Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
The last week or two cannot have been kind to the Conor McGregor brand. Sure, there is the “all publicity is good publicity” adage, but while McGregor has received a ton of coverage, it has been overwhelmingly negative. Such a reaction tends to happen when one incessantly makes excuses when not busy making overly personal death threats.
One of the sport’s premier coaches, Tristar’s Firas Zahabi, has also weighed in on the situation. To the Canadian, it’s unthinkable how many fans continue to support “The Notorious” after his recent actions and statements.
“I was really grossed out,” Zahabi explained on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel (via MMAJunkie). “I don’t know how you guys can be fans of this man. I respect him as a fighter. I respect his skills – I can’t deny that. But the way he behaved at the press conference was just horrible.”
Beyond his personal feelings on McGregor, Zahabi wondered whether or not McGregor has any true supporters left in his camp. Is it only “Yes Men” in McGregor’s corner? Even McGregor’s head coach is receiving his share of accusations,
“If Conor McGregor has one true friend in this world … maybe he’s just surrounded by people who just want his prestige and money and they just want what they can get from him,” Zahabi said. “But if he has a single true friend in this world, that true friend is going to take him behind closed doors and tell him, ‘Look, the way you’re behaving – it’s stupid. You’re making yourself look bad. You’re embarrassing us, your family, your friends.’ It’s just a humiliating way for a true martial artist, a warrior to behave.
“He’s going after kids now. Now, if that was anybody else, if that was a guy on a prelim card, we would all be like, ‘Kick this guy off the roster. Kick this guy out of the UFC. No, no, no.’ But because it’s Conor McGregor, you can’t say that. It’s Conor McGregor – he’s the poster boy. He’s the one who sells all the tickets. No – there’s no pass for that.”
Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that anyone intervenes on McGregor’s recent behavior, and we still might have a fourth bout worth of “promotion” to endure.
Insomnia
Miesha Tate appears stronger than ever in her return to the Octagon!
UFC is bringing in another talented UK-rep in Ian Garry. The Cage Warriors champ is 23 years of age and holds a 7-0 professional record.
The UFC appear to have signed Cage Warriors welterweight champion Ian Garry, who has been added to the welterweight rankings pool.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) July 16, 2021
MMA Twitter is having fun with the crushing passage of time.
Thank you, Reddit. pic.twitter.com/0OqkpUPuXa
— FKA UFCFaceSwap (@mmarandom) July 15, 2021
Me watching Lawler vs Diaz 1 vs me watching Lawler vs Diaz 2: pic.twitter.com/4NqGHI69bt
— MMA On Point (@OnPointMMA) July 16, 2021
During Lawler During Lawler
vs Diaz 1 Vs Diaz 2 pic.twitter.com/uFfx1mR1Yk— FFJ MMA (@fufujan1) July 16, 2021
I love Tom Segura, and an MMA coach posted this, so …
The stats surrounding Islam Makhachev are absolutely wild. Being least hit might be the best record to hold in MMA!
Manny Pacquiao puts his speed on display:
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Always be wary of the right hand on the exit of the clinch:
MY GOD #BYB6 pic.twitter.com/jPolM7fP9G
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) July 17, 2021
Southpaw left kick is overpowered, please nerf.
Micha? Krystman KO’s Grzegorz Smoli?ski – Armia Fight Night 10 pic.twitter.com/GlbsUGU291
— Streetfight Banned-cho (@streetfitebncho) July 16, 2021
One of the more unique full knockouts to ever be posted in this column:
Someone show this to the “MMA should be banned” guy pic.twitter.com/wqkE2gffiT
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) July 16, 2021
Random Land
Iron Chef vs. Panda Express!
Midnight Music: RIP to the great Biz Markie. Markie has some other good tracks, but “Just A Friend” will live forever.
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.