Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Dricus Du Plessis isn’t impressed by Sean Strickland’s “fake tough guy” act.
Earlier this week, the mouthy Strickland challenged Du Plessis to avoid mixing the martial arts, demanding his former foe stand-and-bang in their upcoming rematch at UFC 312. “Stillknocks” mixed it up effectively in their first fight back at UFC 297, winning a highly competitive split-decision by kicking, punching, and wrestling the volume boxer.
Already, Du Plessis has refused to take the bait and denied Strickland’s request. In a recent interview, the South African champion elaborated further and suggested Strickland take his talents to the boxing ring if he only wants to trade hands.
“Look, it’s a ridiculous thing to ask,” Du Plessis told Fox Sports. “If you want to make pacts about us just standing up, go do boxing. I don’t go into fights thinking I have to stand up, or take the guy down. I do what the situation tells me to do. That’s what MMA fighters do, I’m comfortable everywhere.”
“One hundred per cent, I think we are most likely going to keep it standing,” du Plessis continued. “I know I have the cardio, know I can push him back, and I know I have the power to knock him out, so for me that’s great. Then, if the opportunity comes to get a takedown, it’s a decision you have to make immediately. If you see the moment you take it.”
Aside from relying on his fighting instincts, Du Plessis also doesn’t buy into Strickland’s pacts in general. Per the current Middleweight kingpin, Strickland already failed to live up to a previous “to the death” deal made prior to their first fight.
“He said ‘to the death’ and I was ready for that,” Du Plessis explained. “You saw it, too, I went forward for 23 minutes of a 25 minute fight. But from him? It was jabs and teeps … Sean Strickland knows a lot of one-liners to sound tough, but I expose fake tough guys. And as for him now again saying ‘let’s make this pact?’ What’s the purpose of a pact after we saw what happened the last time? Plus, I’m not here to make pacts, I’m here to win.”
Insomnia
Global Fight League has existed for like three weeks and already is committing signing goofs. Ya gotta love it!
Nikita Krylov is finally back AND he’s fighting the resurgent Dominick Reyes!
Dricus Du Plessis beating the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world would be utterly hilarious … and by Islam vs. Volkanovski precedent, make him the new pound-for-pound king?
Dricus du Plessis reacts to Islam Makhachev saying he’d be willing to move up to 185 and fight him:
“I’ll overpower [Islam] in any situation. I know he walks around heavy, but I walk around heavy. He’s a big lightweight, I’m a big middleweight. There’s a big difference there.”… pic.twitter.com/y3MlZUKG66
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 24, 2025
Marvin Vettori didn’t even know who he agreed to fight — an icon.
lol this whole time I thought it’s Roman kopylov but it’s actually Roman dolidzeAll good different last name same result
— Marvin Vettori (@MarvinVettori) January 24, 2025
I don’t know the full story behind what happened to Arman Tsarukyan, but I sympathize. Nobody wants to work that hard and invest that much into a fight only for the rug to be pulled at the last second.
Arman Tsarukyan had a five month long camp to prepare for his UFC 311 title shot against Islam Makhachev. He had a team of 4 coaches, 11 sparring partners and a masseuse. Said that the camp cost him $60K a month. pic.twitter.com/BYNk9rzhwV
— PAM (@ParamPam1990) January 23, 2025
Devin Haney is getting roasted online for going after Sylvester Stallone … but is he wrong?
Dude don’t know a left hook from a fish hook.. & got the nerve to speak on times being easier in boxing like he wasn’t just an actor.. buddy them rocky movies wasn’t real https://t.co/uGM7Kldi3R
— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) January 24, 2025
Buy Payton Talbott’s merch, it’s for a good cause.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Straight punches down the middle set up a high kick around the guard.
Wait too long to fight hands and pay the price.
One of the weirdest angles on a slam I’ve ever seen.
Random Land
A master of disguise.
Midnight Music: Punk rock, 2025
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
