Midnight Mania! Rodriguez Injured, Out Of Zabit Fight

Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Some things just are not meant to be.

UFC has tried to book Yair Rodriguez and Zabit Magomedsharipov to fight several times previously, and why not? The two Featherweight contenders are young, proven action-fighters, and would likely flip and spin all over the cage. It’s guaranteed entertainment … assuming both fighters make it to the cage.

Unfortunately, ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reported that Rodriguez was forced to withdraw due to an ankle injury. In addition, Calvin Kattar has thrown his hat in the ring as possible replacement.

Rodriguez’s injury is unfortunately going to come under scrutiny. Back in 2018 at UFC 227 when the two were first paired up, Rodriguez was briefly released from the UFC roster for declining the fight. Since then, fans have accused Rodriguez of ducking Zabit, and this withdrawal will only add fuel to that fire. Plus, this is the second time Rodriguez pulled out of a fight with Magomedsharipov due to injury.

With Rodriguez injured, who will fight Zabit on August 29th? Calvin Kattar is not a bad option, as he’s a top contender coming off a main event win, but he’s also Magomedsharipov’s most recent victory. If UFC wants a fresh match up, either Chan Sung Jung or Brian Ortega would make the most sense, though Jung is seemingly stuck in South Korea due to COVID-19.

Stay tuned for more updates on Zabit Magomedsharipov’s next opponent, as well as card info for the August 29 event.

Insomnia

Maybe Anthony Johnson is planning a return sooner than expected? I cannot imagine sparring a killer like Tyrone Spong for no reason!

I want Bellator to do well, but … I don’t know what Pluto TV is. It does not sound major.

Did everyone enjoy the return of “Contender’s Series?”

This old boxer still has some pep in his step and pop in his punches!

One last ride for the three kings of American Kickboxing Academy (Khabib disapproves of this exclusion).

No-gi BJJ GOAT Gordon Ryan can be unbearable on social media, but yeah, this hits the mark regarding jiu-jitsu competition.

Slips, rips, and KO clips

Sneaking a high kick over a punch requires a great deal of timing, kicking technique, and speed.

I don’t know how much of this caption is true, the man was certainly throwing clean combinations!

Losing via low kick has to be one of the least pleasant ways to go. The fight progressively getting worse as the leg grows more and more powerless …

Random Land

Pray for Beirut (and/or donate to the Lebanese Red Cross).

Midnight Music: My girlfriend recently grabbed a CD of Marcy Playground’s debut album when I dragged her into a record store with me, so that’s been playing a fair amount in the car lately. Angsty ‘90s pop!

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.