Midnight Mania! Cormier on Rockhold training with Oezdemir: ‘Luke can’t beat me!’

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight

By Andrew Pearson Jan 18, 2018, 12:01am EST

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Daniel Cormier, at 38 years old, is quintessential Old Dad when it comes to technology. The UFC had him on Facebook Live recently, something he had apparently never done before. He was nonplussed at first- “When did this happen?”, but quickly adapted to the format, dropping knowledge on fans about his mindset going into the bout, even revealing his kids got slime on his shirt. “They get you when it’s unexpected. That’s why I’m expecting Volkan.”

He also addressed concerns about Luke Rockhold training with Volkan Oezdemir. Rockhold’s home is American Kickboxing Academy, but lately he has been doing his fight camps with Henri Hooft, honing his striking. This has given him the benefit of consistent sparring partners, one of whom is, you guessed it, “No Time”. But Cormier isn’t worried:

“Luke training with my opponent? Eh. Doesn’t matter. Luke can’t really help him. Luke can’t beat me! (laughs) What’s Luke gonna teach him?”

LIVE w/ the champ! Daniel Cormier is taking your questions NOW ahead of #UFC220! Ask away ⬇️
Posted by UFC on Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Luke will be attempting to beat a fighter Cormier says would beat himself in straight wrestling at UFC 221, when he faces the fearsome Yoel Romero for the interim middleweight title. Cormier’s test comes much sooner, this weekend, when he defends his light heavyweight title- which he admits does feel a bit like an interim title too- against Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 220.

Insomnia

Stipe will not be outworked.

I WILL NOT BE OUTWORKED. #AndStill #Boston #January20 : @ncmediaproductions

A post shared by Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocicufc) on Jan 16, 2018 at 10:32am PST

Ronda’s identity apart from fighting is hard to get used to. She is repping nutritional supplements.

If you can’t tell my Roosters are super excited about me giving away a year’s supply of #maxcrispytreats - including one signed by yours truly So you should be too!!! all you have to do to enter to win is 1. follow @maxeffortmuscle 2. comment “pick me!” Below 3. tag 3 fitness friends

A post shared by rondarousey (@rondarousey) on Jan 17, 2018 at 4:38pm PST

Angela Hill would love to be on the undercard of UFC 223 in Brooklyn.

I lived in Brooklyn for 11 years before moving to pursue my MMA career. Would love to fight on this card! @ufc https://t.co/pxs6CPgEww
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) January 17, 2018

I hear Moroz needs a fight, Casey called me out as well which is always nice. I’d prefer to squeeze in a fight before April but all I really want is a date.
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) January 17, 2018

This twitter meltdown was extraordinary.

Bruh either Spike forgot to change the passwords after firing someone or this is my new favorite marketing campaign of all time to get people talking about the switch over. Looking forward to Bellator this weekend on Spik...I mean Paramount Network and I hope Bellator hires homeboy after this meltdowm/marketing campaign #mma #bellator #ufc #mmamemes #ufcmemes

A post shared by MMA NERDS (@mma_nerds) on Jan 16, 2018 at 4:09pm PST

And then today a last hurrah, a shoutout to Bjorn Rebney...

MEXICO!!!
— Spike Sports (@SpikeSports) January 18, 2018

This would be a great fit for the Brooklyn card

News of potential Namajunas/Jedrzejczyk rematch at UFC 223 is out there, reported by @TalkMMA. Sources have told me that date’s been discussed, but it’s not the only one. Update should come soon, as 2018’s Q1 is coming together.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) January 17, 2018

Uh oh. Cynthia Calvillo just (potentially) popped positive for a marijuana metabolite. It’s not a performance enhancing drug... but USADA doesn’t care about that.

UFC announces Cynthia Calvillo has been notified of a potential anti-doping violation for Carboxy-THC, a metabolite of marijuana and/or hashish. In-competition sample in relation to her UFC 219 bout vs. Carla Esparza on Dec. 30.
— Nick Baldwin (@NickBaldwinMMA) January 18, 2018

In other suspension news:

I’m being told that Russian fighters Ruslan Magomedov and Zubaira Tukhugov were both issued 2-year suspensions (retroactive). They will be eligible to fight in September of 2018. #UFC pic.twitter.com/yCJuHDbHh7
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) January 18, 2018

Weird techniques from Greg Jackson

#Repost @gregjacksonmma ・・・ Here's me and @sixgungibson showing one variation of attacking the liver. Longer video on my Facebook page (link in bio).

A post shared by Brandon Gibson (@sixgungibson) on Jan 16, 2018 at 9:47am PST

Gaston Bolanos got back to his Muay Thai roots

Short highlight from my latest fight and return to Muay Thai. In just a few seconds you can see the display of punches, kicks, elbows and knees as well as long and close range, sweeps and dumps. One thing misses, flow into the next, until the opening opens up and go for the kill. Can’t wait to fight again @triumphunited @csagym @onnit @escuelaf14 #Repost @mmalaboratory (@get_repost) ・・・ product of peru .

