Midnight Mania! Max Holloway on Jose Aldo: This guy don’t want to fight

Welcome to Midnight Mania! Tonight, we’ve got Max recounting his bout with Jose Aldo, some sad news for the Jones family, Conor taunting Floyd over his age, Valentina Shevchenko being savage, Bruce Buffer working out, knockouts, podcasts, and much more.

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Maximum Effort

The Max Holloway legend continues to grow. His story of feeling Jose Aldo break in the Octagon in front of him is a remarkable tale, one only he can tell.

Transcript via MMAFighting.com:

“When I was putting my hand out and stuff, every time I’d put it, he would shut it down,” Holloway told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour. “He would throw something, he would do something reactive. Every time in the beginning rounds when I feinted at him, he was jumping back. I [saw these] big motions from him and he was countering super fast at certain things I was doing.”

That confirms this piece of amazing post-fight analysis- Max was reading Aldo’s counters as he threw them. But then, at the end of the second round, he felt Jose begin to slow.

“I told myself, he’s not firing,” Holloway said. “It’s time to taunt. Let’s taunt. Let’s see if he cracks me. I taunted him — I put my hands up for a couple of seconds. And he didn’t do nothing. I was like OK, I’m gonna do it again. And he did nothing. I was like man, this guy don’t want to fight.”

According to Holloway, dragging Aldo into the later rounds and tiring him out was always the plan. He speaks for a new generation of fighters, the evolving cutting edge of the sport of MMA, with his faster pace, versatility, ability to adapt on the feet, and attritive arsenal.

“I already knew our game plan was gonna work,” Holloway said. “There’s enough tape. Aldo, he’s one of the greatest ever, but it’s just time for a new era. It’s time for the new wave of guys, us young guys are coming up and we’re proving it. We’re showing to the world that we’re here to stay, we’re taking forever. MMA is forever evolving. You either evolve with the sport or you get left behind. I’m trying to lead the pack. I’m trying to sprint.”

Many have tried to break Aldo in the later rounds before, though. Holloway was the first to be able to do so because, in his mind, he’s approaching this sport at a higher level

“These guys are playing checkers,” Holloway said. “I’m out here playing chess. When they figure it out, it’s too late.”

However, he still has tremendous respect for the all-time great fighter that is Jose Aldo, who he defended on social media following the bout. Aldo apparently couldn’t throw leg kicks in the fight because of an injury (according to his coach)

“I felt the need, because people keep f*cking trying to tarnish and throw this guy away,” Holloway said. “You’ve gotta understand what this guy did for all the little guys. He’s a pioneer for the small guys. When you think of the 35 and 45 class, the guys who built it, you think of Urijah Faber, you think of Dominick and you think Jose Aldo. Jose Aldo has been the greatest.”

Now, however, he stands crowned the king of a new era, and he doesn’t intend to let up on his blistering style.

“I’m gonna go out there until you want to give up,” Holloway said. “He opened the door, I just hold his hand and walked him through it and said thank you for the fight. It’s Blessed Era time.”

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Insomnia

First, some genuinely sad news- Jon Jones’ mother passed away today. His brother Arthur posted this heartfelt message earlier today.

Shade

Andre Ward doesn’t share Oscar De La Hoya’s pessimism about McGregWeather, the date of which is once again unknown.

Bruce Buffer working the ropes

Speaking of familiar voices of the Octagon...

I want to watch this

Go like Flyin Brian J’s Facebook page

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Slips, Rips, and KO Clips

Going old school with some of these tonight.

When you can’t punch with closed fists

This was a long time ago

If you ever get hit like this, you tend to believe in the power of body shots.

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Good Reads

• Anton Tabuena shares the last portion of his three part series on competing in Muay Thai. Fight nerves are very real. I can say from experience in amateur competition that managing your adrenaline and nerves is the most difficult part of fighting in a cage or ring.
• Mike Winklejohn thinks Holm should get a title shot with a win over Bethe Correira... okay, Mike. Sure. Whatever you say.

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Podcasts and Video

The Smooth and Bo show

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Random Land

I’ve always wanted to try a slingshot. Didn’t get to experience that ride on vacation last week, but I can say the new Pandora ride at Disney World, Flight of Passage, is incredible.

Don’t mess with Wendy’s

Stay woke, Maniacs!