Welcome to Midnight Mania!
At UFC 285, Jon Jones took the heavyweight crown by force, choking out Ciryl Gane in just minutes to fulfill his dreams of being a two-time champion. It was a masterful performance, as Jones came back from a three-year layoff to knock out a former interim champion without really taking a chance.
These results are difficult to dispute.
The UFC 285 co-main event saw one of the most shocking title reversals in years when Alexa Grasso dethroned Valentina Shevchenko with a rear naked choke in the fourth round. The fight was competitive the entire time, but Shevchenko’s wrestling seemed to be pulling the fight in his favor. Then Grasso executed his game plan perfectly, slipping in a back kick to instantly take the back and force the finish.
Fight fans can relive the event by watching the video above, which highlights both title fights in super slow-motion video. The biggest hits from the rest of the event are also on display, including the winning “Fight of the Night” brawl between Shavkat Rakhmonov and Geoff Neal.
Notably absent is the low blow Bo Nickal delivered early in his fight with Jamie Pickett, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission says it never happened anyway!
Insomnia
Fans don’t appreciate how much luck goes into fighting. You can’t just be bigger/better than your opponent to have a legendary streak like Alexander Volkanovski or Henry Cejudo; the cookie should also collapse in your favor!
It’s not every day that someone loses weight from an entire class!
I just spoke to Josh Hill and he said he was getting 50% of the Bells scholarship #Bellator292
—Jason Hagholm (@JHagholm1) March 9, 2023
Aljamain Sterling with a few words of motivation…maybe.
The combat sports world owes Mike Perry a debt that can never be repaid. How is every “Platinum” story so funny?!?
I can’t prove it – well, no one can – but in my experience and opinion, the percentage of top level BJJ guys is astronomically higher than MMA.
USADA announced that five Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitors have been suspended for three years for anti-doping violations related to the IBJJF no-gi world championships in December. pic.twitter.com/rJGL2aPpr4
—Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) March 8, 2023
I’ve seen a lot of concerns about Shavkat Rakhmonov’s defense, but I agree with this thread, he has more good habits than bad. Ultimately, it’s impossible to be as aggressive as “Nomad” without getting hit, but it mitigates the risk nicely.
His pivots and small back steps kept him within range while limiting Neal’s offensive options. Often Neal would want to pursue Shavkat but finds him absent or waiting at an advantageous angle to counter, prompting Neal to bail.
2/8 pic.twitter.com/WRbJVKjBPL
— Miguel Class (@MigClass) March 9, 2023
Slips, tears and KO clips
Bellator’s Lightweight tournament is this Friday, and it deserves your attention.
Gorgeous combinations and wild bodywork:
I’ve never seen calf kicks from this angle before.
Yuki Yoza doubles down on the left hand and kicks the back leg until he can drop his man with a calf kick
Yoza was a Kyokushin World Champion at 19 and is fighting for the K-1 62kg title this weekend pic.twitter.com/0arqddpkHX
—Jack Slack (@JackSlackMMA) March 8, 2023
Random terrain
It’s a heist!
Thailand’s elephants have learned to exploit their right of way and no longer pass sugar cane trucks for a quick snack pic.twitter.com/ZbrCGMXTHl
— History Videos (@historyinmemes) March 8, 2023
Midnight Music: Indie, 1997
Sleep well fools! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
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