Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Longtime Welterweight and Lightweight athlete Anthony Rocco Martin is no longer a member of the UFC roster per MMAJunkie. Martin was last seen competing in June at UFC 250 opposite Neil Magny, coughing up a close decision to the veteran clinch fighter. Though that bout is well over half a year ago, it is only now that UFC and Martin have opted to go their separate ways.
“I am excited for what the future holds,” Martin told MMAJunkie in a written statement. “I’m ranked 22 on Tapology. I feel like I am entering my prime and can’t wait for a new home. I want to find a place that I can compete to be a world champion and push to be the best in the world.”
Martin joined the UFC roster in 2014, diving into the deep end of Lightweight competition with losses to Rashid Magomedov and Beneil Dariush. He would find success at 155-pounds, but Martin’s best work came after returning to Welterweight, where a four-fight win streak saw him briefly score a spot in the rankings and challenge Demian Maia.
Though he’s recently lost two of three, Martin remained a rather high-level Welterweight. Is he simply a victim in the latest roster purge, or is Martin opting to gun for a million dollar payday in Professional Fighter’s League (PFL)?
Insomnia
Anyone got a guess as to what’s inside Paulo Costa’s “secret juice?”
The latest issue of Bantamweight beef:
Hey big mouth @funkmasterMMA why you went quiet recently? Don’t worry I’m not gonna beat you up too hard. I will put you to sleep nicely, you won’t even realize what happened! And your friend Merab can get the same treatment from my bro Denis Lavrentyev on the same night too
— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) January 29, 2021
Michael Chandler warming up prior to his big knockout win over Dan Hooker is pretty cool.
Ever throw someone via front flip?
This clip of Francis Ngannou and Cyril Gane (lightly) sparring may grow pretty relevant in the semi-near future … but that’s only if Gane gets by Jairzinho Rozenstruik in what’s now a main event!
Gane and Ngannou spa pic.twitter.com/WtsJXeUNbQ
— mmaconscience (@mmaconscience) January 28, 2021
Ladies and gentlemen, my fight against Ciryl Gane got rescheduled for February 27! 5×5 minutes main card. Spread the word! @ufc @michaelbabb01 #MMA #BigiBoy #Suriname pic.twitter.com/vBL8Tea9F5
— Jairzinho ‘BIGI BOY’ Rozenstruik (@JairRozenstruik) January 30, 2021
Jake Paul has already made some off-color comments about Ben Askren’s wife, but “Funky” seems unbothered. We really have two more months of this buildup?
Slips, rips, and KO clips
It’s the 10-year anniversary of a classic Nick Diaz brawl, so relive that glorious moment!
Nick Diaz vs. Evangelista Cyborg pic.twitter.com/uSPu1vNVvP
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) April 17, 2020
Once Ikebunna was able to get his leg deep in Olajiga’s armpit, the armbar quickly became a real threat. Angle is key for bottom position submissions!
Obinwa Ikebunna submits Dan Olajiga in the first round #LFA98 pic.twitter.com/pClt44jKHC
— Streetfight Banned-cho (@streetfitebncho) January 30, 2021
Lots of left hooks!
#OnThisDay in 1979, @pipino_cuevas defended the WBA welterweight title with a 2nd round TKO of Scott Clark at the Forum in Inglewood, California #boxing #history #boxeo pic.twitter.com/C3eQFRqMw2
— Boxing History (@BoxingHistory) January 29, 2021
Random Land
One for the travel goals list!
Midnight Music: I believe I’ve expressed this sentiment before, but it bears repeating: Freddie Gibbs is the best rapper spitting right now.
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.