Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Da’Mon Blackshear is setting himself up for an incredible August. “Da Monster” fought just a couple days ago at UFC Vegas 78, securing just the third twister submission in UFC history over Jose Johnson (watch highlights). Now, according to a first report from Cole Shelton, he’s filling in for the injured Cody Garbrandt opposite Mario Bautista at UFC 292 this Saturday (Aug. 19, 2023) in Boston, Massachusetts.
Assuming he passes medicals and makes it into the Octagon, Blackshear will tie the modern era UFC record for fastest turnaround. In October 2021, Lupita Goodinez also fought at consecutive events, winning her first bout then coming up short in the second appearance.
It certainly helps that Blackshear won his last one quickly, scoring a takedown early in the round and taking little damage en route to the submission win. He rides a two-fight win streak into this opportunity, and the 29 year old could really make a name for himself with a victory.
Bautista is not an easy opponent, either. The 30-year-old MMA Lab-trained product has won four straight, including his last three via first-round submission. Bautista’s recent strong performances were supposed to earn him a step up in competition against a former champion in Garbrandt, but instead, he’ll face a fellow hungry up-and-comer. It’s better than not fighting, but this bout is a different kind of dangerous for Bautista.
Anyone think Blackshear makes UFC history with two wins in seven days?
Insomnia
It took less than a year for UFC to start pretending Francis Ngannou never existed. The promotion is ruthlessly once ex-athletes are on bad terms (like Randy Couture).
10 of Magomedov’s 11 wins come via knockout, and Bruno Silva is a guaranteed brawler. Sounds fun!
Who else lost their ESPN+ stream in the middle of the fights?
whats going on @espn ?? paying to subscribe .. why cant I watch the rest of the fights? Gotta get a stream
— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) August 12, 2023
Taken with a grain of salt given the source, but by multiple accounts now, Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz sold like hotcakes.
Song Yadong getting after it while sparring a high-level kickboxer:
Charles Oliveira was simply too polite to tell Maycee Barber that his jellybeans tasted like garbage.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
34 seconds of pure chaos!
Batting average of 1000.
It’s always funny when the classic overhand-takedown combination is rendered unnecessary by the initial punch.
Random Land
Pre-prepared salad.
Midnight Music: Alternative, 1997
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
