Midnight Mania! Jordan Burroughs wipes wrestling mat with Ben Askren

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Jordan Burroughs destroyed Ben Askren on the wrestling mats today, winning by technical fall when he piled up an 11-0 lead. Burroughs, 30, was a two-time collegiate champion and a 2016 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling. Askren, 35, was also a two-time national collegiate champion, compiling an impressive 153-8 record. Burroughs is known for his incredible blast double, while Askren had a unique style of defense that led to his enduring nickname, “Funky.”

The pair had been trash talking on social media leading up to the bout, which took place at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden. It was part of Beat the Streets “Grapple at the Garden” event. Burroughs set the tone early, grabbing a single-leg and driving Askren clean off the elevated mat, to the floor. He quickly hit a double-leg to go up 5-0 in the opening minute, and it didn’t get better for ‘Funky’ from there. Commentator Mark Bader didn’t even wait for the match to be over before giving his assessment, via MMAJunkie.com:

What we’ve learned so far is that Jordan Burroughs is a better wrestler than Ben Askren. Which I think we already knew.

Askren now returns his focus to mixed martial arts (MMA), where he is scheduled to face Jorge Masvidal at UFC 239 on July 6, 2019. He won his first UFC bout against Robbie Lawler in controversial fashion. Lawler dumped him on his head early and unloaded ferocious ground-and-pound. Askren survived, eventually took down Lawler, and grabbed a bulldog choke as “Ruthless” tried to stand. Despite Lawler giving a thumbs up, referee Herb Dean thought he was out and stopped the fight prematurely, awarding Askren the win. Against Masvidal, Askren will attempt to prove that this was not a fluke victory.

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Insomnia

Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s elbow work on the mitts is excellent:

This on the other hand ... I don’t know what this is?!?!?!?!?

Okay then.

That’s one impressive flyweight!

Paging Tony Ferguson ...

Pepperidge Farm remembers!

No can defend ... against the Showtime leg kick?

Nasty!

Some of Michael Johnson’s expressions in these videos are priceless:

Cowboy Cerrone fights for family now:

Always a classic!

The weirdest part of this is that he leaves the stick with the attacker.

Gaston Bolanos being taught the spinning elbow, which would become his signature strike, for the first time.

Zabit Magomedsharipov getting his own work in with a world-class wrestler.

The fight for the title of “Daddest Man on the Planet” is one Daniel Cormier cannot lose.

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Good Reads

• What really happened in that Chinese shopping mall fight between Taekwondo students and gym employees?
• Depression, while a danger in and of itself, may also be a warning sign that indicates future cognitive changes for fighters.

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Slips, Rips, KO Clips

That left hook!

High kick in combination? Inject it into my veins:

This upkick was awesome!

Back and forth:

He did bounce:

More knockouts, in no particular order:

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Random Land

This is so wholesome:

More animals hidden away:

Sleep well, Maniacs! A better tomorrow is always possible. Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @Vorpality