Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Israel Adesanya may not be fighting this weekend (Sat. Jan. 20, 2023) at UFC 297, but he’s certainly an interested party. Sean Strickland defeated Adesanya and took his Middleweight title back in September in one of 2023’s biggest upsets, and prior to that fight, Adesanya had built up a pretty nasty rivalry with Dricus Du Plessis.
He’s quite possibly going to face the winner of their main event showdown sometime later in the year. Maybe even at UFC 300? Whatever the timeline for his return, “Stylebender” could very possibly be fighting the winner, which makes his breakdown of the match up and subsequent Du Plessis prediction all the more interesting.
Whether it’s genuine analysis from the former champion or simple wishful thinking, Strickland doesn’t want to hear any of it. At the UFC 297 presser, he took a brief moment to address Adesanya’s prediction … or at least berate Adesanya for his performance in their UFC 293 showdown.
“Listen Izzy, the f—king guy, the f—king cringelord, the pup play himself. F—k Izzy,” Strickland said (via MMAFighting). “I could have took Izzy down and beat his ass on the ground but I chose to stand with him like a man. What did he do the whole fight? Run away like a b—ch. Izzy, shut your f—king mouth.”
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LIVE! Watch UFC 297 PPV On ESPN+ Here!
CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLE DIP! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) kicks off its 2024 pay-per-view (PPV) season on Sat., Jan. 20, 2024, with its inaugural pay-per-view (PPV) event of the year from inside Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In the ESPN+-streamed PPV main event, reigning Middleweight roost-ruler, Sean Strickland, will lock horns with newly-formed rival, Dricus Du Plessis. In UFC 297’s “no good” co-main event, Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva will lock horns for Amanda Nunes’ vacated Bantamweight belt. UFC 297 will also feature the returns of Neil Magny, Chris Curtis, Arnold Allen and so much more!
Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching action!
Insomnia
Cedric Doumbe sold out PFL Paris in 20 minutes. The man is a genuine star!
Sean Strickland’s rant at the presser has escaped beyond the usual MMA sphere, and the results are … awkward.
“That is bullsh*t that we allow that…What are we doing?…I challenge ESPN to make a public statement about this.…are you a chicken sh*t?…this is revolting…”
– @MichaelRyanRuiz reacts to UFC Middleweight Champion, Sean Strickland’s comments on the LGBT Community.
… pic.twitter.com/3Cd1dZjNYG
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) January 18, 2024
Looks like this MMA fighter is a big insecure baby who likes to punch down!
Sean Strickland went on an unhinged anti-LGBTQ rant after a reporter had the audacity to ask him about…things he’s said.
Oh, and @ScotiabankArena and @ufc are apparently fine with it.
Cool! pic.twitter.com/TDO1RKqAlt
— Rachel Gilmore (@atRachelGilmore) January 18, 2024
January 17, 2024
On a related note, Alex Pereira will likely be in attendance of UFC 297.
Conor McGregor partnering up with BKFC — who would have predicted that even two years ago?
Joe Pyfer and Joe Rogan review the clip of his record-breaking power punch.
Sergei Pavlovich undergoes a hardcore and freezing baptism!
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Some throwback “Stillknocks” finishes:
An old school example of the same-side high kick landing flush.
Liam Harrison beating the legs off his opponent:
Random Land
The force of this landslide is scary.
Midnight Music: Blues, 1961
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
