Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Ahead of Conor McGregor’s return vs. Dustin Poirier, all talk described an unreal return to form for the former double champ. His camp described him as “best shape he’s ever been in” and his coaches promised a focused Irishman. UFC President Dana White said the following just a couple weeks prior to UFC 257:
“There’s nothing more exciting or more fun than a motivated Conor McGregor when his head is in the right place,” White said. “You can tell when he is, and you can tell when he isn’t. Right now, you can tell he’s in. … If something happens to Dustin Poirier, he is the Conor McGregor right now that does not give a (expletive) who we put in that fight on that night. He’s that guy right now.”
Of course, motivated or not, Poirier proved to be the better man that night, knocking out his rival in the second round. Now that some time has passed, White spoke with BT Sports and reevaluated “The Notorious.”
“I think Conor was overlooking Dustin, let me just get through this and onto other things.”
Dana White believes that Conor McGregor was not focused on @DustinPoirier in January.
He discusses the trilogy with @CarolinePearce on YouTube https://t.co/gJZh16DT6z pic.twitter.com/Rdwbd3exVR
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) March 10, 2021
“I don’t think there has to be trash talk or any of that stuff,” White said. “And I don’t know if this is true — only Conor can answer this question — I think Conor was overlooking Dustin, like ‘let me just get through this and onto other things.’”
Ultimately, McGregor and Poirier are likely to complete their trilogy this Summer. Will McGregor be motivated, in the best shape of his life, and more committed than ever? Or will he suffer a dip in motivation or be too busy chasing boxing matches?
The answer may just depend on the outcome.
Insomnia
Tony Ferguson laughs off Islam Makhachev’s callout and hints that he already has a match up in place …
Speaking of Makhachev, Rafael dos Anjos is too game for his own good.
If your brother @TeamKhabib fight me after I beat you let’s do it. https://t.co/V64Dwk4lH7
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) March 10, 2021
“Get off the Internet” is almost always good advice to the stressed out.
. Young brother @funkmasterMMA just get off the internet bro. You don’t need to explain, it isn’t helping. We will talk, it’s what we do. You have to just leave it alone! Enjoy your time, recover, spend time with your family and just relax. Can’t fight every battle https://t.co/kjozYw3Wxy
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) March 10, 2021
RIP to UK MMA referee Neil Hall.
Some sad news for #UKMMA, referee Neil Hall passed away earlier today. It appears he got COVID whilst in hospital following complications after a back surgery. RIP Neil and condolences to his family pic.twitter.com/F8EtlXr346
— Jim (@MMA_Jim) March 10, 2021
Some wild news from GLORY Kickboxing:
A large-scale investigation where Belgian and Dutch authorities infiltrated cryptophone platform SKY ECC, has resulted in 48 arrests & 17 tons of cocaine seized. GLORY Heavyweight Jamal Ben Saddik, one of the main distributors of the devices, has also been arrested. pic.twitter.com/Llt6mh7G5J
— Beyond Kickboxing (@Beyond_Kick) March 10, 2021
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cody Stamann is a great Bantamweight match up between two of the division’s better wrestlers.
Merab Dvalishvili will fight Cody Stamann at UFC event on May 1st. (per @MMAjunkie) #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN pic.twitter.com/pqsjShkcf5
— MaRCeL DoRFF (@BigMarcel24) March 10, 2021
Some super dope Belal Muhammad vs. Leon Edwards art:
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) March 9, 2021
It’s really no wonder Dominick Cruz is mad — that’s a real picture!
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Iancu gets some serious torque on his power shots.
Brutal left hook KO by Ionut Iancu pic.twitter.com/yP1dcct8vz
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) March 10, 2021
Is the overhand right the best way to break the clinch?
I like this back take better than the choke itself. Pretty!
Random Land
Not exactly kite-flying weather:
Midnight Music: Florida rapper Denzel Curry dropped an EP (I think, it’s only like 20 minutes long) with Kenny Beats titled Unlocked 1.5. It fulfills my desire for his brand of aggressive trap, this time with an interesting chopped-and-screwed vibe.
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.