Midnight Mania: Eye Pokes Forever!
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Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Out with the new, in with the old.
Earlier this week, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) athletes were abruptly informed that they would compete in the old UFC gloves at UFC 309 this weekend (Sat., Nov. 16, 2024), which is headlined by UFC Heavyweight champion Jon Jones vs. former two-time champion Stipe Miocic. Earlier on Thursday, during the UFC 309 press conference (watch here), UFC CEO Dana White revealed that the company plans to return to the old gloves permanently.
“There were a lot of complaints,” White explained. “We originally created these gloves to stop eye pokes. We had good intentions with ‘em. They didn’t work out, people weren’t happy with ‘em, so I actually made the decision. Called our Chief Operating Officer [Ike Lawrence Epstein] and said I’m switching the gloves. I want the old gloves back.”
Confirming that the change is permanent, White said, “Yes, the new gloves are now the old gloves.
Dana White says they are going back to the old gloves permanently.
Says the winner of Jones/Miocic should absolutely fight Aspinall.#UFC309 pic.twitter.com/f42carIzkm
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) November 14, 2024
There have definitely been complaints about the new UFC gloves from fans and fighters alike. The knockout rate has dropped about 10% since their implementation, but there still seem to be plenty of eye pokes. That said, not every fighter is pleased about the switch back to the old gloves. Flyweight contender Charles Johnson and newly ranked Bantamweight Aiemann Zahabi shared their concerns online, and both said the new gloves offer better protection for their fists.
Well I really hope it doesn’t stay that way. I really believe the new gloves have saved my hands from blowing up. Every fight in the old gloves, I would leave with hand injuries. Hell I hurt my hand 10 minutes before flick in warmup
With new gloves I haven’t had that issue. https://t.co/iuCb8shJWE
— Charles "InnerG" Johnson (@innerGmma_ufc) November 14, 2024
What’s crazy is I loved the gloves. My hands had no pain in them after the fight.
— Aiemann Zahabi (@Aiemannzahabi) November 14, 2024
Hopefully, UFC can continue to work on a solution that helps address the eye poke issue, produces knockouts, and protects the hands of its athletes.
Insomnia
This clip is a bit of a tease, but it’s definitely noteworthy that Tom Aspinall is frequently sparring with the likes of Tyson Fury and Rico Verhoeven.
Tom Aspinall releases sparring footage with Glory Heavyweight Champion Rico Verhoeven
@AspinallMMA pic.twitter.com/BUjr1lalbq
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) November 14, 2024
ESPN tried to embrace the meme, but the corporate entity was quickly outdone!
Will Jon Jones walk out of the room once again as the undisputed heavyweight champion? #UFC309 | SATURDAY | 10 PM ET | ESPN+ PPV pic.twitter.com/zVwJ6wSekY
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 13, 2024
Maybe this is more accurate? https://t.co/XW3PtAKYeu pic.twitter.com/9Ly6AFN317
— Story of the Fight (@StoryOfTheFight) November 14, 2024
This is the first time I’ve been able to understand Stipe Miocic clearly.
For what it’s worth, I recently found this video of Stipe from before the UFC. https://t.co/GMRxgnNkMt pic.twitter.com/u4cHrt0XWf
— Anton Tabuena (@antontabuena) November 13, 2024
Nothing annoys me more than overly sensitive prizefighters ... of which there are many.
Jake Paul calls a reporter a "dumbass" after being asked: "When can we expect you to start fighting legitimate contending fighters in your weight class?"
[ @MostVPromotions] pic.twitter.com/CwTaRmknX4
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) November 14, 2024
Given how the first fight ended, a Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira rematch in 2025 would be tremendous.
Max Holloway expresses interest in a rematch against Charles Oliveira for the BMF title
“If that fight was ever offered to me, it’d be an honour to share the octagon with you bro. You’re a beast.”
@BlessedMMA #UFC309 #UFC #MMApic.twitter.com/E9pI6rfBpw
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 14, 2024
One Championship battling Karate Combat for Thailand surpemacy could get interesting next year as well.
Karate Combat President @pres_awesome says ONE Championship tried to shut down his event in Bangkok and had to go through numerous obstacles to put on the show.
President Asim also declares Thailand their new home for Karate Combat
( : @KarateCombat) pic.twitter.com/ExyA2SIA3Z
— COMBAT SPORTS TODAY (@CSTodayNews) November 14, 2024
One wonders if Dana White and Donald Trump’s friendship could get Khamzat into the US of A ...
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Slips, rips, and KO clips
Jones clearly knows how to stay loose and throw whip-like punches, which is a great asset.
Former LFA LW champ JaCobi Jones looking sharp, just picks apart Gaberial Brown for the first round KO #LFA196 pic.twitter.com/1uH1lpUVUy
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 9, 2024
Three knockdowns in a crazy round!
Round 1 of Abdullah Mason vs. Yohan Vasquez is a legit Round of the Year candidate. #KeyshawnLemos pic.twitter.com/5BxdX7dH3H
— Edwin (@staygoldedwin) November 9, 2024
Where do they find these Kung Fu masters? There’s no end to this specific genre of videos.
A Legendary Kung-Fu Master Throws Hands with an MMA Fighter and it goes Horribly Wrong... pic.twitter.com/lpxkTDXJVF
— Fight Haven (@FightHaven) November 9, 2024
Random Land
Slack lining reaches new heights!
Germans Friedi Kuehne and Lukas Irmler set a new world record after balancing on a slackline between two flying hot air balloons at a height of 2,500 meters (approximately 8,202 feet). #germany
Midnight Music: Soft rock, 1967
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
