Midnight Mania! UFC has lost 131 fighters in three months

Welcome to Midnight Mania! Tonight, we’ve got a surprising find, an insane head kick knockout at LFA 9, head tattoos, humanoid robot F.E.D.O.R. learning to shoot with both hands, Tecia Torres getting glamor shots and much, much more.

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Insomnia

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) roster is a lot lighter than it was just three months ago — 131 fighters lighter, to be exact. That’s according to an account that keeps track of the roster, UFCFIGHTERSiNFO.

Every weight class has lost numbers.

This may be an attempt to trim fat and cut costs. UFC recently had to take out another loan and is under intense pressure to reach very high financial goals. Several of the fighters lost have been ranked and offered considerable upside, such as Flyweight contender Kyoji Horiguchi and Welterweight standout Lorenz Larkin. Ryan Bader is another departed fighter whose presence in the Light Heavyweight division was notable, along with young Ukranian Nikita Krylov. Gegard Mousasi is the latest to join free agency, his last bout a controversial win over Chris Weidman.

Bellator has been the beneficiary of many of these fighters, but some have also found their way to other organizations, including RIZIN in Japan, which also has an event this weekend.

Jacare, however, will not be among the departed, having recently signed an eight-fight contract. Good on him, because Robert Whitaker’s a very tough opponent, and if tomorrow night goes badly, this could be the highest Jacare’s stock gets. As this picture reminds us, Jacare is 37 — and in spite of a stellar record — isn’t even the first in line for a title shot after Georges St-Pierre. A split decision loss to Yoel Romero moved him down the pecking order, and he needs a win tomorrow just to keep his name in contention.

Here he is, celebrating:

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Bobs and Weaves

Bobby Green explains what it’s like to get your skull tattooed:

I always knew Fedor was an emotionless cyborg from the future sent to kill us all ...

Anderson Silva on a hoverboard will always brighten my day.

Great teaser poster from BossLogic.

Ben Henderson is going to get weird on a new podcast with Duane Finley discussing Jedis, Avengers and even a little mixed martial arts (MMA). That’s good, because Henderson is a weird dude. He’s looking forward to discussing two of those three things.

Tecia Torres gets glamorous for a photoshoot!

Remember when Sage Northcutt didn’t know she was flirting with him online?

Shirtless is just how Sage does everything, because, with those abs, why not? Tecia Torres could appreciate this.

This response encapsulates why Sage is so great. He’s completely clueless.

She saved it though:

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Slips, Rips, and Knockout Clips

Bellator 177 went down tonight, and you can catch the live coverage and play-by-play here.

But, there was plenty of other regional action to fill our highlight reels, including this amazing knockout from LFA9. She went down like she’d been poleaxed:

Let’s see that again, but more slowly this time:

After that, all these will be tame by comparison:

You’ve got to love a great comeback, unless you are the guy who was winning early.

Physical comedy.

A lot of injuries in the square cage at Victory Fighting Championships.

That’s one way to get even.

This was nice. Dragged the foot across his body and then just tree-topped it into a takedown. Beautiful technique.

Stay woke, Maniacs!