Welcome to Midnight Mania!
This weekend (Nov. 9, 2024), UFC will remain in Las Vegas, Nevada for its 100th “Fight Night” event from inside the UFC Apex. It’s not technically the 100th event total because of some numbered pay-per-view (PPV) events that took place early during the pandemic, but UFC Vegas 100 is still a significant milestone (for better or worse).
To celebrate, the promotion released a 90-minute highlight of the 100 best knockouts to take place inside the Apex. There won’t be any raucous crowd reactions, but the knockouts do feature that signature clear audio of punches, knees, and elbows landing clean. Everyone from Derrick Lewis to Sean O’Malley is highlighted!
MMA Orbit’s Logan Offord noticed one conspicuous absence: Francis Ngannou’s title-winning shellacking of Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 (watch here).
The UFC really uploaded a 90 minute video of the best 100 knockouts at the Apex and didn’t include Francis Ngannou’s heavyweight title winning KO over Stipe Miocic.
Pettiness at its finest. ♂️ pic.twitter.com/E95XzSFn5N
— Logan Offord (@loganofford) November 4, 2024
Not only did the Heavyweight title change hands, but it was an incredible KO by any metric. Technically, I suppose there’s the defense that the video is titled “100 UFC Apex Knockouts” rather than best knockouts, but the description does read, “This action-packed compilation showcases the most jaw-dropping knockouts that have taken place at the UFC APEX facility.”
It wouldn’t be the first time Ngannou’s success was forgotten during a UFC production.
Despite a bit of bad blood between UFC CEO Dana White and “The Predator,” all parties have mostly moved on. Miocic is just a couple weeks away from his title shot versus Jon Jones, whereas Ngannou is freshly removed from a successful PFL debut and title win over Renan Ferreira.
pic.twitter.com/YxtB8l6mcZ
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) November 3, 2024
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— oldeuropeanculture (@serbiaireland) November 2, 2024