Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every quarantined night!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Originally scheduled for June 7th from inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, UFC 251 has been postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. UFC released a statement earlier today, which reads, “Due to current state and national restrictions on public gatherings and travel, UFC 251 originally scheduled for Perth, Western Australia on Sunday, June 7 has been postponed. UFC looks forward to returning to Perth in the near future with a PPV event in partnership with tourism Western Australia.”
A statement on #UFC251 pic.twitter.com/KDgikDBp95
— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ) May 5, 2020
Prior to its cancellation, a number of title fights had been linked to UFC 251. Originally, Perth was to be the home of Valentina Shevchenko vs. Joanne Calderwood (which has since fallen apart due to injury) and Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway 2. Volkanovski was looking to make his first title defense in his native Australia, but it’s now unlikely he’s able to defend his crown in front of his home country.
For the near future, it seems UFC events are likely to be restricted to Jacksonville, Florida and the mysterious Fight Island.
Insomnia
I’ve been keeping this in my back pocket as a potential headline for a slow quarantine day, but UFC is back! Enjoy Derrick Lewis facing his worst foe yet: wax.
There aren’t many fighters like either Tony Ferguson or Justin Gaethje — part of what makes UFC 249 special!
When you ask people to share their best Tony Ferguson stories, you end up getting some doozies. #UFC249 https://t.co/TcFriW4Jmu pic.twitter.com/Le6cxiOOxc
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) May 4, 2020
This picture of boxers from a century ago is pretty neat. They all look similar enough to modern day fighters, just need an Instagram filter!
Jack Dempsey, center, in training for his 1920 title bout with Bill Brennan, poses with sparring partners Jack Taylor (left) and Jack Thompson. Dempsey defeated Brennan by KO in round 12 in his only Madison Square Garden appearance. #Heavyweight #History #Boxing #Legend #NewYork pic.twitter.com/QELTjpd8oM
— Heavyweight History (@HVYWeightHeroes) May 3, 2020
A Rocky-type workout:
Fighters are getting real desperate.
To answer the prompt, I’d go with pepper jack cheese, avocado, and bacon with some type of fitting BBQ sauce. I expect to read about some cool burger concepts in the comments …
The Mad Titan burger at Scottie’s Pub, named after local fighter Yorgan De Castro, has bacon, cheese, onion rings, jalapeños and a garlic aioli sauce.
What would a burger named after you have on it? pic.twitter.com/anTsQePwkU
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 3, 2020
Slips, rips, and KO clips
The referee really allowed Ernesto Hoost to be a warrior in this one, damn.
Ernesto Hoost vs Jerome Le Banner (K-1 Star Wars ’96) pic.twitter.com/g9kBFuRy2W
— Beyond Kickboxing (@Beyond_Kick) May 4, 2020
On the opposite end of the spectrum, this ref saw a fighter getting outclassed with trips and elbows, stopping the fight before he endured any major damage.
Namsaknoi. pic.twitter.com/KWdF2t5lrt
— nojillnolife (@nojillnolife) May 4, 2020
An even slightly coordinated attack may have ended in better results:
Random Land
I would like to live in this reality.
i don’t watch porn i just look at this and cry pic.twitter.com/7TrBKy7dn1
— aamer (@aamersnow) May 4, 2020
Midnight Music: Tonight’s soundtrack was another recent and acclaimed release, Laura Marling’s Song For Our Daughter. It’s some very pretty folk rock!
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.