Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Max Holloway continues to be driving excessive after his all-time nice knockout win over Justin Gaethje (watch it) at UFC 300 a pair weeks in the past. The “Blessed” Hawaiian scored a BMF title because of the victory, however he additionally lined himself up for an additional shot at Featherweight gold reverse present champion Ilia Topuria.
The combat itself will go down in historical past as a masterclass efficiency, as Holloway touched up Gaethje in each spherical previous to the buzzer-beater knockout. Nonetheless, that’s to not say Gaethje didn’t additionally discover his personal success. “The Spotlight” landed fairly a number of heavy low kicks that bruised up Holloway’s lead leg, and he actually landed some clubbing hooks upstairs too.
One such proper hand caught Holloway upside the the cover and briefly despatched him to the ground. Holloway bounced again up and fought again instantly, nevertheless it gave the impression to be the primary knockdown in opposition to him in an already legendary profession! Formally, nonetheless, it wasn’t deemed a knockdown, because the UFC statisticians are UFCStats.com don’t acknowledge the trade as a knockdown.
Even Holloway is aware of that’s bulls—t, nonetheless, and he admitted as a lot on the “JRE MMA Present”
“It didn’t rely as a drop, which is loopy,” Holloway mentioned (through MMA Junkie). “ESPN is posting and saying like in nonetheless many fights I’m with the UFC, I nonetheless didn’t get dropped. That’s some bulls—t. Give Justin that one. Like, I’ll take it, you realize what I imply? However I wouldn’t be a person sitting right here and telling you that he didn’t.”
“Bro, I don’t even keep in mind getting hit with that punch,” Holloway continued. “After which I sat, and I got here again up. I used to be like, ‘What the – what did he simply hit me with?’ You understand what I imply? I used to be like, ‘Holy s—t!’ I used to be like, ‘That was punch.’
“Then once I rewatched it, he hit me like proper on the highest of my dome. I used to be like, ‘Holy smack, brother. This man smacks.’ I used to be nice as quickly as I acquired up, nevertheless it was a type of like, ‘Growth.’ The legs simply give out. Like, I used to be nonetheless there, even once I was standing, I used to be taking a look at him. However I don’t understand how that didn’t rely as a drop. I don’t know what they rely as a drop.”
It’s a bit harking back to when Colby Covington grew to become the primary man to take down Kamaru Usman of their second combat … just for UFC statisticians to say it wasn’t a takedown! MMA isn’t boxing or wrestling, so the requirements for a knockdown and takedown might be totally different from the bottom sports activities, however the place’s the road?
Apparently, not even a adorned champion like Holloway is for certain.
Insomnia
Does Conor McGregor solely publish sparring clips of him beating up dudes who don’t appear on the degree to spar him? Sure. Nonetheless, no one else strikes fairly like “Infamous!”
In his 34 skilled fights, Tim Elliott has confronted a who’s who of Flyweight historical past. If he says he’s injured and might’t combat, we should always consider him.
I’ve solely ever pulled out of 1 scheduled combat within the ufc since 2012. I had a hematoma surgical procedure on each nostrils, then the subsequent day had all my packing and stitches and blood clot come out throughout a pad session. I needed to have the surgical procedure redone and pulled out. I wish to combat!
— Tim Elliott (@TElliott125) April 26, 2024
Can Dominick Reyes return to the win column and get his profession again on monitor?
Nope, I didn’t know that! It makes the Mark Hunt rant copypasta even funnier.
Congratulations to Paddy Pimblett and his household!
I at all times have time for footsweep.
Basic naked knuckle shenanigans.
Alexander Volkov “borrowed” a purchasing cart for the bit — find it irresistible.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Jorge Masvidal was selecting up top-notch wins all the way in which again in 2007.
Talking of athletes with nice wins in throughout a 20-year profession:
Will you be tuning into RIZIN subsequent week?
Subsequent Monday Chihiro Suzuki will defend his Rizin belt in opposition to Masanori Kanehara. With a document of 12-3 his final two victories have been in opposition to Vugar Karamov and Patricio Pitbull and is changing into one of the crucial attention-grabbing fighters in Rizin. pic.twitter.com/Gz8riC0zZg
— Haduucken (@Haduuuucken) April 24, 2024
Random Land
Apologies for neglecting RL final night time. Anyway, take a look at CalicoCutPants.com!
Midnight Music: Tonight, I checked out and loved the latest folk-y, countryish album from Waxahatchee titled Tigers Blood.
Sleep effectively Maniacs! Extra martial arts insanity is at all times on the way in which.
