Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Islam Makhachev could be the strongest man at 155-pounds.
The lifelong wrestler manhandles top-notch opponents with relative ease most of the time, and that dominance has raised some eye brows. Notably, former opponent and longtime UFC veteran Bobby Inexperienced was adamant that Makhachev was utilizing efficiency enhancing medication (PEDs). One other previous opponent, Dan Hooker, repeatedly accused Makhachev of utilizing IVs to rehydrate, a technique which may additionally masks PED utilization.
It doesn’t assist Makhachev’s status that he had a run-in with the UFC’s earlier drug testing firm, United States Anti-Doping Company (USADA). Again in 2016, an out-of-competition check was flagged for meldonium, and Makhachev was handed a 3 month suspension regardless of being rapidly discovered “with out fault or negligence.”
Sadly, that controversy stays a stain on his status. Issues are trying up, nonetheless, as a result of eight years later, Makhachev has joined the Ugly Jacket Membership! That’s an achievement for fighters who’ve efficiently handed 50 drug exams with out difficulty, and UFC Senior Vice President of Anti-Doping Compliance Jeff Novitzky took the mic to clear Makhachev’s title of the 2016 incident.
In keeping with Novitzky, the entire thing is USADA’s fault! Good factor UFC ousted that group final yr.
“In 2016, USADA, who ran our program, put it on our prohibited checklist,” Novitzky stated about Meldonium (through MMAJunkie). “Earlier than that, you have been allowed to make use of it. He had a medical process again in 2014. He submitted paperwork that he used it underneath that. In the end, he was cleared by USADA. However in my view, one of many best, colossal errors in anti-doping. It affected not solely Islam however a number of different UFC athletes and a whole bunch of different newbie Olympic athletes.
“That’s one thing that simply can’t occur. That’s one thing you’ll be able to carry ahead with you and your status perpetually. I’m right here at present at present to say that Islam completely did nothing improper. This error was on the anti-doping authority, not him. It’s crucial to notice that.”
These days, Fight Sports activities Anti-Doping is in command of the UFC drug testing program. Can they keep away from any extra “colossal errors” and preserve the game clear? Not everyone seems to be satisfied.
Insomnia
Joaquin Buckley is allowed to say foolish s—t on a regular basis if he’s really all the way down to combat Shavkat Rakhmonov …
Nick Diaz needs to combat the stiffest of competitors, which is the precise reverse of what I’d wish to see as a fan.
| @arielhelwani has revealed a listing of matchups that Nick Diaz was asking for earlier than agreeing to combat Vicente Luque at #UFCAbuDhabi:
Georges St-PierreColby Covington at UFC 300Michael ‘Venom’ Web page at UFC 303Kevin Holland at UFC 303
[per The MMA Hour] pic.twitter.com/ZYgXN2nhaw
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) Could 29, 2024
The final hatred of Colby Covington is so sturdy it’s turning enemies to allies.
Islam Makhachev says at #UFC302 media day that he’s inviting Charles Oliveira to his coaching camp to assist him with wrestling for a possible Colby Covington combat. pic.twitter.com/qVYoraAalK
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) Could 29, 2024
One other fascinating motive to look at the UFC 302 undercard!
A combat that’s going underneath the radar this weekend is Edwards vs. Perez.
There may be some SERIOUS dangerous blood between the pair of Bantamweights as Perez’s coach choked Edwards unconscious final November after the ladies received right into a combat on the UFC PI. pic.twitter.com/sUot7vkjUv
— Alex Behunin (@AlexBehunin) Could 30, 2024
Ex-UFC Light-weight Justin Jaynes struggling reminiscence loss after a knockout loss on the regional scene:
Cody Garbrandt celebrates two years sober.
I’m glad to see a softer aspect of Sean Strickland, however wasn’t he speaking s—t on canine house owners with out children like … a month in the past?
Slips, rips, and KO clips
His methodology was chaotic, however Schisano successfully received Caldarera to the fence after which unloaded a proper hand.
Final Fighter veteran Joe Giannetti put his opponent to sleep in seconds over the weekend.
The left hook closes the door on a swang-and-bang brawl.
Random Land
Is Batman prepared for Energy Slap?
Midnight Music: The brand new Billie Eilish album is sort of good in my view, her ordinary mixture of quiet and unhappy, loud and catchy.
Sleep effectively Maniacs! Extra martial arts insanity is all the time on the way in which.
