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Welcome to Midnight Mania! Tonight we’ve got Vasyl Lomachenko teasing a UFC bout, possibly against Conor McGregor, Chris Weidman showing his sexy side, Kelvin Gastelum still hunting for that fight against Anderson Silva, knockouts, free fights, and much more.
Insomnia
Vasyl Lomachenko is atop many pound-for-pound lists in boxing. The Ukranian is a world champion at super featherweight, which is 130 pounds in boxing. A multiple-time Olympic gold medalist in boxing, he recently called out Irish superstar Conor McGregor. Not for a boxing match, which has been McGregor’s focus of late. Instead, Lomachenko mentioned a background in wrestling, judo, and the Russian grappling art of sambo, and asked Conor McGregor if he should try his luck in the UFC.
I used to win many wrestling, judo, and sambo tournaments as a kid. Should I try fighting in the @ufc ? What do you think @TheNotoriousMMA?
— Hi-Tech Lomachenko (@VasylLomachenko) May 4, 2017
With McGregor currently the biggest active draw in combat sports, it makes sense for Lomachenko to call him out. Unlike Mayweather, however- currently the Irishman’s target- Lomachenko is willing to step across the rulesets and give McGregor what he said he wants- a fight under mixed martial arts (MMA) rules.
Perhaps the inspiration for the idea came from Lomachenko’s training session with former bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw. He spent four rounds sparring with Dillashaw under boxing rules. Dillashaw’s take? “He kicked my ass.”
Boxing stars have made crossovers into MMA before. Holly Holm was the most spectacular of them all, knocking out Ronda Rousey to win a world title. McGregor recently made an Instagram post that stated boxers would get “dismantled and killed” in a real fight. It appears Lomachenko is willing to take Conor up on that assertion.
Update: Lomachenko says it’s a joke anyways
According to his replies to fans, it seems Vasyl was just taking a dig at McGregor’s cross-sport ambitions
@thomasjkelley @ufc @TheNotoriousMMA Finally someone realizes it is a joke !
— Hi-Tech Lomachenko (@VasylLomachenko) May 4, 2017
@Cassizzle18 @ufc @TheNotoriousMMA But has anyone had a world title in both boxing and UFC simultaneously?
— Hi-Tech Lomachenko (@VasylLomachenko) May 4, 2017
@Cassizzle18 @ufc @TheNotoriousMMA It was also a joke anyways.
— Hi-Tech Lomachenko (@VasylLomachenko) May 4, 2017
Still fun to think about, though.
Bobs and Weaves
Chris Weidman wants Paige VanZant to know she’s not alone.
Sometimes you just gotta let out your inner sexy...I got your back @paigevanzantufc @reebok pic.twitter.com/gnH0lZI56l
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) May 4, 2017
Kelvin Gastelum still wants Anderson Silva, but Brazil is now too close for comfort. He wants on a New York card in the summer. Last time he was in New York for a fight, he didn’t make it to the scales.
My apologies and respects to @SpiderAnderson , I Can't make it to the dance in Rio, how about we dance in New York in July? @ufc @UFCONFOX
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) May 4, 2017
Nate Diaz doesn’t need the UFC
This billboard (which I've confirmed is a real thing in Lodi) is not what I expected when Nate Diaz said he had a lot going on outside MMA. pic.twitter.com/utrJMCO8Zq
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) May 4, 2017
Glover Texeira is one tough dude.
Glover Teixeira Taking Body Shots After Heavy Bag Work https://t.co/zoDgO92WVB
— Fancy Combat (@FancyCombat) May 5, 2017
Rory McDonald is one crazy man.
Set to make his promotional debut, follow @rory_macdonald back to his roots as he prepares to face #PaulDaley at #Bellator179 #InFocus pic.twitter.com/nIBYW52chx
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) May 4, 2017
Dustin Poirier violence incoming! I can’t wait for his fight with Eddie Alvarez.
“I’m going to go out there, beat Eddie Alvarez handily and I’m going to become a legend.” @DustinPoirier #UFC211
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) May 4, 2017
➡️ https://t.co/j8kvv2GM1d pic.twitter.com/b7qO2XeSMg
I get the feeling Forrest Griffin drinks a lot.
