Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Ronda Rousey still can’t come to terms with her UFC losses. It could be an act for her new gig, the haunted former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter-turned professional wrestler ... but it’s probably not. At no point since her loss has Rousey given any signs that she’s come to terms with what was clearly a very traumatic event for her ... twice. She avoided all MMA media after her knockout loss to Holly Holm, even in the lead up to her return and second loss to Amanda Nunes. She did go on Ellen DeGeneres’ show and said that the loss made her suicidal, and what gave her ballast was thinking of having children with her boyfriend Travis Browne. Earlier today, she gave an extremely prickly response to a question on ESPN suggesting she still isn’t over it.
To be fair, she did face a vicious backlash after the loss. It was in regard to this backlash she was asked a question on “First Take.” It wasn’t even a “gotcha” moment — Max Kellerman tried to couch the question in the nicest possible terms ... but it still didn’t go his way.
♂️ Oh my dear lord ... This interaction between Ronda Rousey and Max Kellerman hit a 10 on the awkward scale
— Troy Hughes™ (@TommySledge) March 27, 2018
BTW, WWE ... Ronda has BARELY spoken since joining the company and you put her on ‘FIRST TAKE’ with these guys?!?! pic.twitter.com/jBhF2aCPYm
It is difficult for any fighter to come to terms with a loss, but most fighters are eventually able to do so. Hopefully Rousey, retired though she is, eventually finds a way.
Insomnia
Stone Cold Stipe has some pretty awesome fans.
“LESNAR FEARS STIPE”
— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocic) March 27, 2018
My fans are awesome! pic.twitter.com/DnJJFPs9z4
Chuck Liddell hitting pads. Random fact — the pad holder, Ernie Reyes Jr., is the kid from the 90’s movie, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2.”
The guy using words like “parameters,” “texture combination,” and “temperature of serving” to describe a fruit salad is Ido Portal, the guy Conor McGregor was playing touch-butt in the park with.
No matter how UFC 223 goes for him, Tony Ferguson will always have his dog.
When Sonny Liston got sick of Cassius Clay’s trash talk ... this probably wouldn’t be legal today.
A young Cassius Clay pushed Sonny Liston to the limit... Liston deciding enough was enough from the Louisville Lip pic.twitter.com/acEwd2pk7E
— KO Kings (@KOKINGS4) December 30, 2016
Wing Chun fighter vs. the MMA fighter-turned Kung Fu killer.
Jon Bones hitting the garage pads again.
Kajan Johnson and “Project Spearhead” offering a useful service to fighters. They are right — weed isn’t a performance-enhancing drug (PED).
Conor McGregor today.
Conor McGregor 500 days ago.
Garry Tonon has a great sense of humor about his growing striking skills.
Combat sports this weekend include Joshua vs. Parker:
Live Combat Sport Schedule: 3/27 - 4/1
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) March 27, 2018
Full Schedule: https://t.co/pOHs8OXFiJ pic.twitter.com/Y8lHa6fTpM
Slips, Rips, KO Clips
A reminder of how violent Paul Felder is:
— Streetfight Bancho (@streetfitebanch) November 29, 2017
Felder vs. Iaquinta is going to be awesome!
HELLbows!
— UFC (@ufc) March 27, 2018
Rewind to Glasgow, Scotland, where @FelderPaul delivered some of the most devastating elbows we've seen finish a fight #UFC223 pic.twitter.com/D1me9KNRqK
She reeeeally didn’t want to tap ...
Podcasts and Video
AJ and I discuss the happenings of a UFC-less weekend. Follow MMA Mania on Youtube
The MMA Hour:
The Co-Main Event:
This week I argue that it is a fighter's god-given right to be "a fatty" between fights if they want to, while Chad gets depressed by a theory on Zuffa Boxing. We're having fun. https://t.co/XCUkpiO8EU
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) March 27, 2018
Random Land
Ever wonder why Stefan Struve, his brothers, and most of the men in the Netherlands are so tall? It might be related to income distribution there (via nutrition), which might help explain why average height in the U.S. has been declining since the 1970s.
Stay woke, Maniacs! Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @Vorpality