Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
“Contender Series” has been an effective vehicle for recruiting new, cheap talent, as each time the show airs, somewhere between two-to-four new athletes join the roster. That adds up over a month-and-a-half of weekly events, which has lead to UFC looking to trim the proverbial fat.
When top-ranked UFC Flyweight Jussier Formiga was released last month, he was told by his management, “They were going to cut 75 fighters.” Per a report from MMAJunkie, we’ve found out the identity of at least four more released athletes, though none are particularly shocking: Justin Ledet, Bevon Lewis, Cole Smith, and Collin Huckbody.
In each case, there is at least a small element of wasted potential. Ledet started his UFC career with a trio of wins at Heavyweight, appearing to be a talented prospect who used quickness and boxing to outmaneuver big men. Instead, he dropped to 205-pounds, promptly lost four fights in a row, and has now been sent his walking papers.
Bevon Lewis was thrown to the deep end in his UFC debut vs. Uriah Hall, showing a lot of skill and athleticism before ultimately getting caught in the third (WATCH IT!). Since that defeat, he did managed to pick up his first UFC win, but he’s been noticeably more hesitant in each of the three fights since, which likely cost him his roster spot.
Cole Smith earned a tough debut win over once-ranked Mitch Gagnon, but the 31-year-old Bantamweight ran into talented prospects in Hunter Azure and Miles Johns afterward, dropping decisions to both men. In perhaps the most talent-rich division in the sport, that simply wasn’t enough to cut it.
Finally, Collin Huckbody never actually made a UFC debut! One of the many “Contenders Series” signees, Huckbody will instead head back to the regional scene in pursuit of another win and UFC call-up.
COVID-19 has fortunes changing quickly in the fight world, so all released fighters would be well-advised to stay ready in case an opportunity opens up.
Insomnia
The December 19 UFC card takes another hit.
Misha Cirkunov vs. Ryan Spann has been removed from UFC Fight Night on December 19.
Cirkunov suffered an undisclosed injury and the UFC is looking to re-book the fight in February.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) December 4, 2020
A strange face swap:
Bruhh…what is this even? pic.twitter.com/50EnkQETOy
— Stiff_Jab (@stiff_jab_) December 3, 2020
Belal Muhammad demonstrates the art of the hustle.
People always asked how we get our guests on remember the show …I just keep sliding in the dms until they respond @dc_mma pic.twitter.com/J9saghJJCE
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 4, 2020
USADA threw the book at Chi Lewis-Perry, who had yet to make his UFC debut, but … it sounds pretty deserved.
An arbitrator recommended the 4-year ban on Lewis-Parry due to him presenting “falsified evidence, specifically an adulterated supplement, to USADA and the arbitrator in support of the athlete’s claims that the prohibited substances had originated from a contaminated supplement.”
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) December 4, 2020
These are the drugs Lewis-Parry tested positive for, per the USADA release pic.twitter.com/4fjcZYq6cf
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) December 4, 2020
Yair Rodriguez, on the other hand, needs to watch a five-minute video on how the app works.
yair said catch me if you can pic.twitter.com/ohv5Kj4s3x
— Hektic_One (@hektic_one) December 3, 2020
Jamahal Hill takes a minor shot at Ovince Saint Preux over his weight miss. Does “OSP” return to Heavyweight after this one?
Muay Thai sweeps are endlessly fun to watch.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
A bunch of fun exchanges capped off by a pretty nasty finish along the ropes:
#OnThisDay in 1982, Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gómez defended the WBC junior featherweight title with a 14th round TKO of Lupe Pintor in New Orleans #boxing #history #boxeo pic.twitter.com/dyDfRWDqwG
— Boxing History (@BoxingHistory) December 4, 2020
Speranza really put his arm in danger by reaching for the head lazily while in guard.
Nice armbar to kick off Shooto Brasil 105
Sandro Dantas subs Rafael Speranza in R1 pic.twitter.com/jATPyRUHKx
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) December 3, 2020
The most classic way to land a high kick:
Random Land
I am not a particularly huge Super Mario fan (obviously I like the games though, who doesn’t?), but this looks amazing.
Midnight Music: A perfect pop song!
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.