Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Stephen Thompson has a new source of inspiration towards becoming UFC champion.
A couple weeks back, Thompson picked apart Kevin Holland to return to the win column in stellar fashion (HIGHLIGHTS). It was a drastically different outcome compared to his previous two fights against Belal Muhammad and Gilbert Burns, dreadfully boring contests that saw Thompson stuck on the bottom for long periods of time.
At 39 years of age, “Wonderboy” isn’t going to suddenly become an elite wrestler. There’s a reason why he’s targeting match ups with strikers. They’re more fun, and he’s more likely to win them! Fun fights rarely equate to title shots, however, but that goal remains on Thompson’s mind.
In a wrestler-heavy division like Welterweight, how does that work out for Thompson? Well, Thompson revealed a rumor that Kamaru Usman is injured and unable to make it to his planned trilogy bout with Leon Edwards. Instead, UFC is searching for a replacement, and one option being considered is Jorge Masvidal … a striker that “Wonderboy” already beat up back in 2017.
“I’m still going for the title,” Thompson said on the Fred Talks Fighting podcast (via Josh Evanoff). “I know the guys ranked above me right now are some heavy wrestlers but everybody wants to see me fight a stand-up fight. Which, I don’t mind at all. Any of those guys, Jorge Masvidal, Michel Pereira.”
He continued, “People are in-talks of me fighting Leon Edwards. I know Kamaru Usman is having hand surgery, I know they want to fight somebody in March and they were looking at Jorge Masvidal. He’s a standup fighter, so it kind of inspires me a bit, our division is so wrestler-heavy, and Leon Edwards is a striker and he’s champ. So, anyone of those guys would be awesome.”
If Usman really is injured, the Welterweight title picture will end up a bit of a mess. Masvidal’s star power could indeed end up overruling his current losing streak. Similarly, Khamzat Chimaev’s momentum could allow the promotion to ignore his massive failure to make weight at UFC 279. Finally, perhaps this is an explanation to how Belal Muhammad — the most deserving but least marketable contender — managed to end up with an alleged contract to fight “Rocky.”
Hopefully, London will learn of its main event sooner than later.
Insomnia
Jan Blachowicz was treated terribly inside the Octagon at UFC 282 after his fight, and he deserves the highest level of respect.
Let me reiterate something. First – I honestly don’t think the fight was terrible at all. Second – I don’t feel I’ve won but neither that I lost. A draw was fair. 1/2
— Jan Blachowicz (@JanBlachowicz) December 12, 2022
End result – One dude cried and talked about his supposed injuries, another dude showed that honor can be and still is upheld in this game. I’m glad the fans see it and appreciate it for what it is.
— Jan Blachowicz (@JanBlachowicz) December 12, 2022
The MMA community is having fun at Paddy Pimblett’s expense.
— Heavyweight Thanos (@MMAThanos) December 12, 2022
Dana White is a certified crook pic.twitter.com/VFeuJi2Hdu
— ? (@Sa_Gwang) December 11, 2022
Takeru empties the tank with power kicks:
????? @m_watanabe925 pic.twitter.com/t8pNoOAcjb
— ?? takeru (@takerusegawa) December 12, 2022
I remember Chris Curtis getting out-wrestled several times at Welterweight in PFL, but his takedown defense has been incredible lately!
Out here manupliating the ratings AND I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE pic.twitter.com/q7wjdoElp7
— Chris Curtis The Action Man (@Actionman513) December 12, 2022
Is Dagestan the answer to Cody Garbrandt’s recent struggles inside the Octagon?
Cody Garbrandt is going to Dagestan apparently
Ankalaev’s coach: “Cody is flying with us to Makhachkala” pic.twitter.com/QgJ58Xf3HG
— ? (@Sa_Gwang) December 12, 2022
Anyone got a guess on what year this clip is from?
Credit to Anthony Smith for handling a tough moment while live and on air.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
I am not up-to-date on high level Muay Thai competition aside from the details provided in the caption, but it looks to me like Rittewada got a bit too comfortable.
OH MY GOD!
Fabio Reis with a huge upset against Rittewada! The Thai fighter was in control of the fight until Reis sat him down with a beautiful right hand and finished the job moments after. pic.twitter.com/rHKNDqZE40
— Beyond Kickboxing (@Beyond_Kick) December 9, 2022
Man did almost nothing to defend the kneebar, wild.
What a beautiful kneebar by Vic Moreno #LUX029 pic.twitter.com/bw3XHRaD18
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) December 10, 2022
Liam Harrison low kick highlight!
Random Land
Absolutely terrifying.
Midnight Music: For my Dead heads.
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.