Welcome to Midnight Mania!
There are really two ways to match up a rumored returning legend like Nick Diaz, who is now 37 years old and six years removed from professional competition. Diaz could be matched with a fellow veteran, man from his own era of similar age — someone like Carlos Condit, Robbie Lawler, or even a fresh match up with no history.
Or, Diaz could be thrown to the sharks. Based on UFC attempting to match Diaz with Khamzat Chimaev, one of the fastest rising prospects on the roster, it’s clear the promotion is looking to build an up-and-comer of Diaz’s name.
Fortunately, Chimaev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, is not interested, preferring a fighter currently in the title picture.
“If this fight happens, everybody should go to jail. Everybody should go to jail. I should go to jail. The UFC, everybody. This is criminal,” Abdelaziz said to ESPN (via MMAWeekly). “How are you gonna make Khamzat Chimaev, one of the most upcoming fighters, to fight a guy like Nick Diaz. It’s not even right.
“I’m not taking anything away from Nick. Nick had his time, he built his legacy. But I don’t wanna see this [fight]. If it happens, I’m not trying to go to jail. Khamzat’s not trying to go to jail. Because it will not be good.”
As an alternative, Abdelaziz mentioned Neil Mangy as a potential foe, though that could depend upon the result of Mangy’s upcoming battle vs. Geoff Neal.
Insomnia
Happy Cinco de Mayo! I’m not enough of a boxing historian to answer the following question, but as for an MMA equivalent, my first thought is Cain Velasquez?
In honor of Cinco de Mayo, who is the greatest Mexican boxer of all time?
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 5, 2021
Miesha Tate is putting in the work ahead of her return from retirement.
Paulo Costa works his grip strength via the classic plate flip:
Gee, I wonder why an actually good MMA striker like Kamaru Usman would want to debase himself by fighting a Paul brother …
Imagine being Usman and knowing that, in less than a round, you can make $10 million beating @JakePaul.
Instead you have to fight some of the best #MMA fighters on the planet for 5% of that…
The world seems upside down sometimes.
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) May 5, 2021
Best wishes to anyone just trying to survive in Myanmar right now.
Georges St. Pierre is so wildly athletic. Gymnast strength!
Slips, rips, and KO clips
I am reminded of Anthony Johnson’s overhand counter opposite Alexander Gustafason.
This is a slick guillotine! Jumping guard with a high elbow is tricky, and then the reversal was neat.
One on TNT was a lot of fun in April.
Random Land
Hope all my readers were safe today.
Midnight Music: I was sitting in the car, plugging content into Midnight Mania when this track came on. Couldn’t be more appropriate!
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.