I Celebrate surviving anther day every night pic.twitter.com/3cOh7CJOV2
— Forrest Griffin (@ForrestGriffin) May 5, 2017
Cody Garbrant before he was cool.
Gegard Mousasi living the good life.
Let's get the party started, Manila! @ufc @UFC_Asia pic.twitter.com/plgICQyz8i
— Gegard Mousasi (@mousasi_mma) May 4, 2017
This is the kind of marital support we all need.
My wife: So how you feeling babe
— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) May 4, 2017
Me: I'm good, I'm ready for a fight
My wife: Good! So, can we get our sh*t together & win
She's a savage
I enjoy Jiu Jitsu but not this much
I wish jiu-jitsu would hit me like that. pic.twitter.com/nU2YrBh0TS
— Flyin' Brian J (@FlyinBrianJ) May 5, 2017
Sugar Ray Leonard putting the hurt on a young heavyweight. Watch till the bodyshot at the end.
@SugarRayLeonard forced to put a young heavyweight in his place. Well, the guy was told not to get "cute". This is summer 1982 #boxing pic.twitter.com/wSrq2QgSf2
— Tom Gray (@Tom_Gray_Boxing) March 23, 2017
Slips, Rips, Knockout Clips
I had never seen this classic before
Hiroyuki Takaya vs Antonio Carvalho - 2 top-10 FW in one of the greatest bouts in #JMMA history. Full highlight https://t.co/SHOWmvAiW9 #TBT pic.twitter.com/U4FuhfQUop
— Bestrafer7 (@Bestrafer7) May 4, 2017
This dude is the definition of acrobatic.
Marcus Aurelio returns this weekend pic.twitter.com/GVMDy5fwAm
— Bestrafer7 (@Bestrafer7) May 5, 2017
@Bestrafer7 RESPECT. pic.twitter.com/DAAfvKkSJW
— Victor Rodriguez (@VicMRodriguez) May 5, 2017
@VicMRodriguez It's an Aurelio off pic.twitter.com/K1S9fuL34z
— Bestrafer7 (@Bestrafer7) May 5, 2017
@Bestrafer7 CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. pic.twitter.com/tqXWhO4yVX
— Victor Rodriguez (@VicMRodriguez) May 5, 2017
Throwback Thursday
UFC 58 was the first UFC PPV I ever ordered when I was 17. It was also the first highlight I ever made https://t.co/CF1pUiBvqa pic.twitter.com/sO2w5FCPWd
— Bestrafer7 (@Bestrafer7) May 4, 2017
Akira Kikuchi was one of the most under-appreciated welterweights in MMA history. @jakeshieldsajj Full Highlight: https://t.co/LAe8sS6JhB pic.twitter.com/UIEzWJIyK3
— Bestrafer7 (@Bestrafer7) May 4, 2017
Antonio "Pato" Carvalho was a Top-5 FW in his time. One of the greatest foreign influences on #JMMA - Full HL: https://t.co/bIWplDlAGl pic.twitter.com/ERvF5mtVxh
— Bestrafer7 (@Bestrafer7) May 4, 2017
Podcasts and Video
Free fights for you this week include the classic first fight between Junior Dos Santos and Stipe Miocic. Keep an eye on Junior’s body jab- changed the fight for him in the last two rounds.
Stipe was a lot more decisive against Alastair Overeem
This extended preview is awesome. UFC 211 is a love letter to fight fans.
MMA Ratings features a special guest this week, Trevor Wittman
Yves Edwards thinks the second Miocic-Dos Santos fight will be similar to the first.
.@thugjitsumaster: @stipemiocicufc vs @junior_cigano 2 will be similar to previous fight @RJcliffordMMA #TLTS https://t.co/1lcZhWQZNK
— MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM) May 4, 2017
Tyron Woodley’s podcast, the Morning Wood Show.
#MorningWoodShow is Back!!! @dinthomas @junior_cigano and talk my next fight! https://t.co/fEVJErUOjs Sponsored by @onnit @platinummikeperry
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) May 4, 2017
Quick Hits
- Al Iaquinta is daring the UFC to cut him
- Justin Gaethje is officially in the UFC, and targets a fight with Edson Barboza
- Nate Diaz doesn’t need to wear “gay-ass suits” to be a pro fighter
Stay woke, Maniacs!
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