https://twitter.com/valerielouredaa
Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Oh boy, here we go again! Less than a month after Curtis Blaydes fired shots at female athletes like Paige VanZant for using appearance to receive promotional benefits, we have a similar beef on our hands.
It’s impossible to follow MMA on Twitter or Instagram without eventually running across Bellator prospect Valerie Loureda (2-0). The 21-year-old Flyweight has attracted a fairly substantial online following, and it would be dishonest to say that at least some of those followers are interested in more than her Taekwondo abilities. After all, her bio describes her as a model and actress as well as fighter.
A fair amount of her content is similar in nature to the dance below:
I fight for my pic.twitter.com/VpGENfoEas
— Valerie Loureda (@valerielouredaa) May 27, 2020
For whatever reason, UFC Bantamweight and Ultimate Fighter (TUF) champion Macy Chiasson (6-1) found this particular post especially egregious, and replied to condemn the message it sent.
Lol I fucking can’t anymore.
Is this the message we want to continue to convey to not only our future leaders but to the disgusting already misogynistic dudes out here.
Are we here to fight and be role models or are we here for male followers and strip teases.#bringwmmaback https://t.co/vzPMYtZllI
— Macy Chiasson (@macy_chiasson) May 27, 2020
This prompted a long debate between the two athletes. Loureda argues that she is promoting herself in a male-dominated industry and insists there is nothing wrong with being ‘extremely feminine’ while simultaneously being a cage fighter. Chiasson, however, believes that Loureda’s posts and ones like it hurt the sport’s image and deny the seriousness of its female competitors.
Here’s the full exchange:
Girl by putting other women down you’re contracting yourself. Who said I do anything for my male followers ? I have been fighting since I was 2 years old and just like you have other interests like tattoos I like to dance. Lmao simple
— Valerie Loureda (@valerielouredaa) May 27, 2020
I’m all for women being strong and sexy but this really isn’t it. Youre in your mma gear at your gym Gloves, mouth piece and shin guards on. You’re portraying the wrong message to people who watch this sport. You’re portraying that this is what women’s mma is about.
— Macy Chiasson (@macy_chiasson) May 27, 2020
Nah it shows you can be strong feminine and sexy and still be a bad bitch in a male dominated industry. #facts
— Valerie Loureda (@valerielouredaa) May 27, 2020
But……are you tho? Some of us actually care about the quality of womens mma and women’s sports in general. You’re selling sex not mma.
— Macy Chiasson (@macy_chiasson) May 27, 2020
I’m selling sex because I was born with a different body than you and im Hispanic ? LOL I fight in a cage just like you do, when I’m not in a cage I’m extremely feminine and I was born like that. Stop hating lol
— Valerie Loureda (@valerielouredaa) May 27, 2020
Yes. You fight in a cage but not like I do and don’t talk to me like I don’t know what femininity means.
— Macy Chiasson (@macy_chiasson) May 27, 2020
Girl do you and stop harassing other woman who embrace their “femininity” period
— Valerie Loureda (@valerielouredaa) May 27, 2020
Based on what you’ve said. Your definition of embracing femininity is very narrow and that’s really sad. Again, you know nothing about my femininity. It’s really sad.
— Macy Chiasson (@macy_chiasson) May 27, 2020
Awesome you show it in your ways I show it in mine. Good luck in your next bout
— Valerie Loureda (@valerielouredaa) May 27, 2020
Awesome you too. maybe redirect some of this energy into training and maybe we will see you in the UFC soon.
I’m just speaking for all of the women who actually try to sell the sport. I’m also speaking for women in general.
— Macy Chiasson (@macy_chiasson) May 27, 2020
On a lighter note, UFC double-champ Amanda Nunes is a training partner and friend of Loureda. “Lioness” herself has stripped down on Instagram in the past too, but I don’t think anyone in their right mind would try to knock her abilities or legitimacy as a fighter.
Hey @valerielouredaa did I get it right???? pic.twitter.com/YvmnqdW40Z
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) May 28, 2020
Loureda replied, “I love it.”
As with the Blaydes’ criticisms, I find it difficult to fault any fighter trying to make an extra dollar in a career that is rarely lucrative in the long term. Plus, all Bellator events are currently postponed, so it’s not like Loureda could be in the cage right now anyway.
Insomnia
Weili Zhang vs. Rose Namajunas sounds like a fun fight to me!
Spoke to UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili earlier today.
She doesn’t have her next fight yet, but if it was up to her she knows who she would pick:
Rose Namajunas.https://t.co/uG1Ho5dO6r
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 28, 2020
I would happily pay to watch Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal’s sparring sessions.
Work Flow pic.twitter.com/myVcupHL8q
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) May 28, 2020
Francis Ngannou remains a real enigma. How much has he improved since his loss to Stipe Miocic, in which he was uncharacteristically aggressive? It’s impossible to say given how quickly he destroys his opponents.
UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou impressed Joe Joyce’s camp with his boxing skills. pic.twitter.com/SJQDqwFXXv
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) May 28, 2020
Generally, changing directions/turning the corner with a double leg is much more effective than driving straight through the shot.
I like watching Colby Covington fight (his chain wrestling is brilliant!), but not even I can read this with a straight face.
Anthony Rocco Martin is ready to solve the Neil Magny problem next week at UFC 250.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
The flattened out back mount position really is MMA’s version of “Checkmate.”
Shamil Yakhaev (now 5-0) def. Ilya Dyakonskiy via first round RNC #BFC53 pic.twitter.com/nvdPnPq5JN
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) May 28, 2020
… another piece of evidence below, but this time Korshuk showed off his grappling inexperience by failing to complete the sprawl and then giving up his neck easily.
Valery Dashkevich def. Ivan Korshuk by first round RNC in about 45 seconds #BFC53 pic.twitter.com/NEZNJF98XS
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) May 28, 2020
Triangle choke > spastic flailing
Arthur Myagchilov submits Valery Emelyanenko via R1 triangle choke #BFC53 pic.twitter.com/giFvPdslaV
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) May 28, 2020
Random Land
This is the real Man Vs. Wild!
Midnight Music: Few bands make music as pretty and chill as Beach House.
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.