Welcome to Midnight Mania!
A week ago, Conor McGregor was all smiles online despite the controversy and questions surrounding his alleged “minor injury.” There was a lot of optimism from McGregor and the general fighting community regarding his upcoming UFC 303 main event versus Michael Chandler, which is supposed to go down on June 29, 2024.
Supposed to.
That booking is looking less and less likely by the minute. The latest report is overwhelmingly negative, strongly hinting that UFC was in need of a new main event option. McGregor himself posted an update (sort of) to his social media, reposting an older video of himself talking about avoiding injury. He explains, “I think the more resistance you train with, the less movement and the more injury. But the less resistance you train with, the more movement and the less injury. So, a band balances itself.”
Accompanying those philosophical training thoughts? A sad emoji and some prayer hands.
Fan fans are viewing this post — which has since been deleted — as an absolutely terrible sign for the UFC 303 main event. Check out some of the reactions to McGregor’s post below:
“Seems pretty clear at this point that Conor McGregor is out and he knows it and would like to inform the fans, except the UFC is preventing him from doing so until they find a way to save the card.”
“So much for the return”
“lol he’s trolling and everyone is eating it up for clicks”
“Can he at least take a Power Slap fight”
“Conor is cooked”
“It’s so over”
“I do not want to hear Conor say the word “injury” before this fight.”
Stay tuned for updates to UFC 303, which seem imminent ... one way or another.
Insomnia
Chael Sonnen is 47 years old, but he hasn’t even begun to peak!
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) June 13, 2024Chael Sonnen takes his shirt off and flexes while playfully taunting the Brazilian crowd
"I'm gonna let you ladies see, one last time, what a real man is about all. 217 perfectly woven pounds." pic.twitter.com/TnCWyK4y8E
I would love to see Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, and I hope it works out that way.
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 12, 2024Dricus du Plesis says he's agreed to fight Israel Adesanya at #UFC305 in Perth, and doesn't know what the hold up is:
"Let's just announce this thing, I don't know what's the hold up... I've said yes, one hundred percent.
From his side I don't know what the story is, I don't… pic.twitter.com/tqw49TxY0s
Can Jake Paul and Sean O’Malley save UFC 303? More importantly — WHO YA GOT?!?
MMA fight before Tyson ✅ @PFLMMA https://t.co/D5OYICXUx2
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) June 12, 2024
I like that the commentator’s first reaction to the chaos in the ring is a chuckle.
Chaos in the ring when Magomed Abusalamov held a choke and Kirill Karpekin kicked him in the face. Magomed's cornerman entered to attack Karpekin. Looks like they talked it out. #WKGMMA pic.twitter.com/3hf0X4b7AE
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 8, 2024
Odd how all the Russian/Muslim fighters I can think of who came through the Jackson-Wink doors were at least one weight class below Kennedy ...
Cowboy Cerrone says Tim Kennedy used to take it upon himself to destroy the Russian/Muslim fighters at JacksonWink pic.twitter.com/9nKuEO7N4Z
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) June 11, 2024
The beef between Oscar De La Hoya and Canelo Alvarez continues.
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) June 11, 2024Oscar De La Hoya firing back at Canelo Alvarez today: “You lined my pockets and made Jaime Munguia a s*** load of money, all because you’re afraid of David Benavidez. F*** you.”
Move aside boxing, Craig Jones vs. ADCC is shaping up to be my favorite beef of the year.
Craig Jones accuses “the other tournament” (ADCC) of secretly offering certain athletes show money pic.twitter.com/xQVdeodSx5
— BJJotter (@JiujitsuOtter) June 11, 2024
25-4 ACA Lightweight champion Eduard Vartanyan rides an eight-fight win streak, but he will NOT be signing with UFC.
Vartanyan ain't going to UFC. They didn't want to offer him the contract, only were will to offer him the spot on DWCS, which of course he rejected. Most likely will go back to ACA. https://t.co/mfmpCD60OM
— Fedor’s nephew (@FdrNphw) June 12, 2024
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Ripping body shots on an opponent trapped on the ropes:
— COMBAT SPORTS TODAY (@CSTodayNews) June 7, 2024Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri with the first round knockout via body shot
Homie definitely has tight hips ...
WE'VE GOT A BANANA SPLIT FINISH #FCC38 pic.twitter.com/yBeSF7W1RU
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) June 8, 2024
Major airtime on this wild slam!
JACK GRANT WITH THE SUPLEX AND TKO WIN. #PFLNewCastle pic.twitter.com/KQTHxb07kK
— COMBAT SPORTS TODAY (@CSTodayNews) June 8, 2024
Random Land
Stand your ground!
A professional bear guide demonstrates what to do if a bear charges at you. pic.twitter.com/wAGEWblQBb
— Nature is Amazing ☘️ (@AMAZlNGNATURE) June 11, 2024
Midnight Music: Psych rock, 1967
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
