka

— Thirty Sec Fights (@ThirtySecFights) December 15, 2016

Can’t wait for Ronda Rousey to fight at UFC 207. Her striking is so technical.

Oh… oh no. https://t.co/D5G9ivACr9

— Connor Ruebusch (@BoxingBusch) December 15, 2016

She needs a better coach. Let’s be honest.

Edmond Tarverdyan, ladies and gentlemen. (h/t @LegKickTKO) https://t.co/smmXAD6GQd

— David Bixenspan (@davidbix) September 11, 2016

At least she’s good with the judo takedowns…

Speaking of takedowns and all-time greats, Jon Jones with the sweetness.

Jon Jones with the sexy superduck. https://t.co/UXLrTXgrsg

— Jack Slack (@JackSlackMMA) December 15, 2016

Okay, so RIZIN went full Game of Thrones for their tournament trophy.

Cygames presents RIZIN FIGHTING WORLD GP 2016 Open Weight Tournament Champion Trophy! A unique design of Bahamut was made on 3D printer pic.twitter.com/AuOtx2liqk

— RIZIN FF STAFF (@rizin_STAFF) December 14, 2016

Word is, the Queen of Dragons herself will present the winner with said trophy.

Speaking of fighting women…

Weili Zhang KO’s Karla Benitez – Kunlun MMA 7. Weili now on a 9 fight win streak. KO power at 115 lbs. pic.twitter.com/fiXvg6htj0

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) December 15, 2016


Christmas Clapbacks

Don’t troll the troll. Coach Edmund is a fantastic parody account, who tweeted at Derrick Lewis:

Derrick Lewis
February 7, 1985-February 11, 2017

— Coach Edmund (@CoachEdmund) December 15, 2016

To which Lewis had a retort:

@CoachEdmund your paper work better be good #Trump pic.twitter.com/xOr4LK6rLs

— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) December 15, 2016

It is unclear whether Lewis was aware this was a troll account or not. He surely knew after this, however.

@Thebeast_ufc I hope you’re training your eyeballs. If you thought that Russian DNB messed your eye up just went until Travis eye fucks you.

— Coach Edmund (@CoachEdmund) December 15, 2016

Is this the whitest thing you have ever seen?

I’ve seen some white stuff in my day, being white as it gets and all, and that might be it.

Perhaps that explains why I completely agree with Luke Thomas’ take on Drake:

Or it could be because I also have a pair.

If you haven’t been following the Mayweather-McGregor controversy, which I had been mostly ignoring, here’s an update:

First, Mayweather threatened to slap McGregor:

Then he posted this, with a 10 grand reward to the best caption.

CAPTION THIS! Best caption wins $10,000.00. The winner will be announced on Monday, Dec 19. Stay tuned ! #TMT

A video posted by Floyd Mayweather (@floydmayweather) on Dec 14, 2016 at 8:51pm PST

I just want to see them go back and forth offering bigger and bigger rewards to caption videos.


Apparently Chael Sonnen, behind the persona, is a pretty good dude:

From mmafighting: King Mo explains how in 2012, while suffering from a staph infection, Chael offered to help w/his bills. pic.twitter.com/LgyH8KIVCp

— Jed I. Goodman (@jedigoodman) December 16, 2016


Quick Hits

  • Mark Hunt got justice against Jacked White Boy Brock Lesnar
  • Scott Coker wants to “talk” to Georges St. Pierre. Just talk to him. He promises.
  • Ronda Rousey took a dig at McGregor and Mayweather for fighting for the money. I mean, I don’t understand that whatsoever but alright.
  • The Naked Gambler explained exactly why USADA keeping Angela Hill out of her UFC return is so bad.

Stay woke, Maniacs.

Email [email protected] to point out typos or rail on this column.

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every night

Welcome to Midnight Mania! Remember, sleep is for the dead and dying. To truly live, you must experience the fullness that can only come from binging late night MMA news and randomness.