A post shared by D R E A M K I L L E R (@dreamkiller_bolanos) on Jan 17, 2018 at 5:16am PST

Kickboxer Artem Levin practicing getting offline and pivoting footwork

Отрабатываем уход с линии атаки A nice shift workout at my hometown gym #training #hardwork #workout #тренировка #тренировчка #тайскийбокс #муайтай #muaythai

A post shared by Artem Levin (@artem_levin) on Jan 16, 2018 at 12:39am PST

Rory Macdonald is excited to make another human hurt this Saturday, but that human is far from helpless. Yes, I’m very stoked for Lima-Macdonald.

Saturday night i am back! This will be my moment to show how a true champion competes

A post shared by Rory "RED KING" Macdonald (@romac_gorilla) on Jan 17, 2018 at 10:44am PST

Ovince St. Preux said yesterday that he is open to moving to heavyweight if he can’t find an opponent in his division

. @Latifimma is hurt & out of our scrap next Sat in Charlotte, NC #UFConFOX27 who wants to step up and scrap? I’m even open to going up in weight if NO guys in my division will step up? Looking for someone to do what I do: step up and fight... pic.twitter.com/lvznRvE22I
— Ovince Saint Preux (@003_OSP) January 17, 2018

For some reason this series of drills run by Phil Daru at American Top Team was mesmerizing to watch.

“It’s safe to say that I’ll be doing this for the rest of my life!” Coaching is a passion you have to love what you do and love working with the people you have. Coaching is about teaching, inspiring, motivating, counseling, and evaluating each individual that puts their trust in you to help them achieve their goals. _____________________________ Here is a clip of me working with my group of fighters from all walks of life, all over the world, who speak all different languages... but one things for sure they all have one thing in common, and that’s wanting to be the best! @mateusz_gamrot @urosjurisic @dezm80 @kayrockmma @krzysztofjotko @skiba_daniel @marcinheld #poland #czechrepublic #americantopteam #mmastrengthandconditioningcoach #mmastrengthandconditioning #sport #sportsscience #artofcoaching #coaching #strengthcoach #mma #physicalpreparation #lovewhatyoudo #dowhatyoulove #motivation #inspire #teach #train #bethebestyou #strengthandconditioning #darustrong @lukeylew2 @fightcampconditioning @aleksandraszpakcoach @onnit

A post shared by Phil Daru FMS CFSC ISSA-KMS (@darustrong) on Jan 15, 2018 at 7:40pm PST

Khabib Nurmagomedov came by his skillset honestly.

Uhh. @TeamKhabib is good. Like, insanely good. @FloGrappling @FloWrestling #MMA #UFC #UFC223

Source video: https://t.co/tUTMJlpz66

(h/t @rMMAmod) pic.twitter.com/3QryxFmJSF
— FloCombat (@FloCombat) January 17, 2018

Maybe not the most exciting wrestler in the entire world, but fun to watch nonetheless.

#MidnightSnack

Jason Nolf: the most exciting wrestler in the country. pic.twitter.com/falTXCu2od
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) January 17, 2018

Podcasts and Video

In case you missed my interview with Chuck Liddell: (and follow MMA Mania on Youtube)

This is what he is talking about:

Heavy Hands

Random Land

Pretty cool

One of the First Killer Robots "The Mechanical Man" (1921) directed by André Deed pic.twitter.com/ffN0lBivzk
— 41 Strange (@41Strange) January 18, 2018

I like this picture

• ✨⛰• Barren Land • Cruising through the unforgiving landscapes of Southern Nevada. My favorite time of day is right before sunrise, when the crickets stop chirping and the sun begins to peak over the horizon. While I was running around with my camera and tripod like a headless chicken, @heykelseyj lounged in the van, half asleep watching the light slowly begin to wash over the peaks. Would you rather scramble around capturing sunrise or take it a little easier. Stay Adventurous Dear Friends!! . . . Stay Adventurous Dear Tag Set (1) @beautifuldestinations #beautifuldestinations @instagood #watchthisinstagood @wilderness_culture #wildernessculture @modernoutdoors #modernoutdoors @artofvisuals #Artofvisuals @agameoftones #AGameofTones @Earthfocus #Earthfocus @moodygrams #moodygrams @fantastic_earth #fantastic_earth #canon_photos #earthpix #ourplanetdaily #discoverearth #exklusive_shot #earthofficial #illgrammers #Createcommune #exploretocreate #lifeofadventure #stayandwander #liveauthentic #roamtheplanet #discoverearth #visualsofearth #liveauthentic #visualsoflife #GoPro #TheGlobeWanderer #TLPicks

A post shared by Karl 'Shakur' N. (@karl_shakur) on Jan 17, 2018 at 8:30am PST

Stay woke, Maniacs! Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @Vorpality