Welcome to Midnight Mania!
For the second time, there is a pound-and-pound debate centering around Jon Jones and one of the elite fighters in the Dagestani sport.
Back in October 2020, Khabib Nurmagomedov retired on top, smoking Justin Gaethje before riding off into the sunset (despite Dana White’s protests). Before leaving the sport forever, Nurmagomedov publicly claimed the pound-for-pound king of the UFC rankings. The media agreed to his request, to Jones’ dismay.
Three years later, “Bones” was back in the favour, edging past the top of that list when he handily submitted Cyryl Gane at UFC 285. Current UFC lightweight champion and longtime teammate of Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev was in contention for that rating as well, and it doesn’t look like that. Fan of the return of the heavyweight “Bones”.
“This is the bulls, brother,” Makhachev said said Daniel Cormier on his YouTube channel (via MMAJunkie). “How can Jon Jones be No. 1? He beat someone who’s not a champion. This guy (Jane) doesn’t have a belt, and they put him at No. 1. This is a bulls-t. … It doesn’t matter how he beat him. The UFC put him the best pound. for a pound. But other people who know about MMA, they know who the best fighter in the world is. Don’t call me lightweight champion. Call me the best pound-for-pound fighter.”
Of course, there is only one way Makhachev can truly separate himself from the pack. After fending off Alexander Volkanovsky’s attempt to claim double champion status at UFC 284, Makhachev was targeting heavyweight gold and his own opportunity. In the same interview, he expressed confidence in the potential fight against 170-pound King Leon Edwards.
“This is my dream,” said Makhachev, “and I’m sure that I can be a double hero.” “I can beat Leon Edwards. Show good defense (takedown). It will be different with me. I can punch with him, I can grapple with him, grapple. Anywhere I can beat this guy. Just give me one chance, and that’s it. Maybe after If I win a second belt, they’ll put me better pound for pound.”
Currently, neither Jones nor Makhachev are booked to fight. Jones is expected to face Stipe Musick sometime later this year, while Makhachev could be Charles Oliveira’s next match in Abu Dhabi.
insomnia
Jorge Masvidal was giving and receiving the ending of all three of these (potentially) fight-ending sequences.
Unintentional self (basically, same team/best friends) from the lightweight champ:
I loved Charles Oliveira embracing the cross kick combo against the opposite stance fighter.
In my experience, I expect most UFC Lightweights to be around 170-175 lbs on fight night and 180-190 outside of fight camp.
The crazy thing about responding to this video is that it was the day of the fight against poirier… I was in the low 70s the day of the fight. https://t.co/EkTvnxHwDq
– Michael Chandler (MikeChandlerMMA) June 14, 2023
Another Chandler post – Did Michael Chandler do something wrong here by admitting his “veteran” fighter is younger than the “prospect”?
Can Francis Marshall get back into the winning column after his first career loss to William Gomis?
Instantly iconic impersonation.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
This is obviously a disqualification, but… I get it. I expect the rematch to be emotionally charged!
At that time, Konstantin Glukhov was completely tired of Mikhail Gazaev’s nonsense. After 10 years they finally play it again tomorrow at AMC Fight Nights 120. https://t.co/P9lePV3hGJ
– Nightmare (Recorder_Hitman) June 14, 2023
Kart jitsu ranks high among the dumbest combat sports.
There are countless great nak muai that most of us know little or nothing about. Here is one:
random land
Locations of some classic album covers:
Midnight Music: 1970, Reggae
Sleep well lunatics! More martial arts craze is always on the way.