2016 has taken a toll on many. This is refreshing to see. It’s also great because he’s trolling journalist Ben Fowlkes, who has mentioned on the Co-Main Event podcast repeatedly that he enjoys just what a weird character Ben Rothwell is.

Just for the hell it. And to give @ben_fowlkes fuel

A photo posted by Ben Rothwell (@rothwellfighter) on

It’s not even the first time he’s done that.

No smoking @ben_fowlkes

A photo posted by Ben Rothwell (@rothwellfighter) on

I mean, he is pretty weird and I’m okay with it.

A photo posted by Ben Rothwell (@rothwellfighter) on

This is cathartic.

Happy Thanksgiving…. meow

A photo posted by Ben Rothwell (@rothwellfighter) on

You know who else liked puppies? Jackie Chan.

Well, okay, everyone likes puppies. But so does Jackie Chan.

Oh, back to violence? Alright, back to violence then. That can be fun too.

Speaking of weird characters, Sage Northcutt is fighting this weekend, and honestly I would love to see him make it to the top for the sole reason he and McGregor could fight, sheerly for the trash talk exchanges.

I mean, how can you even mentally unbalance someone who is never angry?

Honestly, I’m excited for this weekend’s fights.

The FOX card is going to be entertaining, and the Fight Pass feature prelim is Takeya Mizugaki facing off against Eddie Wineland in a great bantamweight fight.


Open Workouts:

Super Sage:

The Karate Hottie, Michelle Waterson

Paige VanZant herself:

Oh, this also makes sense if you are Paige VanZant, Dancing with the Stars runner-up:

Make sure you check out Andrew Richardson’s breakdown of Waterson’s slick armbar:

I went back and watched that fight with Jessica Penne a while ago, and it was pretty slick. Worth your time to see it broken down.


Little did you know that Conor McGregor fought Nate Diaz a third time, in a parking lot:

Can’t wait for Ronda Rousey to fight at UFC 207. Her striking is so technical.

She needs a better coach. Let’s be honest.

At least she’s good with the judo takedowns…

Speaking of takedowns and all-time greats, Jon Jones with the sweetness.

Okay, so RIZIN went full Game of Thrones for their tournament trophy.

Word is, the Queen of Dragons herself will present the winner with said trophy.

Speaking of fighting women…


Christmas Clapbacks

Don’t troll the troll. Coach Edmund is a fantastic parody account, who tweeted at Derrick Lewis:

To which Lewis had a retort:

It is unclear whether Lewis was aware this was a troll account or not. He surely knew after this, however.

Is this the whitest thing you have ever seen?

I’ve seen some white stuff in my day, being white as it gets and all, and that might be it.

Perhaps that explains why I completely agree with Luke Thomas’ take on Drake:

Or it could be because I also have a pair.

If you haven’t been following the Mayweather-McGregor controversy, which I had been mostly ignoring, here’s an update:

First, Mayweather threatened to slap McGregor:

Then he posted this, with a 10 grand reward to the best caption.

CAPTION THIS! Best caption wins $10,000.00. The winner will be announced on Monday, Dec 19. Stay tuned ! #TMT

A video posted by Floyd Mayweather (@floydmayweather) on

I just want to see them go back and forth offering bigger and bigger rewards to caption videos.


Apparently Chael Sonnen, behind the persona, is a pretty good dude:


Quick Hits

  • Mark Hunt got justice against Jacked White Boy Brock Lesnar
  • Scott Coker wants to “talk” to Georges St. Pierre. Just talk to him. He promises.
  • Ronda Rousey took a dig at McGregor and Mayweather for fighting for the money. I mean, I don’t understand that whatsoever but alright.
  • The Naked Gambler explained exactly why USADA keeping Angela Hill out of her UFC return is so bad.

Stay woke, Maniacs.

Email [email protected] to point out typos or rail on this column.