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Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Mike Davis is an exciting Lightweight prospect.
“Beast Boy” has won his last four fights, stopping two opponents and dominating the other two. His only loss came via short-notice debut to Gilbert Burns, and he holds an impressive 82% finish rate overall. Why then hasn’t Davis advanced up the ladder or built any serious momentum?
Largely, it’s been activity. Five fights in six years on the UFC roster is not an impressive rate. Davis admitted as much and aimed to fight more often, which resulted in a more high-profile Lightweight booking versus fellow action fighter Drew Dober at UFC Denver on July 13, 2024.
Sadly, that opportunity has fallen apart. In the video above, Davis shares how he torn his bicep training wrestling. It looks fairly innocuous as Davis aims to scramble to his feet, but the loud crunch sound is a clear indication otherwise.
“Journal entry: June 16, 2024,” Davis followed up. “This kills me man … Completely tore my bicep during my sparring rounds on Tuesday. June 11th. Resulting in 3.5in retraction in my bicep.
Yes, I need surgery. They have to reattach the tendon by drilling it back into the bone.”
Likely, it will be at least a couple months before Davis is able to get back to martial arts training. Here’s hoping he recovers quickly, and that UFC is able to locate a replacement opponent for Dober.
Insomnia
Just a pair of buds a few days removed from trying to murder each other.
Checking in from #UFCSaudiArabia @SPavlovich13 and @AlexDragoVolkov have arrived for fight week!#RiyadhSeason | @RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/bMufKMFZq4
— UFC (@ufc) June 18, 2024
Javid Basharat gets a big step up in name value and competition versus Chris Gutierrez.
Javid Basharat (@JavidBasharat) returns on August 3rd at #UFCAbuDhabi. He takes on Chris Gutierrez (@CGutierrezMMA) in the bantamweight division. pic.twitter.com/hrmX4VVA9x
— Marcel Dorff (@BigMarcel24) June 18, 2024
Is some extra fame in the USA worth a 1/20th or so fight purse? Apparently not.
Salahdine Parnasse’s manager states that the UFC offer “was between 20 and 30 times less” than the KSW’s one. https://t.co/SCly7CXLXE
— Al Zullino (@phre) June 18, 2024
Stephen Thompson’s ability to maintain his balance while blinded is seriously impressive.
Wonderboy blind sparring challenge pic.twitter.com/2KMzyQu0ih
— Bond. WonderBond (@wonderbondmma) June 16, 2024
I’ve heard this theory many times. What happens if Khamzat were to actually win a belt? One defense per year (health pending)? Seems like an issue.
Paulo Costa on Khamzat Chimaev: I think he cannot step in United States.#TheMMAHour pic.twitter.com/ToNMMrIrH3
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) June 17, 2024
Jailton Almeida is the only reasonable option for Ciryl Gane.
Hey @fernandlopez @ciryl_gane , Ares already happened, lets talk about big fights. 28, semptember is comming, and the only fight to make in Paris is Almeida x Gane, lets go guys, winner go to title shot! @danawhite @Mickmaynard2
— Jailton Almeida “Malhadinho” (@Malhadinho_UFC) June 17, 2024
Do we see Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg again at some point?
Steve Erceg: “I still want to punch Pantoja in the face.”
“He was nice to me, but afterward, he said some stuff like I hit like a girl. You don’t want to say stuff like that to me… I don’t know what girls he’s been around, but his face was full of blood.”
@MainEventTV… pic.twitter.com/CK8YYCUjI3
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) June 17, 2024
Slips, rips, and KO clips
It’s good to see Kyle Daukaus picking up wins — finishes, specifically — after the rough ending to his UFC career. I expect he’ll be back!
KYLE DAUKAUS WITH THE HANDS
AND STILL #CFFC132 pic.twitter.com/9NzeW7eg0b
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) June 15, 2024
An 11-second one punch KO at women’s Bantamweight feels like a surefire way to secure a UFC contract.
AUTTUMN NORTON 11 SECOND KO!!!!
SHES THE NEW CFFC BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION!!! #CFFC132 pic.twitter.com/fAva9cvgky
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) June 15, 2024
Just yesterday, I was talking to a team mate, and we agreed: we’d rather get our arms snapped than lower extremities shredded via calf slice or banana split.
WHAT A SUBMISSION FOR THE BANTAMWEIGHT BELT!!!!#Unified57 pic.twitter.com/3I0hIg7vfq
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) June 15, 2024
Random Land
Vital timing.
Midnight Music: Innervisions is an all-timer.
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.